Tube Anemones - "Species Spotlight"

This weeks species spotlight we are covering an animal that has an undeserved bad reputation, the Tube Anemone, Cerianthus membranaceus. These beautiful animals often have the reputation as a potent stinger and a fish killer. This idea has become quite widespread and part of my reason for writing this is to dispel some of these myths.

http://i.imgur.com/cPE62DS.jpg

First off tube anemones are not actually anemones as they are in a completely different subclass. They do not have a pedal disc like other anemones but instead have a tube structure that they can retract into. This tube structure is buried beneath the substrate to anchor the tube anemone to its location. They have two distinctly different sets of tentacles. Long around the outer edge used to catch prey and short around the mouth that is used to ingest that prey. These tentacles can grow quite long so that is something to keep in mind when placing these into an aquarium.

http://i.imgur.com/KYfoUI5.jpg

Now lets talk about the reputation that tube anemones will capture and eat your prized fish. While tube anemones do contain stinging cells, the strength of those cells is very weak. Most true anemones we put in our aquariums have a much stronger sting. Even those pest Aiptasia have a stronger punch than tube anemones. So why is it that we are so willing to put a carpet anemone, which is designed to capture and ingest fish, in our tanks and pass on the tube anemones, which is a filter feeder designed to capture zooplankton? Now I am not saying a tube anemone is completely safe, just that they are as safe or possibly safer than other anemones and even some mushrooms.

http://i.imgur.com/40aPTho.jpg

Click here for the full write up including care requirements