I have no idea what this is??

[medic29]

First of all I will apologize if this is not an LPS and does not belong here. I don't know what it is for sure and am requesting help identifying it.

I'm curious what this coral is and finally have the time to post some pics of this coral. It was a hitch hiker on a gorgonian I got a few months ago.

http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral13.jpg

Initially I was told it was a sun coral, but I question that because from what I've been told and read, they usually are not out or open up when the lights are on and this thing just doesn't seem to care. Plus, I have not found any pics of a sun coral that has a base like this one does.

http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral14.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral15.jpg

The base seems to wrap around the branch of the gorgonian and the coral moves. Initially it would just spin around on the branch and face diffferent directions. But it also had moved up and down the branch and to other branches.

[medic29]

This is an example of it spun around; if you not from the previuos pictures it was pointing the opposite direction and I couldn't get any clear pics of the front of the coral.

http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral16.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral17.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral18.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral19.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral20.jpg

I had moved the gorgonian because it didn't look happy and a short time later this coral dissappeared and I figured it ended up dying because I had moved the gorgonian, but I wasn't sure, I just didn't know what had happened it it.

[medic29]

Then several days later it showed up again on a different gorgonian on the other side of the tank, in the front of the tank in direct light.
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral21.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral22.jpg
http://medic29.home.insightbb.com/bnarc/coral23.jpg

In researching this I learned there is a coral called a Dendrophyllia that is similar to a sun coral. I've looked at pics of these as well, but can't tell if what I have is one of them or not.

If anyone has any ideas I would definitely be interested in what I have in my tank.

Thanks!!!

[Phurst]

If it's mobile, I'd guess it's some kind of anemone. Not sure though.

[Seahorsedreams]

That's a cute anemone! Yes, it looks like it could be a Dendrophyllia on appearance alone, but Dendrophyllias don't walk.

[Reefbaby]

it's definitely NOT a Tubastraea (sun coral).

[iglowce]

isnt it a type of majano anemone?

[Seahorsedreams]

No, majanos look different from that. The majanos tentacles are almost bulbulous looking.

[Reefbaby]

could it be that the polyp wasn't actually "walking", but became detached, got blown around the tank and was able to attach somewhere else?

[V]

I believe it to be a juvi white tipped anem. Definately from the Actinothoe family.The foot hold & shape suggest its a definate wanderer anyways.

[fat walrus]

It is not dendrophyllia or any other coral. It is a sand anenome.

[Reefbaby]

FW - they can grow quite big, right? and eat fish, right?

[medic29]

Identification made:

looks like a wrapper gorg anemone to me. They hitch on gorgonians and mimic their polyps. Usually they are on simmilar colored anemones though. Nemanthus annamensis (sp?)

eric


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I agree
In this picture it looks very much like the base of the item I have.

POPPEIMAGES™ - - Anemones - Nemanthus annamensis - Gorgonian Wrapper - Image No. 902017 (http://www.poppe-images.com/images/image_info.php?picid=902017)

so....


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I'm 99.99% positive this is what it is. It desires gorgonians and that is what it attaches to...only. From the descriptions available, this makes sense.

Any suggestions???

[Reefbaby]

Hey - good detective work! Wow...I had never heard of them before! That's pretty cool that something like that found it's way in to your tank. At first when I saw the picture that you attached, it looked like it was completely smothering the gorgonia, but from what Anthony Calfo says, a plaque of them probably wouldn't happen in the aquarium, since they're so dependent on plankton (and lots of it!).

"And went ahead an installed a refugium just a couple of days ago. My question is this: On the live rock that I put in the ref., positively identified Nemanthias anamnesis anemones. Are they trouble, or rather harmless inside the refugium..
Thanks in advance.. Ozz
<hmmm... likely no worries. This cnidarian is rather challenging in its niche and needs. AKA the gorgonian wrapper... it is heavily dependent on plankton to feed... and as such is unlikely to flourish to plague numbers in aquaria. Nonetheless... if it happens, simply limit feeding opportunities. Best regards, Anthony>" copied from AnemFAQ5 (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anemfaq5.htm)

[petunia]

TOTALLY INTERESTING!! You gonna keep it?

[NaClFinatic]

Cool hitchhiker. Its amazing what can be found in there!