Bubble Tip Anemone

Looks how to spot one

Soft-bodied anemone with bulb-tipped tentacles

A sea anemone with a sticky foot that anchors deep in a crack in the rock. Its tentacles often swell into rounded bulbs near the tip, which gives the species its name; animals in deeper or dimmer water tend to have longer, thinner tentacles instead.12

Personality what they are like

A semi-aggressive anemone in aquarium terms: it stings what it touches, so give it space from corals. It usually settles in a rocky crevice and stays put once happy.23

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Mostly stationary once it has found a crevice it likes.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs strong lighting for its symbiotic algae, a stable and mature tank (many keepers wait at least 6 months), and occasional small meaty feedings. Cover pump intakes and give it open room to expand.13

Home where they are happiest

A reef tank of at least about 115 L (30 US gal) with live rock crevices. Retail guidance: 24-28 C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.024-1.026, moderate flow and high-intensity light for 8-12 hours a day.3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Gets most of its energy from light through zooxanthellae living in its tissue, and also catches plankton and small meaty foods such as shrimp or fish pieces with its tentacles.13

Company who they like around

Hosts many kinds of clownfish, especially Clark's, tomato and maroon clownfish. In the wild shallow animals often form clone groups, while deeper ones live alone.12

The story where it all began

Described from the Red Sea in 1828. It hosts more clownfish species than almost any other anemone, and captive-propagated clones in many colours have made it the best-known host anemone in the reef hobby.13

Recognised by the official bits

Taxonomy (via Wikipedia)

Described by Leuckart in Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828; family Actiniidae.1