Mystery Anemone ID?

Peace River · Jan 22, 2026

Will the vendor share where it came from? Did it come in on a live rock shipment? Where does their live rock normally come from? Does rare warty, mean a warty anemone with coloring? Anemones can display many different ways based on condition, lighting, water, parameters, etc..

LinZ · Jan 22, 2026

Peace River said:
Will the vendor share where it came from? Did it come in on a live rock shipment? Where does their live rock normally come from? Does rare warty, mean a warty anemone with coloring? Anemones can display many different ways based on condition, lighting, water, parameters, etc..

The vendor is Hellfire Frags. I think they are collected around the Caribbean, probably from the same systems as rock flower anemones.

From all the suggestions I've received so far, I am feeling like it's probably an Actinostella flosculifera, or a collared sand anemone.

There is a pretty detailed description of them on inaturalist.org that describes their daytime and nighttime behavior, and now that mine has had a chance to settle in, it matches what I have observed. Especially at night time, the column retracts and only the inner tentacles surrounding the mouth are extended. It's pretty dynamic and cute!

It looks like it might be primarily photosynthetic, but I think it will also eat the plankton from the Mermaid's Delight I plan to spot feed in this tank. It survived a month at the bottom of my dirty QT bucket tank under a rock after escaping its acclimation box, so it seems pretty hardy. And I'm hoping this means it's not a big risk to fish.

There's really next to zero information about these being kept in a reef tank. Does anyone happen to have more info? Frankly, it looks perfectly happy where it has settled in in my pico reef tank, and hasn't moved from its spot in a couple days. Would it be safe to assume similar care needs to a rock flower?

Peace River · Jan 22, 2026

Without specific care guidance for the species that you believe it to be, I would agree that treating it like a normal RFA would be reasonable and then continue to observe.

LinZ · Jan 22, 2026

Peace River said:
Without specific care guidance for the species that you believe it to be, I would agree that treating it like a normal RFA would be reasonable and then continue to observe.

I will say my favorite thing about the food I feed my reef tanks is that it has something for absolutely everything. I feel pretty confident that a squirt or 2 of this stuff a day will keep this critter happy, and whatever it doesn't eat, something else will.

LinZ · Jan 22, 2026

@Lasse I think you got it right with Actinostella. Any tips on care for this little guy, by any chance? It seems pretty hardy so far, and it's opening beautifully where it is.