Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Two Little Fishies 

Family Cerianthidae

Cerianthus membranaceus

(Gmelin, 1796)

Mediterranean Tube Anemone, Colored Tube Anemone

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank

Range: East-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and the Mediterranean

Size: Column length 16 inches (40 cm), 1.5 inches (3 cm) wide.

Natural Environment: Found worldwide in tropical and sup-tropical seas, primarily in sandy or muddy bottoms, living singly at various depths along coastal waters

General Husbandry: Generally seen in the trade as small specimens, e.g., disc area about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, with tube length about 4 inches (10 cm), with long purple tentacles, and a green mouth area.

Quite attractive, yet needs to be fed nightly finely minced krill, fish, shrimp or mysis shrimp.

Grows fast when fed nightly, and therefore needs a deep sandbed, e.g., at least 6 inches (15 cm) to remain healthy. They also have a very strong sting that can harm tankmates, and will eat fishes and crustaceans. Not safe as a clownfish host!

Most specimens seen in the trade come the Philippines. Best kept in environments that suit its needs!

Taxonomy:

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Cnidaria

    Class: Anthozoa

    Order: Spirularia

    Family: Cerianthidae

    Genus: Cerianthus

FYI: Has a temperature range of 59 to 75°F (15 - 24°C).

 Cerianthus membranaceus (Mediterranean Tube Anemone, Colored Tube Anemone)
Photo © Bob Goemans
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