ID Please

[m3bimmerboy]

Just a couple of things that came with my tank, can someone please ID them for me and tell me if their good or bad.

[MEDICINEMAN]

I'm wondering if that is aiptasia, there nasty little buggers, i could be wrong though. Experts here will tell ya.

[bigtyguyy]

Just a couple of things that came with my tank, can someone please ID them for me and tell me if their good or bad.


the first picture is aptasia and is a pain because it spreads like a weed and does sting other corals. use the search option to get more info on getting rid of them, and the second one is bottom polyps which is a kind of zooanthus which is a kind of coral..

[m3bimmerboy]

Are you positive those are aptasia? are there different species? I have some aptasia in my tank and they are alot taller and more opague with longer tentacles. See attachment. These guys dont retract back into a hole in the LR when you touch them and seem alot more solid .

[bigtyguyy]

Are you positive those are aptasia? are there different species? I have some aptasia in my tank and they are alot taller and more opague with longer tentacles. See attachment. These guys dont retract back into a hole in the LR when you touch them and seem alot more solid .


well looking at the picture you just posted those are 100% aptasia but as for the first picture above they are looking like another species of bottom polyp. JMHO

[kkonowalchuk]

I'm not certain if I've ever seen Aptasia look like that, but that's just my limited experience. I don't think Ty's steered me wrong yet, so - when in doubt, get it out.

The 2nd picture, Button Polyps (I may have misheard "bottom polyps" at the shop?) I actually BOUGHT a colony of them. They will spread and grow nicely in time. You can target feed them mysis shrimp, if you want to cultivate them. :) My cleaner shrimp are pigs, and steal food right out of my polyps' mouths. :(

Here's a picture of what it can grow into (under actinic lights):

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20130&d=1166730931

Be careful when handling them as they actually create a pretty potent toxin and when exposed to air, they tend to squirt. Wear gloves & goggles if you need to do anything with it (move it, etc)

Kevin

[m3bimmerboy]

Yes my button polyps (if thats what they are) are very fast at grabbing mysis out of the water. The other ones dont seem to do much of anything.

[kkonowalchuk]

Actually, I retract my comment about pic 1 possibly being aptasia... I'm about 75% sure that it is just some "young" polyps... When mine was spreading, the new polyps that grew were pretty flat like that. They are just a little shorter than I'm used to seeing.

Do they retract their tops to look like a little hotdog when spooked? I don't know how to better describe it. :)

[bigtyguyy]

thats a really good shot.

and as for the very first picture i am almost sure that it is aptasia.
to me your picture looks just like this one.


Trumpet Anemone Aiptasia mutabilis (Gravenhorst)
http://www.camerasunderwater.info/gallery/Geoff_S/pix/TrumpetAnemone1.jpg





in the first picture the first 3 polyps in the front of the picture are aiptasia but the 2 polyps in the back side by side look like bottom polyps.... JMHO

[kkonowalchuk]

Nice picture... :) I guess one kamakazi approach to determine whether it's aptasia or just a cute little polyp is to touch it. If it stings, it's an anemone - if not, it's a polyp. :)

(don't do that, I don't want to be responsible for a sore finger or adverse reaction to the sting if it IS an anemone)

When in doubt....
:blown:

[m3bimmerboy]

Actually, I retract my comment about pic 1 possibly being aptasia... I'm about 75% sure that it is just some "young" polyps... When mine was spreading, the new polyps that grew were pretty flat like that. They are just a little shorter than I'm used to seeing.

Do they retract their tops to look like a little hotdog when spooked? I don't know how to better describe it. :)

Yes they do turn into a "Hot dog" if you touch them. Picture 1 isnt a very good picture. If 3 is definately aptasia then pic 1 is definately NOT, way easyer to see in real life. I probably can get a picture with both in it tomorrow when the lights come back on.

[m3bimmerboy]

the first picture the first 3 polyps in the front of the picture are aiptasia but the 2 polyps in the back side by side look like bottom polyps.... JMHO

nope, their all the same critter, just at a different angle due to the slope of the rock.

[csmarine]

They are in my humble opinion all without a doubt button polyps aka palythoa they are relatives of zoanthids will grow out quite nicely and can be toxic so do wear gloves and goggles when handling. I know im repeating what others have said but it still seems like there is some confusion. Or else im just confused. Quite possible.

[WTAC]

They look like Palys to me as well :).

JM2C

[jgillard]

Pic 1 is definitly NOT aiptasia. I have one of these polyps on my live rock as well.

[Dene]

Just a couple of things that came with my tank, can someone please ID them for me and tell me if their good or bad.

These are not aiptasia, both are button polyps...two species of palythoa.