Rock flower anemone care

Quick reference

What is a rock flower anemone?

Epicystis crucifer is a Caribbean anemone that, in Kurtz's tanks, settled on the sand at the base of rock with its foot anchored below the surface, and could vanish into the substrate quickly when disturbed.^{[1, 3]} It's sold in a range of colours, from tan, green, orange and cream to multicoloured "ultra" and rainbow forms, and CORAL notes red and green are the rarest and most sought after.^{[1, 2]} Its tentacles are smooth or beaded, hence "beaded anemone".^[1]

Lighting for a rock flower anemone

Moderate. LiveAquaria and Quality Marine both call for moderate light, LiveAquaria adding that it adapts to a wide range,^{[3, 4]} and CORAL recommends moderate to moderately bright lighting, similar to what soft corals get.^[2] Quality Marine suggests a sandy bottom it can retreat into if the light is too strong.^[4] We found no published PAR range for the species.

Flow and placement

LiveAquaria lists medium flow, and Kurtz says it tolerates a wide range.^{[3, 1]} It may move to find a spot it likes, so keep it well away from overflows and powerhead intakes.^[1]

Feeding

It hosts zooxanthellae that supply much of its food, but both CORAL and Kurtz recommend feeding.^{[2, 1]} Kurtz fed mysis or small pieces of chopped seafood about once a week;^[1] CORAL suggests meaty foods two or three times a week, about a quarter-teaspoon per adult, and more often when breeding.^[2]

Aggression and spacing

CORAL says it has a weaker sting than almost all other anemones, and that it tends to stay where it's placed.^[2] LiveAquaria still rates it semi-aggressive and reef compatible only with caution, and Kurtz notes it can damage sessile invertebrates nearby, though its small size and short reach limit the damage.^{[3, 1]}

Tankmates

Peaceful with fish. None of the sources we checked mention clownfish hosting, so don't buy one expecting a clownfish to move in. Quality Marine warns invertebrates don't tolerate copper.^[4]

Splitting and propagation

CORAL's Dick Perrin first suspected it cloned itself, but he concluded it is dioecious, with separate males and females: males release sperm, females brood the young, and Florida collectors report breeding seasons in spring and autumn.^[2] Coral Morphologic watched captive adults release over 100 juveniles about 2–3 mm across from their mouths the night before the summer solstice in 2009, which they described as the first documented birth in the species.^[5]

Troubleshooting

Common mistakes

• •Leaving pump intakes unguarded.^[1]
• •Never feeding it.^{[2, 1]}
• •Placing it touching corals.^{[1, 3]}
• •Expecting it to host clownfish.

Equipment & food for this species

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Anemones take meaty foods like mysis, and they need stable salinity, so check it with a calibrated refractometer.

Rock flower anemone FAQ

Do rock flower anemones move?

Less than most anemones: CORAL and LiveAquaria say they tend to stay put, though Kurtz says they'll move to find a suitable site.^{[2, 3, 1]}

Will clownfish host a rock flower anemone?

None of the sources we checked mention it; it isn't sold as a clownfish host.

Are rock flower anemones reef safe?

With caution: CORAL says the sting is weaker than almost all other anemones', but it can still damage corals it touches.^{[2, 1, 3]}

How often should I feed a rock flower anemone?

Kurtz fed about once a week; CORAL suggests two or three times a week, more when breeding.^{[1, 2]}

How big do rock flower anemones get?

Usually 3–4 inches across; vendors list up to 8 inches.^{[2, 1, 3, 4]}

Do rock flower anemones reproduce in aquariums?

Yes: Coral Morphologic recorded adults releasing over 100 tiny juveniles in 2009, and CORAL describes males and females with brooding females.^{[5, 2]}