gaberosenfield
Guest
Hi again reefers,
As part of the Pringle Lab closure at Stanford, we also have some anemones I would like to rehome.
First of all, since we use Aiptasia (Exaiptasia diaphana) in our work, we have TONS of Aiptasia (literally 1000s). Obviously no one sane wants these in their tanks, but if anyone is breeding Berghia or other Aiptasia-eating nudibranchs, come and get a lifetime supply of food for your nudis.
Second, we have a large Bartholomea annulata that was collected from Key Largo, Florida two years ago. These anemones, sometimes called ringed or corkscrew anemones, live in sandy areas and on the reef in Florida and the Caribbean. They are symbiotic, like Aiptasia and most of the corals we keep, but they are also very good at catching fish to eat, so be warned. I don't know if they are safe with clownfish, but they do live in symbiosis with some types of shrimp on the reef (every one I saw on the reef in Florida was living with one or more shrimp: very cute!). When fully expanded, its oral disk is 3-4" diameter, and its tentacles can cover a hemisphere 10-12" across. While it isn't super colorful, it would add some nice motion in a low-flow environment, and its tentacles have a characteristic corkscrew pattern of light and dark bands. Also, unlike Aiptasia, it does not reproduce asexually via pedal laceration (or at least it has not done so in the two years we've had it), so it won't spread and take over your tank. This would be a really nice addition to a seagrass tank, a mangrove tank, a display sump, or a Caribbean biotope. Note that it isn't fully expanded in the picture I show below:
Finally, we have two Actinostella flosculifera, AKA collared sand anemones. These were also collected two years ago from Key Largo, Florida. They live in similar areas as B. annulata, but are smaller and only live in sandy or other loose substrate as they like to bury their body columns in the substrate. Also like B. annulata, they are symbiotic and quite capable of catching fish and other creatures for food (be warned that they may catch unwary fish!). Under better lighting conditions and with their preferred substrate, they inflate more, and expand their "collar" flat over the substrate to cover a diameter at least as great as the reach of their tentacles. They can also display some more interesting color patterns. Their oral disks are each 1-2" in diameter, but they aren't fully expanded in these pictures. And, like B. annulata, they do not reproduce via pedal laceration and will not take over your tank. These would be great in any environment that has sand and low flow. I know they look like Aiptasia in the pictures, but from the side, you can see their collars and tell they are not Aiptasia.
If you want any of these, DM me. Pick up will be on the third floor of the Lane Building in the Stanford Medical Center, room L306. I will be out of town for the next two weeks, but my colleague will be here and I can put you in contact with her to arrange the pickup.
Thanks,
Gabe
As part of the Pringle Lab closure at Stanford, we also have some anemones I would like to rehome.
First of all, since we use Aiptasia (Exaiptasia diaphana) in our work, we have TONS of Aiptasia (literally 1000s). Obviously no one sane wants these in their tanks, but if anyone is breeding Berghia or other Aiptasia-eating nudibranchs, come and get a lifetime supply of food for your nudis.
Second, we have a large Bartholomea annulata that was collected from Key Largo, Florida two years ago. These anemones, sometimes called ringed or corkscrew anemones, live in sandy areas and on the reef in Florida and the Caribbean. They are symbiotic, like Aiptasia and most of the corals we keep, but they are also very good at catching fish to eat, so be warned. I don't know if they are safe with clownfish, but they do live in symbiosis with some types of shrimp on the reef (every one I saw on the reef in Florida was living with one or more shrimp: very cute!). When fully expanded, its oral disk is 3-4" diameter, and its tentacles can cover a hemisphere 10-12" across. While it isn't super colorful, it would add some nice motion in a low-flow environment, and its tentacles have a characteristic corkscrew pattern of light and dark bands. Also, unlike Aiptasia, it does not reproduce asexually via pedal laceration (or at least it has not done so in the two years we've had it), so it won't spread and take over your tank. This would be a really nice addition to a seagrass tank, a mangrove tank, a display sump, or a Caribbean biotope. Note that it isn't fully expanded in the picture I show below:
Finally, we have two Actinostella flosculifera, AKA collared sand anemones. These were also collected two years ago from Key Largo, Florida. They live in similar areas as B. annulata, but are smaller and only live in sandy or other loose substrate as they like to bury their body columns in the substrate. Also like B. annulata, they are symbiotic and quite capable of catching fish and other creatures for food (be warned that they may catch unwary fish!). Under better lighting conditions and with their preferred substrate, they inflate more, and expand their "collar" flat over the substrate to cover a diameter at least as great as the reach of their tentacles. They can also display some more interesting color patterns. Their oral disks are each 1-2" in diameter, but they aren't fully expanded in these pictures. And, like B. annulata, they do not reproduce via pedal laceration and will not take over your tank. These would be great in any environment that has sand and low flow. I know they look like Aiptasia in the pictures, but from the side, you can see their collars and tell they are not Aiptasia.
If you want any of these, DM me. Pick up will be on the third floor of the Lane Building in the Stanford Medical Center, room L306. I will be out of town for the next two weeks, but my colleague will be here and I can put you in contact with her to arrange the pickup.
Thanks,
Gabe
