Your experience with sponge anemone on Tampa Bay Saltwater rock?

[Kilman805]

The presence of “sponge anemone” on Tampa Bay Saltwater live rock seems pretty well documented and contentious because of its similarity to invasive aiptasia.

TBS @LiverockRocks has this to say about it:
Sponge Anemone

Who has firsthand long-term experience with it in their tank? I have a few in my tank and it hasn’t spread in the couple months I’ve had it.

Has it caused any issues? Has anyone found it to host clownfish or other critters?

Hoping to avoid knee jerk “kill it” reactions from those who haven’t acquired it through TBS, but not holding my breath.

 

[Subsea]

Not sure why the name sponge in front of anemone. I have them from some diver collected Gulf Live Rock for several years. I have not had any issues with them.

I do question that a shrimp or a Clown will host in them. However, Clownfish host where they want. Mine host in a large Toadstool leather.

 

[Kilman805]

Thanks, Subsea. Anyone else have experience with this on gulf rock?

 

[IceNein]

Following along, I have some on my rock, and I have the same question.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Not going to be much advice on these, really just down to your observations of its growth and whether you like to have it in the tank or not. @LiverockRocks will respond soon since you tagged them, I'd wait on there response.
Like their website says, it's an undescribed species, which is basically a taxonomic "dead end", we know it exists but it has not been formally studied or named.

 

[Kilman805]

Not going to be much advice on these, really just down to your observations of its growth and whether you like to have it in the tank or not.

TBS has been in business 40 years, so was hoping someone could share some firsthand experience with it. It may not be the prettiest creature, but I see no reason to kill it if it’s not harming anything else. But would be great to hear what others have experienced.

 

[BristleWormHater]

TBS has been in business 40 years, so was hoping someone could share some firsthand experience with it. It may not be the prettiest creature, but I see no reason to kill it if it’s not harming anything else. But would be great to hear what others have experienced.

Personally, I'd leave it, I like how it looks.
Like you said I'm sure TBS will share some info when they see this post.

 

[subodhs]

So, that's what these are called! I've had these in my tank since I got the rock about a year ago. I took out the rock recently due to needing some space, but there didn't seem to be any downside to them. They didn't spread, look kinda nice with a greenish tinge under blue lights, and the peppermint shrimps (about 10 of them), Aiptasia eating Filefish or the two wrasses (Yellow Coris and Melanurus) didn't touch them.
They also didn't grow very much from when I got them.

 

[Soren]

I've always found them to be called lightbulb anemones. I got some 20+ on my Gulf live rock a few years back. Most were lost in a crash of my live rock system due to a tank leak, but one survived a transfer on live rock to my work desk system and is thriving. It has never yet reproduced and is about 3cm across the disk. It disappeared when I temporarily had butterflyfish in my tank, but showed back up soon after the butterflyfish were gone.

I find them harmless and interesting, in my experience, though I do doubt they are suitable as a host to any fish or most/all invertebrates.

 

[Kilman805]

Cool, thanks to both of you for sharing. TBS lists lightbulb anemones as something that looks a bit different from mine:
Lightbulb anemone (TBS link)

Not that I have any real clue, just comparing to their photos.

 

[Soren]

Cool, thanks to both of you for sharing. TBS lists lightbulb anemones as something that looks a bit different from mine:
Lightbulb anemone (TBS link)

Not that I have any real clue, just comparing to their photos.

I think yours is the same lightbulb anemone. When they are small, the tentacles have the old-fashioned lightbulb shape. When they get bigger, the tentacles stretch to look very much the same as your picture. Mine all distinctly had the lightbulb shape until they started to get bigger and look like yours. The one I have left looks almost identical to yours.

 

[wtdenk]

Had one for over two years now from a piece of TBS rock. Love it. Hasn't caused any issues. This lightbulb nem and a hidden cup coral that hitchhiked are by far my favorite pieces of life in that tank.

 

[Soren]

Had one for over two years now from a piece of TBS rock. Love it. Hasn't caused any issues. This lightbulb nem and a hidden cup coral that hitchhiked are by far my favorite pieces of life in that tank.

I'm so disappointed my cup corals and rose corals, along with so much other interesting life, died from my live rock since my tank sprung a leak and crashed... I do plan to order a lot more Gulf live rock once my main system is set up and running to receive it.

 

[Kilman805]

Had one for over two years now from a piece of TBS rock. Love it.

Nice. I’m super happy with the TBS rock. There’s just so much life that comes with it and makes the tank feel natural. I’ll add corals eventually, but for now I’m content to take things slow and do my best with the fish and rock before I add more complications.

 

[mch1984]

I just wish I could get my hands on some tampa bay live. I wanted to seed my new tank with some rubble.

 

[Kilman805]

I feel lucky to have gotten it. First shipment came a few days before they were hit by Helene. Somehow they got the second shipment out a few days after Helene, just a week or so before Milton. I hope they get back on their feet soon. They are top notch people.

 

[mch1984]

I do too, I feel like my comment sounded a little insensitive. I wish nothing but the best for them. I will get my tanked cycled but once they are going again, I will probably add a few pounds of their rubble to the sump after the fact.

 

[thedon986]

I have a few different types of anemones on their rocks I’ve had for 15 months. They definitely will reproduce just not as fast as the pest variety. I’ve kept them in check with a Majano Wand for now until my older Melanurus wrasse passes then I plan on going in with berghia and peppermint shrimp to try and take out the hard to reach ones. Photo below was peak multiplication before I had a lot of coral.

 

[BristleWormHater]

I've always found them to be called lightbulb anemones. I got some 20+ on my Gulf live rock a few years back. Most were lost in a crash of my live rock system due to a tank leak, but one survived a transfer on live rock to my work desk system and is thriving. It has never yet reproduced and is about 3cm across the disk. It disappeared when I temporarily had butterflyfish in my tank, but showed back up soon after the butterflyfish were gone.

I find them harmless and interesting, in my experience, though I do doubt they are suitable as a host to any fish or most/all invertebrates.

Lightbulb anemones are a described species, bellactis lux, this anemone is still undescribed, but they are very similar being in the genus bellactis, but could have differences in growth and reproduction, which is important here.

 

[KQuillan]

OOps. I had two, and the stems are enormous. I did try and kill them. I didn't want to take a chance. However, I do notice the same two have come back, maybe slower and smaller. I guess I will leave them alone if they make it again this time.
I also just found out I have a rock scallop, too! How cool. Some of the red sponges on my rock are dying off, but I still love having actual live rock.