Bubble-tip anemone
Encyclopedia
The bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor), also known as the bubble tip anemone, bubble anemone or bulb anemone, is a species of sea anemone
of Indo-Pacific
origin. In the wild, this anemone is a natural host of several species of anemonefishes
, including the Cinnamon
(Amphiprion melanopus), Tomato
(A. frenatus), Orange-fin
(A. chrysopterus), Amphiprion clarkii, Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion percula and Maroon
(Premnas biaculeatus).
E. quadricolor anemones often appear in a variety of morphs, including rose, orange, red and standard green. This sea anemone can grow to be up to a 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter, and obtains the majority of its energy from solar radiation (sunlight
) via its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Nutrients are generally obtained by filter feeding using its sweeping tentacle
s, or through wastes and debris cleaned from the surface of its partner clownfish. In aquarium
s, this sea anemone will reproduce asexually
when in proper care with supplemented minerals such as iodine
and other trace elements (usually purchased as an enrichment cocktail by most home aquarists).
In the wild, Bubble Tip Anemones are found in two locations. Large specimens, with tentacle
s that are more streaming or stringy, are often found in deeper waters with more dimly lit conditions. These specimens are often solitary. Smaller specimens are often located in groups or colonies, nearer to the surface, in bright sunlight. These specimens tend to show the bulbous tips on their tentacles that are characteristic to Bubble Tip Anemones. Although there are various theories about why some Bubble Tip Anemones develop these tips and some do not, it is widely believed that the bulbs are related to the light level in the anemone's habitat; specimens given more light are believed to have bubble tipped tentacles.
The popular Bubble Tip Anemone is the favorite anemone of the Maroon Clown Fish. This anemone has an appearance unique among many captive anemones, and is considered by many to be easier to care for than many other anemones commonly used to host Clown Fish.
As with all anemones, be sure that all current devices are protected so that your Bubble Tip Anemone cannot easily get sucked inside. A rock with many crevices, or an area of rocks, should be provided so your Bubble Tip Anemone may anchor itself. When keeping a Bubble Tip Anemone in an aquarium with many different species of corals, it is often best to place the anemone in before the corals. This allows the anemone to select a spot it likes and helps prevent it moving across your corals later. Bubble Tip Anemones often remain in the area of the aquarium they are placed, although they are more likely to wander right away than later. In the cases that they do move around, it is usually due to conditions that they are unhappy with. Some report a need to feed this species of anemone weekly, others claim it can live entirely on photosynthesis, especially if hosting a clownfish. This is because it can subsist very well on photosynthesis
. When purchasing a Bubble Tip Anemone, choose a specimen that is anchored to some object in the tank. Never purchase an anemone with a distended mouth, as this may be a sign of poor health (although it's also how they expel waste).
More in: Marine Fish and Reef 2009 Issue. Article: True Sea Anemones by Vincent Hargreaves, PH.D.
Sea anemone
Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger...
of Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
origin. In the wild, this anemone is a natural host of several species of anemonefishes
Clownfish
Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Twenty-eight species are recognized, one in the genus Premnas, while the remaining are in the genus Amphiprion. In the wild they all form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones...
, including the Cinnamon
Cinnamon Clownfish
Cinnamon clownfish or fire clownfish is a widely distributed clownfish. It is found in Indonesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, southeastern Polynesia, and the Great Barrier Reef....
(Amphiprion melanopus), Tomato
Tomato Clownfish
The tomato clownfish, Amphiprion frenatus, is a clownfish that is found in the waters of the Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is also known as the bridled clownfish, red clownfish, or tomato anemonefish.The adult fish is bright orange-red, with one...
(A. frenatus), Orange-fin
Orange-fin Anemonefish
The orange-fin anemonefish or orange-fin clownfish, Amphiprion chrysopterus, is a clownfish, found in the Western Pacific north of the Great Barrier Reef from the surface to 20 m. It can grow to 16 cm in length....
(A. chrysopterus), Amphiprion clarkii, Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion percula and Maroon
Maroon Clownfish
The maroon clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, is a species of clownfish that is found in the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. They can grow up to be about 17 cm , and as they grow, they become more aggressive towards other clownfish. It is also known as the...
(Premnas biaculeatus).
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
) via its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Nutrients are generally obtained by filter feeding using its sweeping tentacle
Tentacle
A tentacle or bothrium is one of usually two or more elongated flexible organs present in animals, especially invertebrates. The term may also refer to the hairs of the leaves of some insectivorous plants. Usually, tentacles are used for feeding, feeling and grasping. Anatomically, they work like...
s, or through wastes and debris cleaned from the surface of its partner clownfish. In aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s, this sea anemone will reproduce asexually
Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is a mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single parent, and inherit the genes of that parent only, it is reproduction which does not involve meiosis, ploidy reduction, or fertilization. A more stringent definition is agamogenesis which is reproduction without...
when in proper care with supplemented minerals such as iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
and other trace elements (usually purchased as an enrichment cocktail by most home aquarists).
In the wild, Bubble Tip Anemones are found in two locations. Large specimens, with tentacle
Tentacle
A tentacle or bothrium is one of usually two or more elongated flexible organs present in animals, especially invertebrates. The term may also refer to the hairs of the leaves of some insectivorous plants. Usually, tentacles are used for feeding, feeling and grasping. Anatomically, they work like...
s that are more streaming or stringy, are often found in deeper waters with more dimly lit conditions. These specimens are often solitary. Smaller specimens are often located in groups or colonies, nearer to the surface, in bright sunlight. These specimens tend to show the bulbous tips on their tentacles that are characteristic to Bubble Tip Anemones. Although there are various theories about why some Bubble Tip Anemones develop these tips and some do not, it is widely believed that the bulbs are related to the light level in the anemone's habitat; specimens given more light are believed to have bubble tipped tentacles.
Aquaculture
Care
- Relative Care Ease: Average
- Temperature: 76º to 82º Fahrenheit (24 to 26 degrees Celsius)
- Specific gravitySpecific gravitySpecific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance. Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a volume of the substance to the weight of an equal volume of the reference substance. The reference substance is nearly always water for...
: 1.024-1.026 (sensitive to sudden changes) - pHPHIn chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
: 8.3 to 8.4 - Lighting: Bright (VHO Fluorescent, metal halide, high power LED or T5 fluorescent).
- Current: indirect
As with all anemones, be sure that all current devices are protected so that your Bubble Tip Anemone cannot easily get sucked inside. A rock with many crevices, or an area of rocks, should be provided so your Bubble Tip Anemone may anchor itself. When keeping a Bubble Tip Anemone in an aquarium with many different species of corals, it is often best to place the anemone in before the corals. This allows the anemone to select a spot it likes and helps prevent it moving across your corals later. Bubble Tip Anemones often remain in the area of the aquarium they are placed, although they are more likely to wander right away than later. In the cases that they do move around, it is usually due to conditions that they are unhappy with. Some report a need to feed this species of anemone weekly, others claim it can live entirely on photosynthesis, especially if hosting a clownfish. This is because it can subsist very well on photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
. When purchasing a Bubble Tip Anemone, choose a specimen that is anchored to some object in the tank. Never purchase an anemone with a distended mouth, as this may be a sign of poor health (although it's also how they expel waste).
See also
- Sebae AnemoneSebae anemoneThe sebae anemone is a species of sea anemone from the northern Indian Ocean, including India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Some species of anemonefishes associate with it, including the Cinnamon , Oman , Orange skunk , Orange , and several more. In contrast, the Sebae clownfish The sebae anemone...
More in: Marine Fish and Reef 2009 Issue. Article: True Sea Anemones by Vincent Hargreaves, PH.D.