Aiptasia??? Never seen this type before ( HELP with ID)

[ChuckTownReefer]

So I have these weird type of I'm guessing is a type of pest anemone. But I have never seen them before. They even move and try to swim.
Also will Berghia nudibranch eat them??
Please any help would be appreciated.
I have posted videos and pictures

* it won't let me post the 20 second video of them moving. I could try and pm you the video but not 100% sure.

 

[bradleym]

I think they are aiptasia, I've only heard of it once before but apparently it used to be more common to get this species that can swim. Would love to see it in action. YouTube works for most people trying to share videos.

 

[Rtaylor]

Boloceroides mcmurrichi​

The SWIMMING ANEMONE Boloceroides mcmurrichi

Swimming anemone Bulloceroides mcmurrichi on mangrove seed. Image M. Heckman Most sea anemones when harassed just hunker down, shoot o...

coconutislandnews.blogspot.com

 

[Rtaylor]

Another link

The Biodiversity of Singapore

 

[Jmp998]

They don't look like aiptasia to me, which usually have a more obvious oral disk relative to the tentacles. Aiptasia only move by very slowly crawling with their pedal disk, or detaching and free floating. Maybe hydroid jellyfish?

If they are not aiptasia, then Berghia will not eat them.

 

[bradleym]

Boloceroides mcmurrichi​

The SWIMMING ANEMONE Boloceroides mcmurrichi

Swimming anemone Bulloceroides mcmurrichi on mangrove seed. Image M. Heckman Most sea anemones when harassed just hunker down, shoot o...

coconutislandnews.blogspot.com

This is absolutely amazing, thank you! And now I need some, lol

 

[Tamberav]

Omg I love them!! I want them lol

Looks like Berghia do eat them but they can swim away… and drop tentacles as a distraction which can also become a new nem andddd they can swim right into your coral stinging them.

They sound like Aiptasia on steroids.

If it wasn’t winter, I would ask you to ship them to me. What a cool pest.

 

[ChuckTownReefer]

I think they are aiptasia, I've only heard of it once before but apparently it used to be more common to get this species that can swim. Would love to see it in action. YouTube works for most people trying to share videos.

January 10, 2023

youtube.com

 

[ChuckTownReefer]

Another link

The Biodiversity of Singapore

January 10, 2023

youtube.com

January 10, 2023

youtube.com

 

[ChuckTownReefer]

Omg I love them!! I want them lol

Looks like Berghia do eat them but they can swim away… and drop tentacles as a distraction which can also become a new nem andddd they can swim right into your coral stinging them.

They sound like Aiptasia on steroids.

If it wasn’t winter, I would ask you to ship them to me. What a cool pest.

They seem hard to get rid of. Lol

 

[fishguy242]

they don't stick very well, can siphon out w turkey baster
or blow loose and net out .
were pretty common 20 yrs ago ,easy to remove.

 

[Tamberav]

They seem hard to get rid of. Lol

They would be cool in a pico species tank for the heck of it

 

[Jmp998]

OK I don't have time to research this extensively right now but as far as I can tell: "Berghia major" referred to in that link about Boloceroides mcmurruchi is not a valid species name; the accepted name for the species formerly called "Berghia major" is actually "Baeolidia moebii". This is not the same species or even the same genus as the commercially available Berghia stephanieae which we use to control Aiptasia in the hobby. Sorry but I don't think "Berghia" are going to help with this potential pest.

See WORMS links:

WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Baeolidia moebii Bergh, 1888

www.marinespecies.org

WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Berghia major (Eliot, 1903)

www.marinespecies.org

 

[Widdlyscudds]

I am forever gonna call these "yeetasia"

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

They're Reef Tribbles!

 

[bradleym]

Omg I love them!! I want them lol

Looks like Berghia do eat them but they can swim away… and drop tentacles as a distraction which can also become a new nem andddd they can swim right into your coral stinging them.

They sound like Aiptasia on steroids.

If it wasn’t winter, I would ask you to ship them to me. What a cool pest.

This! @ChuckTownReefer if you're still battling these guys come March, I might have to work something out with you.

 

[bradleym]

They would be cool in a pico species tank for the heck of it

I actually set up a ball-shaped Pico with Macroalgae and tulip anemones, these would be a great addition.

 

[OrionN]

Neat anemone. I would love to get some of these into my reef.