Bubble Tip Anemone | Care Guide
Okay, I’m going to be completely honest here and admit that I’m writing this Bubble Tip Anemone care guide purely for selfish reasons. The simple fact of the matter is that I want one. And I want one so my little Whoooot will form a symbiotic relationship with it.
So in the spirit of being an ethical aquarist I’m going to perform my due diligence and find out what the care requirements are for these wonderful creatures.
So here is what I have found…
Bubble Tip Anemone – Origin
Bubble tip anemones can be found in the wild in the indo-pacific regions. They can be found the Red Sea all the way to Samoa.
They are generally found in the shallow waters, however larger colonies can be found in deeper waters.
Bubble Tip Anemone – Description
You can guess what these anemones look like, simply from their name. Each tentacle of the anemone has a bubble tip that can vary in color. The body of the anemones are generally brown in color, however they can also be found in tan, green and bluish green variations.
They can grow to a size of approximately 12 inches in size and therefore are more suited to larger aquariums where they can roam around.
Each anemone will have a foot that it uses to stick to different surfaces. Stemming from the foot is the body, or otherwise known as the column. The column is usually brown in color.
At the top of the column will be the mouth (or oral disc) that will have many tentacles protruding out of the oral disc.
Bubble Tip Anemone – Care Guide
Now let’s get into the nitty gritty of how to care for one of these beautiful creatures.
| Description | Specification |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Personality | Aggressive |
| Size | up to 15 inches |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Tank size | At Least 30 Gallons |
| Tank type | Marine |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
Lighting
Probably the reason why the Bubble Tip Anemone is rated as a moderate care difficulty. They have specific lighting requirements. The ideal light range for anemones is 220 – 350 par.
Feeding
Given the necessary lighting requirements, it is clear they can derive most of their nutrients directly from the light. This is because they have zooxanthellae in their tissue that helps photosynthesize light into food.
To maintain a healthy Bubble Tip Anemone it is recommended to feed them 1 – 2 times a week. It is best to target feed them, rather than using the shot gun approach and hoping that the water flow will feed the anemone. If you are regular reader you will know that I always target feed my corals to ensure that they receive the necessary nutrients they need to thrive.
It is recommended that you feed Reef Roids to smaller anemones. Where as for larger more established anemones you can feed them frozen mysis shrimp or brine shrimp.
Sometimes you will observe the hosting clownfish actually bringing food to the anemone to feed it – the main advantage of forming the symbiotic relationship! Isn’t nature brilliant!?
Placement
Here is the wonderful thing about anemones (when compared to corals). They can move if they don’t feel the positioning is right for them. Again this is another reason to house these beautiful creatures in a larger environment. It will allow them to move around freely and find the ideal spot for them to feed, receive light and enough water flow.
Behavior
Bubble tip anemones will move around the tank to find the best position for themselves. They will like to wedge themselves in between crevices around the live rock in your aquarium.
If it is happy, they will generally stay where it finds it most comfortable. However they are also known to wonder around the tank – so don’t be alarmed if you find it has moved over night.
Being an anemone you will need to make sure it doesn’t encroach on other corals and sting them.
Hosting Clownfish
Now for the main attraction!
Probably the main reason for most aquarists wanting a Bubble Tip Anemone is the hope that the resident clownfish will find a new home and form a symbiotic relationship with the anemone.
Bubble Tip Anemones are probably one of the easiest anemones to pair up with a clownfish. This is because they are known to host up to 13 different types of clownfish. These are:
- Oscellaris Clownfish
- Clarks Clownfish
- Tomato Clownfish
- Two and Three-band Clownfish
- Allard’s Clownfish
- Maroon Clownfish
- Oman Clownfish
- Orange-fin Clownfish
- Barrier Reef Clownfish
- Red Saddleback Clownfish
- Red and Black Clownfish
- McCulloch’s Clownfish
- Australian Clownfish
Summary – Bubble Tip Anemone
Every aquarists dream is to have a Clownfish pair up with a resident anemone. The Bubble Tip Anemone is probably one of the easier anemones to care for to achieve this dream.
It is rated as a moderately difficult marine animal to care for, however with the proper research and responsible care given to your tank, owning and caring for a anemone shouldn’t be too far fetched.
