Anemone Care Guide: Bubble Tip and Rock Flower Anemones
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The short answer: Bubble tip anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor) are intermediate animals that need an established, stable reef tank, moderate to high light and moderate flow; they move until they find a spot they like, so cover every pump intake first. Rock flower anemones (usually Epicystis) are hardier, take moderate light, tolerate lower light, prefer gentle to moderate flow, and stay low on the rock or sand bed. Both are photosynthetic and also accept small pieces of meaty food. Give them space, because anemones sting corals and can catch small, slow tankmates.
Quick facts
Bubble tip anemones, often shortened to BTA, are the most popular anemone in the reef hobby and the classic clownfish host. Names such as Rainbow Rose, Black Widow and CSB are trade names for bubble tip color morphs, and their care is the same as any bubble tip. Rock flower anemones, including those sold as "Ultra" rock flowers, are a different, smaller group that lives low on the reef. Care advice for anemones varies, so the table below lists conservative, widely agreed general husbandry points.
| Bubble tip anemone | Rock flower anemone | |
|---|---|---|
| Care level | Intermediate; best in an established, stable tank | Beginner to intermediate; best in an established, stable tank |
| Lighting | Moderate to high | Moderate; tolerates lower light |
| PAR guidance | No single agreed number; the anemone moves to the light it prefers | No single agreed number; tolerates a wide range |
| Flow | Moderate | Gentle to moderate |
| Placement | A rock crevice for its foot, away from pump intakes and overflows | Low on the rock or sand bed, where its foot can grip |
| Behavior | Wanders until settled; can split into clones | Usually stays put once settled; can retract fully |
| Compatibility | Stings corals it touches; can eat small fish or shrimp; common clownfish host | Stings corals it touches; can eat small, slow tankmates; not a typical clownfish host |
| Feeding | Photosynthetic; small meaty foods help | Photosynthetic; small meaty foods help |
Light and placement
Add an anemone only to an established tank with stable parameters. Most reefers wait until the tank has run steadily for a long time and has gone through its early algae phases.
Bubble tip anemones pick their own spot. Place the anemone near a rock crevice or hole where its foot can attach, under moderate to high light, and let it choose. It will often move around for a while before settling, and it may move again after a change in light or flow. That habit is why the most important step comes before the anemone goes in: cover every pump, powerhead and return intake with a foam guard or screen, and check overflows. An anemone pulled into a pump is usually lost, and the dying animal can harm water quality quickly.
Rock flower anemones stay low. Place them on the sand bed or low on the rock where the foot can grip a hard surface or tuck into a gap. They tolerate lower light than bubble tips and usually stay where they settle.
For either type, acclimate slowly. Many reefers drip acclimate anemones, start them under lower light or a dimmed schedule, and raise intensity over several days. Do not pull an anemone's foot off a surface; if it must be moved, gently work the edge of the foot free with a fingernail, or move the rock it sits on.
Flow
Bubble tips do best in moderate flow that moves the tentacles without blasting them. Flow that is too strong usually sends a bubble tip looking for a new spot. Rock flower anemones prefer gentle to moderate flow near the bottom of the tank. For both, flow should keep detritus off the oral disc.
Feeding
Both bubble tips and rock flowers host symbiotic algae and get much of their energy from light. They also catch food. Many reefers offer a small piece of meaty seafood, such as mysis or a small piece of chopped shrimp or fish, sized smaller than the anemone's mouth, once or a few times a week. Practice varies. Feed small, place the food on the tentacles, and turn the pumps down briefly so the food is not blown away. If the anemone spits the food back out undigested, the piece was often too large or offered too often; expelling digested waste later is normal. Uneaten food should be removed.
Water parameters
Anemones are sensitive to swings. Keep general reef ranges and keep them steady:
- Temperature: about 76–80°F
- Salinity: about 1.025–1.026 SG
- Alkalinity: about 7–11 dKH
- Calcium: about 400–450 ppm
- Magnesium: about 1250–1400 ppm
- Nitrate and phosphate: low but not zero
Stability matters more than a perfect number. Never use copper-based medications in a tank with anemones or other invertebrates.
Neighbors and spacing
- Corals: anemones sting corals they touch, and a wandering bubble tip can settle against a coral and damage it. Leave space around the spot the anemone chooses, and expect to rearrange if it moves.
- Fish and shrimp: both bubble tips and rock flowers can catch and eat small or slow tankmates, especially at night.
- Clownfish: bubble tips are the most commonly used clownfish host. A clownfish may or may not move in, and a large clownfish can stress a small anemone.
- Other anemones: many reefers avoid mixing different anemone species, since they sting each other. Clones of the same bubble tip usually sit side by side without trouble.
- Handling: wear gloves when handling anemones; their sting can irritate skin.
Common problems
- Anemone keeps wandering. Usual cause: light, flow or position it does not like, or a recent change. Reefers leave it alone, keep intakes covered, and avoid moving it by hand repeatedly.
- Anemone shrinks or deflates. Usual cause: periodic deflation is normal and often lasts a day or so. If it stays shrunken with the mouth gaping open, check parameters and recent changes right away.
- Tentacles without bubble tips. Usual cause: unclear. Bubble tips do not always show the bubbles, and healthy animals change between shapes. On its own this is not a sign of disease.
- Anemone turns pale or white. Usual cause: loss of its symbiotic algae (bleaching), linked to light shock, temperature swings or poor water quality. Reefers stabilize conditions, avoid sudden light changes, and offer small feedings.
- Anemone pulled into a pump or clearly dying. Remove it immediately and test water. A decaying anemone can foul a tank fast; a water change is the usual response.
- Rock flower anemone stays closed. Usual cause: a recent move, strong flow, or a fish picking at it. Reefers give it time, reduce flow nearby, and watch tankmates.
Small, fast-spreading pest anemones such as Aiptasia are a different matter; see the guide linked below.
How our listings work
TIA listings come in three kinds:
- WYSIWYG: The photo is taken individually, and you will receive the exact coral shown.
- Stock: The photo is a stock reference image; yours will be very similar.
- Cut to order: You receive a fresh-cut frag of about 1–2 inches from the colony shown; it will be very similar. Fresh-cut frags need at least 2 weeks to heal before they ship.
See the Help Center for shipping and arrival details.
FAQ
Is a bubble tip anemone good for a beginner?
It is better suited to someone with an established, stable tank. Rock flower anemones are generally considered the easier choice.
How do I stop my anemone from going into a pump?
Cover every pump, powerhead and return intake with a foam guard or screen before the anemone goes in, and check overflows.
Will a clownfish host a rock flower anemone?
Not reliably. Rock flower anemones are not a typical clownfish host. Bubble tips are the most common choice for clownfish.
Why does my bubble tip anemone not have bubbles?
Bubble tips do not always show bubble-shaped tentacle ends, and the reason is not well understood. A healthy, attached anemone with good color and a closed mouth is more important than the shape of its tentacles.
Can I keep an anemone with corals?
Yes, with planning. Leave space, accept that a bubble tip may move, and keep corals out of its reach. Rock flower anemones are easier to keep with corals because they stay low and usually stay put.
How often should I feed an anemone?
Many reefers offer a small piece of meaty food once or a few times a week, sized smaller than the mouth. Practice varies; avoid large pieces and overfeeding.