Pod inside anemone tentacles?

[Maxx]

I've been keeping anemones for several years, so I'm not exactly new to them, but I recently saw something very interesting in a recent arrival.

I observed 3-4 small (apprx 1mm in length) crustaceans inside the tentacles or a purple M.doreensis anemone.

I dont have a macro lense, and would not be able to photograph them w/o one. These "pods" for lack of a better term are longer than they are wide, are whitish in color, and swim fairly rapidly. They were all observed in the tentacles of the anemone which arrived via mail order earlier this week. I have no idea what they are, and have not found any references about them anywhere.

The anemone appears to be in good health, but as stated earlier, was recently shipped to me, so it is recovering from the stress.

Any ideas on what they could possibly be? I know w/o a pic, ID is impossible. But even reasonable guess would be welcome. Could this possibly be lunch that somehow escaped the digestive tract somehow? This is a large-ish LTA, approx 7 inches in diameter, so the "pods" are pretty small in relation to normal prey type items....

Nick

 

[NaH2O]

Nick, are you sure they are pods and not "anemone shrimp"? There are many Periclimenes sp. that live in anemones.

 

[Maxx]

I dont know what these are...but they physically located inside the anemone's tentacles, not roaming around on the outside of the anemones oral disc and among its tentacles like every other Periclimenes shrimp, or Petrolisthes crab I've ever seen. These are also much smaller than any Periclimenes shrimp I've seen.

Nick

 

[NaH2O]

OH! Now I understand. When you said inside the tentacles, I didn't think you meant literally INSIDE them. I pictured roaming around the anemone.

I'll tag along to hear what Anthony has to say.

 

[Planet Reef]

How cool is that? I've never heard of it before. I'm tagging along as well.

 

[morgan]

pretty much sick aye
maybe it a shrimp laid eggs in the anenome and then they hatch and then get out the mouth and live on it just a wild shot in the dark