I need another ID please

[commod0re]

I was thinking probably not cup coral because OP said it moved on its own… can they move????

 

[Fish Fan]

It looks like some kind of small anemone to me, perhaps a majano. Either way, it looks like it's growing up under a frag plug, and for that reason it's likely a pest 'nem and I would get rid of it, whatever it is

 

[PolypPocket]

Some sort of anemone? Absolutely tiny (it’s sitting on a frag plug) and moves because it originally was higher up and when I came back it was at the bottom. Only opened up at night and I quickly turned on the light and got photos before it started closing up again.

How long did it took to move place? First and last picture, where they taken on the same day?

Only about an hour, same day

 

[PolypPocket]

I was thinking probably not cup coral because OP said it moved on its own… can they move????

I have cup corals in the tank and this is nothing like them so I don’t think that’s it. It has no skeleton at all.

 

[PolypPocket]

I messaged @ISpeakForTheSeas hehe, hope I’m not bothering them

 

[sixty_reefer]

Only about an hour, same day

You looking potentially at a bleached majano anemone.

 

[PolypPocket]

Google Lens works best in my experience, but still fails 90% of the time when it's not one of the most common hitchhikers. The suggested similar images can sometimes lead one into the right direction but usually you need to find out a lot by yourself to get closer to the solution.

At first I thought it's some Aiptasiidae, but it's weird to be so pale and yet still have a clearly visible oral disc pattern. Usually they turn fully white when not using photosynthesis (https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/893934)

The stem is also nearly non-existent and the tentacles apparently have white tips which is odd. Ball anemones like Corynactis sp. sometimes have these.
Anemones are so abundant and each genus seems so diverse, it will be really difficult to find the right one. To me most of them look like Aiptasia

If you are bored you can go through https://www.reeflex.net/kategorie/48.html and hope to find a similar looking one

Usually you would have to go through some scientific guide which breaks down the genera that might come into question, but those things are really difficult to use without a lot of knowledge about anemones and often require specialized equipment like a microscope.

Thanks for the links. It was under the sand! I only noticed when I pulled the plug to cut off the frag. So it wasn’t photosynthesizing and maybe that’s why it’s so pale?

 

[PolypPocket]

Only about an hour, same day

You looking potentially at a bleached majano anemone.

Ok that may be it then, hopefully it’s still there lol…haven’t checked yet

 

[PolypPocket]

It’s gone

 

[EnterName]

It’s gone

Even if it's a majano, they are pretty easy to get rid of compared to Aiptasia and won't spread even more when you start a treatment. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It might have been something else entirely that wouldn't last for long in a tank anyway.

 

[PolypPocket]

It’s gone

Even if it's a majano, they are pretty easy to get rid of compared to Aiptasia and won't spread even more when you start a treatment. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It might have been something else entirely that wouldn't last for long in a tank anyway.

You’re probably right. If I see it again I will remove it. I actually set up a “undesirables” tank that already houses two baby gorilla crabs I found on my rock, so if I can I’d actually like to try to save it.

 

[PolypPocket]

Found it

 

[tbrown]

Found it

That picture shows that it's not a Majano most likely.

I'm not convinced it's an Aiptasia but I'm not convinced it's not.

Maybe a Sagartia of some variety? Looks similar to Sagartia troglodytes (Cylista troglodytes)

 

[PolypPocket]

Found it

I googled and it does look like some of the photos. But it’s native to the wrong area according to google. Maybe there is a similar looking species in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida?

Edit: I did some digging for similar looking species after you mentioned that particular anemone and was curious if you think Exaiptasia diaphana is a good fit?

 

[EnterName]

Just comparing the first images in this thread with the most recent ones. They could be completely different anemones. Anemones differ too much based on zooxanthellae density, size, expansion/retraction, etc. It's really difficult to differentiate them.

I couldn't find a decent taxonomic key that doesn't require to read through large texts, so I tried comparing the images to those on https://www.reeflex.net/kategorie/48.html and all sorts of pictures I was able to dig up elsewhere. There is no way I will be able to find the right one from all those similar looking ones...sorry, I tried

My two cents: A very nasty Aiptasia/Exaiptasia strain has nearly nuked my tank once. I personally wouldn't risk it and take it out if no one can rule out with certainty that it isn't some Aiptasia/Exaiptasia strain. I could imagine it's impossible to identify the genus without microscope so there will always be a risk.

 

[tbrown]

I googled and it does look like some of the photos. But it’s native to the wrong area according to google. Maybe there is a similar looking species in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida?

Maybe an Anthopleura...?

@LiverockRocks

Also could just be a Lightbulb Anemone I suppose.

 

[PolypPocket]

Just comparing the first images in this thread with the most recent ones. They could be completely different anemones. Anemones differ too much based on zooxanthellae density, size, expansion/retraction, etc. It's really difficult to differentiate them.

I couldn't find a decent taxonomic key that doesn't require to read through large texts, so I tried comparing the images to those on https://www.reeflex.net/kategorie/48.html and all sorts of pictures I was able to dig up elsewhere. There is no way I will be able to find the right one from all those similar looking ones...sorry, I tried

My two cents: A very nasty Aiptasia/Exaiptasia strain has nearly nuked my tank once. I personally wouldn't risk it and take it out if no one can rule out with certainty that it isn't some Aiptasia/Exaiptasia strain. I could imagine it's impossible to identify the genus without microscope so there will always be a risk.

Thank you so much for trying. Originally I was hoping it was something like a ball anemone or one of the “good” hitchhikers from TBS. But now I’m starting to see other tiny aiptasia pop up all over (although they look different from this one) so I think I might need to think about getting a nudibranch. I can’t get to a lot of them with joes juice since they are under or around the biggest rock work and it’d have to destroy everything to get to them just to have them go into the holes when disturbed and not find them anyway. But I can get to this one at least (the one in the most recent photos).
And I can’t say for certain they came on the TBS rock because I’ve added corals and macros. I mean I inspected them and did dips but something could have slipped by.

I just feel bad that if I got a nudibranch it would starve….but then again I could see if someone local wanted it after me

 

[PolypPocket]

I googled and it does look like some of the photos. But it’s native to the wrong area according to google. Maybe there is a similar looking species in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida?

Maybe an Anthopleura...?

@LiverockRocks

Also could just be a Lightbulb Anemone I suppose.

That’s one of the ones I was hoping for instead of the infesting kind but it’s impossible to tell at this size.