Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Family Cerianthidae

Ceriantheopsis americana

(Agassiz in Verrill, 1864)

Cream-colored Anemone, North American Tube Anemone

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank

Range: Northeast and Western Atlantic Ocean: Cape Cod south to the Gulf of Mexico, including the Caribbean and West Indies.

Natural Environment: Inhabits muddy bottoms to depths of about 200 feet (60m).

General Husbandry: Has a wide temperature range depending upon their location, with northern specimens existing in very cool northeast coastal waters to those in the Caribbean where water temperatures are much higher.

Uses its pointed foot to burrow deeply, about 18 inches (45 cm) into the substrate where its crown of tentacles lay, up to 14 inches (35 cm) in diameter outward onto the mud surface to catch those that might come in contact with them, then become dinner!

Occasionally seen in the aquarium trade, and small specimens, a few inches in length, do well in either reef or fish-only aquariums. However, not feasible to house larger specimens in the average hobbyist aquarium!

Should be fed very small pieces of fish, clam, mussel, and/or squid and be fed once to twice a week. If food is rejected, wait a few days before trying again.

Has been known to survive in public aquaria for more than 30 years.

Taxonomy:

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Cnidaria

    Class: Anthozoa

    Order: Spirularia

    Family: Cerianthidae

    Genus: Ceriantheopsis

 Ceriantheopsis americana (Cream-colored Anemone, North American Tube Anemone)
Photo © Bernd Losert
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