Malu or Sebae?

[RandyT5]

Picked up this nem from the LFS, was in the sump of the frag tanks because all the nicer stuff was out for black friday. He said he wasn't sure if it was some sort of malu anemone, or a Sebae anemone. It's in a tough spot to take a picture of, it's foot is actually a gold color. It looks maybe a little bleached to me. Just looking for an ID on this thing. It's been in there less than 24 hours, but already ate some mysis.

Thanks!

 

[chizerbunoi]

Both are consider Sebae anemones.

Heteractis Crispa is more of a rock dwelling anemone with a very fat leathery column. It gets quite large (look at Melevs reefs tank) up to 2’. Not unheard of mounting on the sand to a rock.

Heteractis malu is a sand dweller with a thin column. It normally has less tentacles and you can often see little rings on some of the tentacles. They stay smaller up to 8”-10”.

I have kept them before but don’t have long term success with them. Perhaps the doc will chime in as he has kept them for years?

@OrionN

 

[Katrina71]

@DSC reef might know as well

 

[OrionN]

It is really difficult to tell a small Crispa from Malu. Tentacles count is higher with Crispa and they grow to larger size. Also Crispa stays on the rock and Malu on the sand.
the anemone above most likely a Crispa. You will be able to tell after a few months with feeding. Crispa will grow fast and Malu will not.

 

[DSC reef]

Agree with crispa

 

[RandyT5]

Thanks guys! I guess I should have been more specific, h.malu or h.crispa is what I was trying to figure out. Yesterday it slid off the rock and buried its foot in the sand, pooped like crazy and then released from the sand and crawled back up the rock. Nems are freaking weird.

 

[chizerbunoi]

It’s especially weird when you put them in the right spot, they walk around everywhere only to come back where you put them.


Your Sebae is a little bleached. The tentacles will darken up to be a little more brown over time. Sebae is also a term used for Haddoni carpets anemones due to the fact that Sebae clowns host them.

 

[RandyT5]

@chizerbunoi have a magnifica too, it has mostly stayed put, it's easily quadrupled in size since I've had it. That's my favorite nem of all time. It doesnt walk anywhere cause I trapped it way up there. I'll keep on feeding that sebae and see what it turns into.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Love it. They are my favourite anemones.

why is the mini maxi in a jar? Are you attempting to trap some critter?

 

[RandyT5]

I just picked that rock flower up, the one in the jar, and it doesnt feel like attaching to anything, dont want it to get blown around. Stupid nems

 

[RandyT5]

Got a few newer pictures of it after it settled down a bit. And one of the carpet flexing, probably because it's mad at the other nem.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Very nice. Here is a picture of my purple tip H. Crispa. Just so you can gauge what the color of the tentacles should be. Unless yours turns out to become a purple one instead.