Curlyque Anemone

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep it in a tank of 75 litres or more at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4 with moderate light and flow, and feed it chopped meaty foods a few times a week. It is hardy and easy to keep alive, but its sting is potent and its tentacles reach farther than they look, so give corals plenty of space. Pair it with Pederson or other anemone shrimp for a natural cleaning display.

In the wild

The curlyque anemone has long, semi-transparent tentacles marked with spiraling corkscrew bands of white. It anchors its base in a rock crevice and can inflate its tentacles out to 5 to 8 cm or deflate to a small blob in seconds. It is a Caribbean cousin of the pest Aiptasia and shares their weedy toughness.

Good to know

Bartholomea annulata is famous on Caribbean reefs for hosting cleaner shrimp, especially Pederson's cleaner shrimp, which set up cleaning stations at its base. The spiral bands on its tentacles are packed with stinging cells.

Did you know

On the reef it runs a cleaning station, sheltering shrimp that pick parasites off visiting fish in exchange for the anemone's protection.

Related species

• 

  Condy Anemone

  Condylactis gigantea

  11.8 in (30 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Malu Anemone

  Heteractis malu

  7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Tube Anemone

  Cerianthus sp.

  7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Rock Flower Anemone

  Phymanthus crucifer

  3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Maxi-Mini Carpet Anemone

  Stichodactyla tapetum

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Aurora Anemone

  Heteractis aurora

  11.8 in (30 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)