Anemone ID   2/7/10 Hello <Hi there Zoe> I bought some live rock yesterday - had quite a deep hollow in one side - I thought there were some mushrooms in there but couldn't really see as they were all shriveled when out of the water. I put the lr into a holding tank and this morning have found 4 anemones? <Mmm, yes... appear to be Stichodactyla helianthus, the Sun Anemone.> have moved out of the hollow onto the front. They are all at least 1inch x 1 inch - the tentacles extend less than 1cm - they are quite flat, almost like a mushroom. I have had a look at the ID pages and couldn't see much resembling them. I wondered whether you could ID them for me and suggest whether its a good idea to keep them or not. I have a 500l tank with a 100l sump, 3 x 54w T5s with reflectors (soon to be 4). Lots of soft corals. <These are very "sting-y"...> I have attached a picture and hope I have given you enough information. Thanks for your time Zoe <Please see here on WWM: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/twaanemones.htm and on the Net re their husbandry. Bob Fenner>

Re: Anemone ID, Helianthus  2/13/10 Thank you for time and your reply. I have tried to do some research about the Sun Anemone and can't find too much. <Not much about as far as I'm aware. This is not a "traded species" of any volume, and is entirely "too stingy" for common use> Am a little concerned as the information I found states that they will eat small fish (I have a couple of very small fish such as a yellow goby, neon goby, clowns) - does this mean they aren't safe to keep in the tank? <Correct> Also some of the other information says that they have a very powerful sting - this has confused me a little because my shrimps often walk over them / stand on them and don't react as if they have been stung. <These animals are indeed almost immune> I suppose I just really want some reassurance that my fish will be safe with them rather than me needing to give them away - what are your thoughts? <I would trade them to someone with a biotopic TWA shallow water habitat. BobF> Thanks again for your time

Atlantic Carpet Anemone Possibly? Hello Robert, I purchased what I thought was a Stichodactyla gigantea. I now believe it is a Stichodactyla helianthus.  <Mmm, an Atlantic Carpet Anemone...> It is yellow in color and the ?base? is very light yellowish tan to white... a real pretty specimen. If I did purchase the helianthus variety, how should I care for it? Placement? Lighting requirements? How can I know for sure it is a helianthus and not a gigantea. <These are very different animals... S. helianthus is pictured, described here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/twaanemones.htm Their tentacles are green, brown... never seen one with a yellow/white base... and this species is much smaller... 4-6 inches in diameter max.> I've read a lot about the care of the carpet anemones but I have never seen any info. about this particular anemone. Any response would be great. <S. gigantea is found here on our site: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anemones.htm Its "face is deeply folded, tentacles much longer... Care for both about the same. Bob Fenner> Terry Teutsch

Stichodactyla helianthus I have read your book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". I have posted to WetWeb, Reef Central and Saltwaterfish.com. I need information specific to this type of carpet anemone so that I can create a microhabitat in which it will thrive AND figure out what to feed it. I got it as a gift and really want to do it justice. <I understand, and agree> Do you know anything about this species? Can you point me in a direction where I can find the info I need? Thanks - Jeanne <You can find what little we have posted on the species by going here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ and posting the scientific name in the search tool at the bottom... This is a shallow (a meter or two generally) tropical West Atlantic species. Easy to care for (relatively for Actinarians). Bob Fenner>