450 Rock flower anemones (Phymanthus crucifer) are colorful, hardy, and beginner-friendly marine invertebrates native to Caribbean shallow reefs. They are known for staying relatively in one place compared to other anemones and adding bright neon colors to a saltwater tank.
Ideal Water Parameters
- Temperature: 74°F – 80°F (23°C – 27°C)
- Salinity: 1.024 – 1.026 (32–35 ppt)
- pH: 8.1 – 8.4
- Alkalinity: 8 – 12 dKH
- Calcium: 400 – 450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1250 – 1350 ppm
- Nitrates: Under 20 ppm (they tolerate moderate nutrient levels well)
Lighting and Water Flow
- Lighting: Low to medium lighting (roughly 75 to 250 PAR). They are photosynthetic but do not demand intense metal halide or high-end LED setups.
- Water Flow: Gentle to moderate water flow.
Placement and Substrate
- Substrate: They prefer a sand bed or a rock crevice where they can bury and anchor their foot.
- Mobility: They are much less mobile than bubble-tip anemones, though they may walk a few inches to find a sweet spot.
- Safety Tip: Always cover powerhead intakes and wave makers. Getting sucked into a pump or having their foot torn is usually lethal.
Feeding
- Diet: Photosynthetic carnivores. They capture floating food with their sticky tentacles and should be directly or broadcast-fed meaty seafood 2 to 3 times a week (such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill, or small pieces of fish/squid).
Tank Compatibility
- Compatible With: Most reef-safe fish, snails, crabs, and corals. They often form symbiotic relationships with Sexy Shrimp, Anemone Shrimp, or Porcelain Crabs.
- Avoid: Clownfish (they typically will not host rock flower anemones and may annoy or stress them) and sand-sifting starfish (which can irritate the anemone’s buried foot)
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