The Care of the Purple Tube Anemone

Purple tube anemones have different care requirements than many saltwater invertebrates. They are cndarians, like sea anemones and corals. Several species of tube anemone are marketed, in several colors, including purples. It's often impossible to tell exactly what species you have, but the care is identical for all purple tube anemones.

  1. Lighting and Feeding

    • Unlike most aquarium cnidarians, purple tube anemones do not have photosynthetic algae living in their cells. Because of this, they need subdued lighting and regular feeding, unlike sea anemones. Intense, reef-style lighting can actually harm these invertebrates. You can feed them bits of fish, clam, mussel and squid to keep them happy and healthy. Feed them once or twice a week. If your anemone refuses to eat a specific food, try another.

    Water Conditions

    • Most purple tube anemone care requirements are similar to those of creatures in a reef aquarium, with one major exception. Purple tube anemones require colder water and will not thrive at tropical temperatures. They need a temperature between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. You should invest in a good aquarium chiller if you wish to keep purple tube anemones. The rest of their requirements are more common, including a pH ranging from 8.1 to 8.2 and a specific gravity between 1.024 and 1.026.

    Tank Setup

    • Purple tube anemones require a deep substrate bed, deep enough to bury their hardened "tube" portions. The exact substrate depth will vary depending on the size of your specimen. In another odd-for-a-cnidarian twist, purple tube anemones do not tolerate powerful water movement. Place them away from filter outlets and powerheads to avoid strong currents. If you have powerful lighting on your aquarium, consider using overhangs to create shaded areas for your anemones.

    Tank Mates

    • The purple tube anemone carries an aggressive reputation. Even though it is stationary, it can sting and kill small fish, making them snacks. The purple tube anemone will aggressively defend its immediate area from other invertebrates, including conspecifics. Do not put sessile invertebrates within a purple tube anemone's reach; it will sting other invertebrates to keep them away. Avoid small mobile invertebrates as well, since the purple tube anemone will not hesitate to eat them.