Halimeda Species ID?

[FossilizedRappy]

Today, I happened to see macroalgae at the local pet store, which never happens. It's definitely Halimeda sp., and looked enough like one of the circumtropical reef species like H. opuntia or H. discoides I felt confident purchasing it it for my Florida Keys biotope tank, but I was hoping someone might be able to pin in down further.

Also, how likely is my variegated urchin to have a little snack of this when there's also green hair algae (dwindling but present), coralline, and nori for it to choose instead? I'm not going to shed tears if it happens since these were dirt cheap, but curiosity begs the question.

 

[Channas]

Hard to say but i belive that one is called ”cactus” when it’s up for sale, atleast stores like to use that name, but its true name i think is halimeda tuna.

I might be wrong but its my best bet

 

[Subsea]

Urchin will eat the red macro.

 

[FossilizedRappy]

Hard to say but i belive that one is called ”cactus” when it’s up for sale, atleast stores like to use that name, but its true name i think is halimeda tuna.

I might be wrong but its my best bet

Seems as good a guess as any, and would still be a perfect fit for the tank's regional theme.

So far the pieces still seem healthy, but the largest cluster is being carried around by my variegated urchin as camouflage so it hasn't really been able to put out rhizoids. Not exactly the thing they usually warn you about with urchins and macros.

 

[vlangel]

Today, I happened to see macroalgae at the local pet store, which never happens. It's definitely Halimeda sp., and looked enough like one of the circumtropical reef species like H. opuntia or H. discoides I felt confident purchasing it it for my Florida Keys biotope tank, but I was hoping someone might be able to pin in down further.

Also, how likely is my variegated urchin to have a little snack of this when there's also green hair algae (dwindling but present), coralline, and nori for it to choose instead? I'm not going to shed tears if it happens since these were dirt cheap, but curiosity begs the question.

My guess is halimeda opuntia.

 

[Channas]

Seems as good a guess as any, and would still be a perfect fit for the tank's regional theme.

So far the pieces still seem healthy, but the largest cluster is being carried around by my variegated urchin as camouflage so it hasn't really been able to put out rhizoids. Not exactly the thing they usually warn you about with urchins and macros.

Haha ain’t that the truth my urchin keep on snatching up Hermit crabs on it’s back and carry them arround the tank with various other stuff, frags being also one thing it loves to put on

 

[Privateye]

I used to have a ton of Halimeda like that, but I never looked into the species.

If it starts taking off, keep a close eye on your calcium. It can consume a lot once it grows more.

 

[FossilizedRappy]

Haha ain’t that the truth my urchin keep on snatching up Hermit crabs on it’s back and carry them arround the tank with various other stuff, frags being also one thing it loves to put on

I hard stick frags for this exact reason, so that's never happened, but mine has grabbed empty shells, orange claw hermit crabs, pieces of rubble, and the chunk of cuttlebone I tried to give it as a treat. Since the halimeda was introduced, though, it's fallen in love with the half it grabbed and has refused to shift to anything else!

 

[Channas]

I hard stick frags for this exact reason, so that's never happened, but mine has grabbed empty shells, orange claw hermit crabs, pieces of rubble, and the chunk of cuttlebone I tried to give it as a treat. Since the halimeda was introduced, though, it's fallen in love with the half it grabbed and has refused to shift to anything else!

Thats funny yeah i put up a frag bracket with magnet on the back glass and after that it became better but he sometimes breaks off the glued stuff on my rocks, specially new sps frags he likes to break off and steal