Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Family Actiniidae

Anthopleura xanthogrammica

(Brandt, 1835)

Giant Green Anemone

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank

Range: Pacific coastline from Alaska to Panama.

Size: Column width 12 inches (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits intertidal sandy or rocky shorelines, and sometimes found in deep channels of more exposed rocky shores and concrete pilings in bays and harbors.

Aquarium Suitability: Zoochlorellae and zooxanthellae provide nutrients to the anemone via photosynthesis and contribute to the bright green color of the anemone's oral disk and tentacles. Yet capturing sea urchins, small fish, crabs, and mussels is its main food source.

Rarely collected, and requires cool water and hand feeding, e.g., raw fish pieces, shrimp, black worms, and is especially fond of mussel flesh. Two to three feedings per month suffices in cool water environments.

Taxonomy:

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Cnidaria

    Class: Anthozoa

    Order: Actiniaria

    Family: Actiniidae

    Genus: Anthopleura

FYI: Temperature range of 59 to 72°F (15 - 22°C).

Unsuitable for tropical aquariums.

For those interested in maintaining a cool water aquarium, this species is quite hardy; otherwise, it should not be collected!

 Anthopleura xanthogrammica (Giant Green Anemone)
Photo © Daniel Geiger
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Boyd Enterprises