Red Gigantea or Red Haddoni?? - NEED expert opinion

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

seen alot of carpets while helping out at my shop. Trying to figure out what species of anemone is that one exactly.

My buddy with 20+ years in this hobby says its Gigantea. I am 70% sure that it is gigantea because haddoni's tentacles shorten up tremendously going towards the center while these stay the same length completely. However the length of it's tentacles is right in the middle of common gigantea and haddoni.

Looking for some expert opinion, tried to google it time and time again but lots of mix pictures and non valid sources

here's a video

http://youtu.be/23_A8uaaX0g

 

[twomuch42004]

seen alot of carpets while helping out at my shop. Trying to figure out what species of anemone is that one exactly.

My buddy with 20+ years in this hobby says its Gigantea. I am 70% sure that it is gigantea because haddoni's tentacles shorten up tremendously going towards the center while these stay the same length completely. However the length of it's tentacles is right in the middle of common gigantea and haddoni.

Looking for some expert opinion, tried to google it time and time again but lots of mix pictures and non valid sources

here's a video

http://youtu.be/23_A8uaaX0g

It can be Mine for the right price LOL

 

[pgr11]

Eric emac might be able to help out here

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

If you got about 18 square inches of space in your tank and got a great tax return this year, feel free to PM me about the price!

It can be Mine for the right price LOL

 

[twomuch42004]

**** 18 wow I'm out next

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

I hope so, I feel like he's more knowledgeable with bubble types vs. carpets

Eric emac might be able to help out here

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

"The tentacles will be around to inches in length"

Read more: http://www.reefaquarium.com/2013/gigantea-carpet-anemone/#ixzz2TK4CyuDc

 

[Emac909]

Google

Stichodactyla Mertensii

And tell me what u think

 

[mark.a.smith405]

You should fa sho buy this Eric.. That thing is BAD ***

 

[Emac909]

Mertens' sea anemone
Scientific name : Stichodactyla mertensii

The largest sea anemone, with over 1 m diameter. Disc shaped, with sometimes folded edges. Short and regular tentacles, 1-2 cm long, more spaced and longer in the central area and missing around the mouth. Green or brown tentacles, light brown column with orange or pink stains. Adhaesive verrucae under the oral disc edge hold the disc in position.
Easy to confound with the 2 species belonging to the same genus, Stichodactyla haddoni and Stichodactyla gigantea. Apart from the less tightly packed tentacles, the easiest way to distinguish them is based on the environment: S. mertensii is always on rocky bottoms, S. gigantea and S. haddoni on the sand.

 

[BeanMachine]

I think I've read that some you can tell the difference based on the underside ie spots..... But I don't have a clue haha sorry. I don't think it's a Haddoni.

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

alright.. here's all the evidence on the table... as you can see, the carpet in question has a mat of tentacles around the oral cavity that are distinctly different...

The two following pictures are the carpet in question....

This is a small 6-8 inch red haddoni in the same system...

This is a medium 8-10 inch neon green haddoni next to the small red...;

This is a large 20 inch red haddoni, same system...

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

here's the column

 

[BeanMachine]

So not Haddoni? There seems to be more spacing of the tentacles?? across the disc and around the mouth on those...

Still don't know just playing along.

 

[BeanMachine]

K did a little go ogling. I'm going with Haddoni. Gigante and Mertens have colored columns and spots. Colored verrucae apparantly is the correct term. That looks to not have them or much color at all.

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

K did a little go ogling. I'm going with Haddoni. Gigante and Mertens have colored columns and spots. Colored verrucae apparantly is the correct term. That looks to not have them or much color at all.

The whole verrucae happens to be the ONLY thing from locking the carpet in as a true Gigantea.. whats unique for me is that they consistent length of the individual tentacles themselves throughout the face of the nem and that those tentacles move independently. Both characteristic, that neither the other 4 haddoni tank mates have.

I honestly/truly like to call this a hybrid because we got something that has the characteristics/traits of two other species. I mean, it happens in nature all the time anyways. Ya got the right sperm and egg floating around at the right time, BAM!! Magic.. haha