Heterodactyla hemprichi

Ehrenberg, 1834

Hemprich’s Anemone

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Indonesia.

Size: 12 inches (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Found attached to hard surfaces in reef rock crevices and/or stones and found in shallow coastal waters at depths between 6 - 25 feet (2 - 8 m) where it tends to be a zooplankton feeder.

General Husbandry: Has a round flat-like disc containing finely branched tentacles with berry like structures (nematospheres) around the outer disc edges, which can usually be reddish purple, or sometimes green or blue with a yellow dot. Disc color is usually brown, yet other color discs are occasionally seen, e.g., red, purple, white, or green, with its column usually purple or a dirty white.

Best placed in an aquarium having large somewhat rounded stones, about 3 - 6 inches (8 - 15 cm) on the bottom shallow sand bed/coral gravel where it will attach and spread out between the stones.

Not known to host any anemonefish.

Has a potent sting, and may damage corals or other anemones, therefore, when handling this species wear gloves. Yet various crustaceans, i.e., shrimp and crabs, tend to associate with this species.

Requires several feedings per week with chopped silversides, fish flesh, fortified adult brine shrimp, and/or bloodworms. Place foods on their sticky tentacles. If healthy, the food will be transferred to the central mouth area and quickly consumed.

Rarely seen in the trade. A powerful stinging anemone!

Should be the first animal in the aquarium and allowed to roam/find its preferred place before adding other fixed location corals, as it will sting anything it comes in contact with.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Order: Actiniaria

Family: Thalassianthidae

Genus: Heterodactyla

FYI: Will eat small fishes in the aquarium that come in contact with it!

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Photosynthetic/Carnivore

Temperament: Aggressive

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: No

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Reasonable

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Lighting: PAR 300 - 450+

Water Movement: WM 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.