Looks kind of like a zoa...

[mjleffler]

Hi everyone,

Have had two of these in my tank for quite a while, seem to only come out as it gets dark or in the morning. They haven’t moved spots ever, and don’t seem to have bothered anything. Just curious as to what they are. I can try and take a better picture once I see it again if it’s not easily identifiable!

 

[vetteguy53081]

My best guess would be majano or aptasia anemone in which either are pests

 

[afishbestservedcold]

if it isnt out at night its probably not a zoa, dont they all photosynthesize/have photosynthetic zooanthellae?

its cool though, looks like a cool majano or aptasia if thats what it is.

 

[mjleffler]

Yeah that’s a good point about photosynthesis...

I didn’t originally think it was a majano or aptasia, because it doesn’t really look like the generic pictures of either of those, but it definitely resembles it. Are there different speciation or variation of majano or aptasia? Also are they supposed to spread quickly? This picture was taken back in November and I’ve definitely had two of these from even earlier than that

 

[afishbestservedcold]

I am very green to reefing and have only dealt with aptasia, which also photosynthesizes. I just looked and couldnt really find anything on majanos so maybe they dont photosynthesize and feed at night but that sounds pretty crazy...

Do you have any more pics? its weird that you only see it at night

 

[duberii]

I think I had some of these on my TBS live rock- I believe it's a type of anemone, but it isn't anything to be worried about IME

 

[Softhammer]

That’s an aiptasia. They can be various shades of clear/white/brown. Majanos typically have bulbous tentacle tips.

 

[mjleffler]

I did start out with live rock so it probably came from that. Here are the two guys just now, apologize for the poor picture quality still haven’t quite figured out the right lighting. They’re still in a little bit of hiding as the lights are just going down

 

[duberii]

Looks like number 12 on this list- https://www.tbsaltwater.com/thepackage/organisms.html . Unfortunately it has no ID, but it doesn't look like aiptasia to me, which usually has pointed tentacles.

 

[mjleffler]

Looks like number 12 on this list- https://www.tbsaltwater.com/thepackage/organisms.html . Unfortunately it has no ID, but it doesn't look like aiptasia to me, which usually has pointed tentacles.

Looking at that list #6 is a filter feeding aiptasia, which could explain why it only comes out at night. But it does have that band across the face like #12. Physical removal seems to only spread aiptasia, so I definitely don’t want to pull it out!

 

[duberii]

Looking at that list #6 is a filter feeding aiptasia, which could explain why it only comes out at night. But it does have that band across the face like #12. Physical removal seems to only spread aiptasia, so I definitely don’t want to pull it out!

That type of aiptasia is less prolific than the pest aiptasia we get (allegedly). I personally believe it resembles #12 more, based on the shape of the tentacle, the color, and the band that you mentioned.

 

[mjleffler]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I'll try and take some pictures later tonight under red light as that's when they seem to be out in the open