Cerianthids: Vibrant Flowers of the Sea

Delicate, long branching tentacles and beautiful colors with the same husbandry requirements define the group of anemones known Tube Anemones. Tube Anemones make up the order Ceriantharia. The fact that these anemones are true in color and are not injected with dyes as is often the case with many other types of anemones just places another feather in their cap, hypothetically speaking.

In the class Anthozoa, there are two orders that make up this class:the true anemones and the second is the Tube Anemones. Tube anemones are found in tropical and sub-tropical regions as well, preferring sandy or muddy bottoms with which to bury their heavy mucus tube. Cerianthids do not have a pedal disk and only have one ciliated mouth opening which distinguishes these anemones from the true anemones.

Tube anemones consist of a slender soft, smooth tube which is loaded with a stinging mucus coat, a smooth cone shaped top with two different sized and colored tentacles. The outside, longer tentacles are armed with stinging nematocysts used for protection and capturing foods, where as the smaller inside tentacles are used mainly for manipulation and gathering food for its mouth opening. They bury themselves into the substrate via rapidly expelling water from its oral vacuole through contraction. This process enables the anemone to drive its pointed bottom deep down into the sand where it is protected somewhat and is able to remain stationary, living a secretive and sessile lifestyle.

These anemones can be very colorful ranging from red, pink, green, yellow, purple, blue and orange as well as a combination of two of these colors.

It is best not to add more than one of these anemones to a tank unless it is a larger tank. The reason for this is the possibility of injury or death through the use of their stinging nematocysts. As with any anemone, care must be addressed if adding one of these to a reef biotope to ensure that the stinging nematocysts do not come in contact with neighboring corals as their potent sting can kill the coral. Also, small fish will make a good meal for the cerianthid if it is able to capture it. Animals such as lobster, large crabs, puffers, triggers, large angelfish and snails should not be placed in a tank housing a cerianthid, or you run the risk of injury or death to the anemone. One important piece of information to think about when keeping a tube anemone, if you plan on purchasing a Clown fish in hopes that it will make a suitable tank mate, FORGET IT! the anemone will kill it as they are not the same as a regular anemone.

Tube anemones are filter feeders and opportunistic feeders as well. The will filter nitrates, phosphates and other dissolved organics from the pelagic area of your tank. They will also capture such meaty fare as mysis and brine shrimp as well as other planktonic foods with ease and thank you for it. A soaking of the food in a vitamin/mineral supplement/liquid will help to ensure that the health and color of your cerianthid is optimal.

It is important that when adding a tube anemone to your tank, that you do not add the shipping water to the main tank. Loose stinging cells can be introduced to your water causing injury or worse to your livestock. I would also, from time to time, remove the accumulated mucus conglomeration from the base of the tube as this consist of loose stinging nematocysts as well that can pose a problem once the shift within the tank affecting anything they touch.

These anemones make a truly wonderful and beautiful addition to a tank. The idea that these anemones are either healthy or dead with little in between helps in the purchasing of one of these beauties successfully. The same water parameter issue pertain to the tube anemone as with the true anemones. Clean, pristine water with moderate to intense lighting with a gentle water flow will help to ensure the health and long term enjoyment of your cerianthid!