Tube Anemone

Overview

Everything you need to know about Tube Anemones, at a glance:

• Common Names: Cerianthus Anemone, Tube-Dwelling Anemone,
• Scientific Name: Cerianthus spp.
• Max Size: ~20cm
• Temperature Range: 25-28°C
• pH Range: 8.1-8.4
• Salinity Range (SG): 1.024-1.026
• Compatibility: Reef-safe, with caution
• Area Of Origin: Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
• Suitable Foods: Lacks photosynthetic zooxanthellae, needs to be regularly fed small planktonic foods
• Special Requirements: Largely nocturnal, potent sting that can burn (and in some cases kill) fish and other reef inhabitants

What is a Tube Anemone?

Tube Anemones belong to a huge family of anthozoans (an invertebrate group that includes sea anemones, stony corals, and soft corals) known as ceriantharians. While they look a lot like sea anemones, they belong to an entirely different class of anthozoans and are as distantly related from them as we are from kangaroos!

Tube Anemones have long, soft, and cylindrical bodies. On one end they have a crown of colourful, retractable tentacles and, on the other, a pointed foot. They use their pointed feet to burrow deep into sandy substrates, leaving only their tentacle-covered crowns exposed at the surface. Over time, Tube Anemones construct a hard tube to live in.

Like other anthozoans, Tube Anemones come in a variety of shapes and colours. The colouration of their tentacles is highly variable, with cream, beige, blue, orange, pink, purple, and green forms all available in the hobby. Tube Anemones also come in ultra-coloured varieties, with bright, almost psychedelic-coloured tentacles and mouths.

How do I care for a Tube Anemone?

Tube Anemones are a challenging species to keep and require a lot of specialist care. The most important thing to consider when keeping these anemones is space. They pack a particularly potent sting and so pose a significant threat to your aquarium’s other inhabitants when their tentacles are outstretched.

Like other anemones, Tube Anemones require a soft, sandy substrate that’s at least 7.5cm deep. Such a depth allows Tube Anemones to adequately bury their tube and properly anchor themselves into your substrate. Over time, Tube Anemones will secrete threads of mucus that harden their tubes and protects them right up to their crowns.

Tube Anemones lack photosynthetic zooxanthellae; instead, they get all of their nutrition by capturing small zooplankton with their outstretched tentacles. For this reason, they need to be fed small planktonic foods and very finely shredded mysis and vitamin-enriched brineshrimp a few times per week. Turn off your wave pumps during feedings so you don’t hinder this filter feeding process.

As largely nocturnal animals, Tube Anemones don’t require a lot of light and will actively seek out dark, shaded areas in your aquarium. Target feedings are best done once your aquarium lights have dimmed, and your Tube Anemone’s tentacles have fully expanded. When target feeding, use a long pipette and dispense your planktonic solution within reach of your Tube Anemone’s tentacles.

While Tube Anemones can be successfully kept in a reef tank, it’s recommended that you do this with caution. They should not be kept with any large, destructive fishes, nor any small, peaceful fish that may become a target for a Tube Anemone. Also, never attempt to house Clownfish with Tube Anemones as they don’t possess any kind of resistance to their stinging nematocysts. Tube Anemones are best kept alongside robust damselfish.

How is this Tube Anemone delivered?

All of our aquatic animals are dispatched from our livestock distributor and delivered directly to your door. Our distributor dispatches and delivers livestock packages Tuesday through Friday to avoid animals being in transit over the weekend.

After placing your livestock order, you’ll receive all the information needed to track your livestock order via email. If you have any problems regarding delivery, or concerns about the health/wellbeing of your animal(s) upon arrival, please contact us, Swell UK Ltd, immediately, or at least within 48 hours of receiving your livestock order.

Any other, non-livestock items that you purchase alongside livestock will be sent via standard or express delivery and arrive at your delivery address in a different package. This means that, depending on when you place your order, you may receive your non-livestock items before or after your livestock package.

For a detailed breakdown of when you can expect to receive your livestock package depending on the day you place your order, be sure to check the delivery details in the specifications below.

How do you acclimate a Tube Anemone?

It’s very important that you acclimatise new animals to your aquarium. This is the process of gradually adjusting an animal to its new environment and it’s especially important in an aquatic setting where sudden changes in water temperature, pH, and salinity can cause stress, illness and, in some cases, even death.

Before you acclimate your Tube Anemone, it’s recommended that you put on a pair of water-proof gloves (rubber gloves work fine). This will stop your Tube Anemone from stinging you and protect them from any toxic substances/residue that may be present on your hands.

To acclimate your Tube Anemone, place the bag with the anemone inside into your aquarium. Float the bag for at least 20 minutes to allow the temperature of the water in the bag to match the temperature of the water in your aquarium. Then, open the bag and, over the course of an hour, add small amounts of aquarium water.

After an hour, your Tube Anemone should be ready to release. It’s recommended that you discard the water from the bag before transferring your anemone. Also, place your new anemone where your sand bed is deepest, and as far away from your wave pump as possible. Consider turning off your wave pump during this acclimation process.

Above images for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.

Please note: The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Swell shop, or available for collection from the shop. Species sold at our Swell store will differ from ones available to order to your door.