Maybe it's S. mertensii
 

Had this carpet since May 2004. I've been "100% certain" up until today that it is Stichodactyla gigantea. Today I just noticed it do something that I've never noticed it do before that makes me question my ID and now I wonder if it could be S. mertensii. The longer tentacles surrounding the mouth is a classic merten's feature. (And if it IS a merten's ... hoo boy do I have a problem down the road, in terms of diameter they are the largest hosting species of anemones ... :eek: Forget the ritteri, these get BIGGER!)

Funny that it's never done this before.

At the moment it is a nice sort-of compact 8" in diameter.

http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/a...10/carpet1.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/a...10/carpet2.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/a...10/carpet3.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/a...10/carpet4.jpg


For reference, here are some older pictures:
When it was first purchased (May '04):
http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/a...a_20040512.jpg
And after about a month (June '04):
http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/a...a_20040621.jpg

haha, you got a 3-ft anemone.

:biggrin:

I posted the same pics on RC in the anemone forum and the consensus over there is that it's still S. gigantea. Not that a merten's carpet wouldn't be "très cool" but yeah, I .. um... don't really want a 3ft anemone. One 2 footer is challenge enough. :lol:

I dunno if anyone cares as much about this sort of thing as I do, but in case you're interested, here's the thread over at RC:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=686511

So anyhow, apparently a healthy S. gigantea exhibits the same longer-tentacles near the mouth as does S. mertensii. I never knew that. Always something new and exciting to learn in this hobby! :cool:

hows that new tank coming Tony..?? :razz:

Slowly. There's water in it. :cool: I still have some plumbing to finish to get the sump online. Unfortunately the Seio 1500 is not nearly going to be enough flow :frown: So I have to look at other options. But I am hoping to have something to show off within another week or two. :eek: