Quick Care Facts
• Care Level: Moderate • Temperament: Semi-Aggressive • Maximum Size: 10"
• Diet: Omnivore • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks • Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Reef Compatible: Yes • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements • Coloration: Green, Purple, Orange
• Origin: Indo-Pacific • Family: Cerianthidae • Species: Anemones
Native Habitat and Species Information
Tube Anemone native habitat, distribution, behavior & aquarium compatibility.
The Tube Anemone or Tube Dwelling Anemone is a pure reef only species or species only aquarium with a non-abrasive substrate. The Tube Anemone is in actuality a distant cousin of the true sea anemone. Tube Anemones create a tube from the nematocysts that have been previously discharged. The coloration of the Tube Anemone can vary greatly between simple tans/browns to vibrant pink, purple or fluorescent greens.
While this species has a moderate care level, this is within the confines of a true reef tank or species only aquarium. This species is not well suited for aquariums with aggressive or boisterous fish or invert species.
How to successfully keep Tube Anemone in the home aquarium.
Tube Anemones should be kept ideally in reef aquariums that have a deep sand bed, plenty of live rock and a refugium in order to create enough of a natural food source. Since Tube Anemones are non-photosynthetic, they do not require intense aquarium lighting. Tube Anemones are in fact nocturnal in nature and will take some time to change over to the illuminated hours of the aquarium environment.
With time though, this species will begin to open during lights on periods of time. This species should be initially placed on the sand substrate upon introduction to the aquarium, where it will soon locate itself within a bottom rock crevice.
Feeding & Nutrition
How to feed and provide proper nutrition for Tube Anemone.
Because Tube Anemones are not photosynthetic, they need to be fed regularly when they are fully expanded. Initially this will be during nocturnal hours, but with some patience this species will gradually shift over to lights on feedings. Feed small frozen foods such as brine or mysis shrimp, chopped pieces of fish and zooplankton.
A refugium is highly recommended for this species as an excellent source of copepods and other food stuffs beneficial to the Tube Anemone as well as most other reef aquarium inhabitants. The addition of Trace elements to the system will also benefit the Tube Anemone.
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