Zooanthid ID

[esmithiii]

Check this pic out. I have had this specimine for a year or so and it just recently started dividing. The main polyp is about 4" across! Any help with an ID? I feed it brine shrimp and it eats as much as I will give it.

[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: esmithiii ]

 

[esmithiii]

[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: esmithiii ]

 

[Smthnfishy]

I've seen them for sale as moon polyps, usually like 20 bucks per polyp. It will get larger, the head a little bit bigger than a quarter. There nice and different.
Erik

 

[davelin315]

I've seen them sold before as giant zooanthids. I think the biggest I've ever seen them is around 3", so yours is a monster as far as I'm concerned. I think I also saw some snorkeling in Tahiti, but I can't be sure of that (I was 30 or 40 feet down, my lungs were burning, and I was concentrating on watching the tiny pipefish I found eat). The ones I've seen have had fairly dull coloration, mainly pasty colors, with white stripes in them. Very cool when you look at them, but kind of butt ugly, too.