Let's talk: Tube Anemones

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Tube anemones, in my opinion are some of the most beautiful creatures we can house in our aquariums. The way they flow, the array of colors they were created with, and several other factors. How many of you keep tube anemones? Please share your photos, successes, and trials.

Overview from LiveAquaria.com: The Tube Anemone is also referred to as the Tube Dwelling Anemone, and is best kept in a reef or species-only aquarium with a soft, deep substrate. It is actually a distant relative of the true sea anemone. It creates its tube from the nematocysts that it has discharged. Their coloration is highly variable and can range from tan, pink, purple or even have shades of fluorescent green.

The ideal aquarium for the Tube Anemone is one with a deep sand bed, plenty of live rock and a refugium for a natural food source. They are non-photosynthetic and do not require intense lighting. In fact, they are nocturnal in nature and will take time to begin to open during the illuminated hours.

Because they are not photosynthetic, they need to be fed regularly when it is fully expanded. Feed small frozen foods such as brine or mysis shrimp, chopped pieces of fish and zooplankton.

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[cdness]

I think tube nems are beautiful! I want one for my tank but am torn as I hear they are a bit aggressive with regards to feeding and their tentacles have a nasty sting. I could be wrong though. They have awesome colors and really stand out in an aquarium though.

 

[ritter6788]

I kept one for a long time. Never stung or ate any fish. My mandarin used to swim though the tentacles. I believe they are plankton eaters. Mine wouldn't accept anything much bigger than a mysis. Doesn't mean they can't or won't sting fish but mine never caused any problems. Best part about them is that they don't wander around your tank. Wherever you put them they stay.


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[jreece11]

I kept one for a long time. Never stung or ate any fish. My mandarin used to swim though the tentacles. I believe they are plankton eaters. Mine wouldn't accept anything much bigger than a mysis. Doesn't mean they can't or won't sting fish but mine never caused any problems. Best part about them is that they don't wander around your tank. Wherever you put them they stay.

That might be the feedback I need to put one in. I was most worried about my mandarin. Have you noticed sizable growth?

 

[Wesley42079]

I had a beautiful orange tentacle and green mouth tube anenome in my Biocube 29 gal.

It was nice for a few months until my 4 year old noticed that one of his clownfish's were being devoured.

I would only recommend this beautiful specimen for large reef tanks.

 

[jreece11]

I had a beautiful orange tentacle and green mouth tube anenome in my Biocube 29 gal.

It was nice for a few months until my 4 year old noticed that one of his clownfish's were being devoured.

I guess that was a good segway into the life and death talk? Was it traumatizing?

 

[Wesley42079]

I guess that was a good segway into the life and death talk?

Was it traumatizing?

Not so much. Luckily we just watched the Lion King movie a few days earlier.

I explained to my son that in nature the circle of life happens on a daily basis.

 

[Squishie89]

Absolutely beautiful creatures. I definitely plan on adding one to my future reef tank.

 

[Nht]

Now let's see the different color morphs that these come in!

 

[TattooedScorp]

 

[Tom Does Disney]

Im all about the E-quad Nems.....about to try my first rose BTA next week !!!

 

[ritter6788]

 

[Laneygarry]

This tube anemone we've had for 13 years...unfortunately my iPad doesn't show the deep purple center

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

My friend slapshot has a garden. Its so sweet.

 

[Squishie89]

My friend slapshot has a garden. Its so sweet.

Wow that is beautiful!

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[Bongo Shrimp]

Wow that is beautiful!

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Yeah it looks very natural to me. His whole tank is extremely natural looking.

 

[Don Capalchey]

I actually plan on creating a garden for tube Anemone, any info on these guys reproducing?

I have a single tube, for 6 months now.

I feed mine zooplankton. Used to feed reef roids but lost color..purple tips became green ever since.. maybe to much plankton.

 

[Reefs of Space]

I feed mine chunks of night crawlers twice a week and live baby brine shrimp once a week.

 

[Dassem]

When people say they need deep sand beds how deep is deep?

 

[Reefs of Space]

When people say they need deep sand beds how deep is deep?

I only have a 3-4 inch sand bed. The tubes are much longer than that, but mine have no problem burrowing horizontal and standing upright. I've had them a little over a year.