Nem ID?
- Thread starter DocRose
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Sharkbait19
10K Club member
Looks to me like a Majano anemone. Beautiful pests, but can unfortunately be destructive.
OP
OP
DocRose
Active Member
Pretty sure it’s not a majano. All the majano I’ve seen have rounded tips.
DaJMasta
Well-Known Member
Light bulb anemome, common hitchiker from the gulf. They can get to be sort of large (seen at least 1.5" oral disk with 2" tentacles), but they don't multiply nearly like the common pest anemones.
Goby Bryant
Active Member
+1 They will kill other corals over time.
Goby Bryant
Active Member
Not a chance. Aiptasia has much thinner tentacles.
Jekyl
GSP is the devil and clowns are bad pets
Goby Bryant
Active Member
Lost in the Sauce
BANGERANG!!!!
Agreed
Rtaylor
Valuable Member
There are dozens of species of aptasia and some of them do have thicker tentacles than others. Anemonia majano does not have pointed tentacles and tend to be a bit more colorful (although they can be all tan/beige). They also are not known to have striped tentacles, whereas many species of aptasia do have stripes. The speckled disc is also commonly seen on aptasia and not on majano anemones.
Rtaylor
Valuable Member
I mean it's possible. Identifying anemones is difficult. I assume when you say 'lightbulb anemone' you are referring to manjano anemones? Otherwise I'm not sure what species you are referring to.
It does resemble aiptasia diaphana: here's a link with photos, note in some the tentacles are more full
description of Exaiptasia diaphana - Pale anemone
www.european-marine-life.org
It also resembles Aiptasia mutabilis: here's a link
description of Aiptasia mutabilis - Trumpet anemone
www.european-marine-life.org
I can't seem to find pics on these more scientific sites that show manjano anemones, the few I found all show rounded tentacles without stripes. I'm not a marine biologist by any means, so I'm by no means certain. Bubbletips sometimes look stringy, 'stringy' anemones can sometimes look more plump.
Here's some additional info that might help with an ID. There are pics if you find the right pages. I think somewhere around page 48 they start. https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/6717/Grajales 2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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Lightbulb nems are not invasive and rarely reproduce in aquariums. I believe @SaltyT has some from their live rock and it is still the same number as when added.
I have 4 of them and it has been 4 for almost 2 years now.
In regard to if they are exaiptasia or aiptasia, that is currently being looked into. So far, they do not hit enough markers for most know aips. Closer to a warty sea anemone at this point.
I have 4 of them and it has been 4 for almost 2 years now.
In regard to if they are exaiptasia or aiptasia, that is currently being looked into. So far, they do not hit enough markers for most know aips. Closer to a warty sea anemone at this point.
OP
OP
DocRose
Active Member
Neither one of those links looks like the one I have on my rock. The first one you linked looks like solid color, and the second one has that random pattern on it. The one I have just has these straight stripes. It definitely looks like a lightbulb anemone.I mean it's possible. Identifying anemones is difficult. I assume when you say 'lightbulb anemone' you are referring to manjano anemones? Otherwise I'm not sure what species you are referring to.
It does resemble aiptasia diaphana: here's a link with photos, note in some the tentacles are more full
description of Exaiptasia diaphana - Pale anemone
It also resembles Aiptasia mutabilis: here's a link
description of Aiptasia mutabilis - Trumpet anemone
I can't seem to find pics on these more scientific sites that show manjano anemones, the few I found all show rounded tentacles without stripes. I'm not a marine biologist by any means, so I'm by no means certain. Bubbletips sometimes look stringy, 'stringy' anemones can sometimes look more plump.
Here's some additional info that might help with an ID. There are pics if you find the right pages. I think somewhere around page 48 they start. https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/6717/Grajales 2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Example
Rtaylor
Valuable Member
I assumed by lightbulb anemone you were referring to manjano. It appears the ‘lightbulb’ anemone is not classified and thus wouldn’t show up on searches using manjano. I did find a bunch of hobbiest references to lightbulb anemones that do match your pic.
OP
OP
DocRose
Active Member
Oh! My mistake. Yeah, and I've seen a lot of people mention they too have one of these on a rock they received from the gulf...so I think I'm confident with the suggestion that lightbulb is the correct I.D. Super glad it's not a majano! lol
WheatToast
2500 Club Member
+1. Some online sources say they are an undescribed species; they do resemble Exaiptasia diaphana in some images, though:
Lightbulb anemone:
Exaiptasia diaphana:
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Aptasia species and keep erradication simple . . . . . Using syringe, inject either lemon juice or better yet. . kalkwasser powder mixed with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core and it will melt away
