Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Eastern Atlantic Ocean/Britain and Ireland, and also the Mediterranean Sea.
Size: Column width 2 inches (5 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits tidepools and shaded vertical rock walls and is often exposed during low tides. When exposed forms a blackish brown ball. If touched, the blue knobs under its tentacles emits a toxin, which is said not to be harmful to humans, but keeps intruders to its space away.
Aquarium Suitability: Extremely hardy with a smooth body and short thick tentacles, which can become elongated when an intruder is close.
Mostly a cool water environment species. Requires hand feeding, e.g., raw fish pieces, shrimp, tubifex worms, and is especially fond of mussel flesh.
Two to three feedings per month suffices in cool water environments.
Even though can handle tropical temperatures 'somewhat,' its best maintained at cooler temperatures.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Actiniidae
Genus: Actinia
FYI: Temperature range of 35 to 82°F (2 - 28°C).
For those interested in maintaining a cool water aquarium, this species is quite hardy; otherwise, it should not be collected!
