Entacmaea quadricolor – Bubble Tip Anemone
Although the Entacmaea quadricolor is also called the Bubble Tip Anemone, not all have the characteristic bubble-shaped ends on their tentacles. Why one anemone has them and the other does not is actually still a big mystery. It is claimed that several things can make the bubbles come back, but that is not always the case. The chance that an anemone will develop the bubbles is greater if:
- the anemone has a clownfish
- the anemone is sufficiently lit
- the anemone is sufficiently illuminated with the correct color spectrum
- there is sufficient (but not too much) current
- it is fed sufficiently
Even if all conditions are met, it is still no guarantee for developing or even keeping the bubbles. In some anemones, you can even see that some tentacles have bubbles and some do not.
Origin
The Entacmaea quadricolor originates from the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The larger specimens are often found solitary in the deeper, less illuminated parts. The smaller specimens are often found in groups or colonies closer to the surface in the brightly illuminated waters. The well-lit Bubble Tip Anemones often show the spherical shape in the tentacles from which this species derives its name.
Symbiosis
In the wild, the Entacmaea quadricolor – Bubble Tip Anemone lives in symbiosis with a number of anemonefish. Below are the types of anemonefish that can be kept together with the Bubble Tip Anemone:
- Amphiprion akallopisos
- Amphiprion akindynos
- Amphiprion allardi
- Amphiprion barberi
- Amphiprion bicinctus
- Amphiprion chrysopterus
- Amphiprion clarkii
- Amphiprion ephippium
- Amphiprion frenatus
- Amphiprion mccullochi
- Amphiprion melanopus
- Amphiprion ocellaris
- Amphiprion rubrocinctus
- Premnas biaculeatus
These fish have a substance in their mucus layer that prevents the anemone from shooting its stinging cells. So it is not so much that they are resistant to stings from the stinging cells, but rather that they are prevented from being stung. In addition to the symbiosis with fish and shrimps, the Entacmaea quadricolor also lives in symbiosis with various gobies, shrimps and crabs. Because the Nipple Anemone can be found in so many colors and also lives together with many species of anemone fish, gobies, crabs and shrimps, it is no wonder that it is very popular.
Diet
The anemone gets its energy from two different sources: light and food which it takes in through the tentacles. The anemone not only lives in symbiosis with anemone fish, gobies and shrimps but also with Zooxanthellae. These are small single-celled algae that convert light into energy for the anemone through photosynthesis. The anemone’s tentacles filter very small food from the water column, in addition, the anemone fish brings leftover food and excrement to the anemone that are removed from the surface of the anemone by the tentacles. In some aquariums the anemone is fed by the aquarium keeper, in others this is not necessary, certainly not if the anemone has its own anemone fish. If the anemone is fed with additional minerals such as iodine and other trace elements then an anemone can also reproduce in captivity. This usually happens asexually because the anemone partially splits off.
Colors
The Bubble Tip Anemone comes in different colors, they come in red, orange, pink and green. Below you can see some examples of the different colors:
Aquarium decoration
The aquarium design should take into account the behavior of the Bubble Tip Anemone. Because they sometimes walk through the aquarium, the flow pumps and filter inlets should be shielded to prevent the Entacmaea quadricolor from being sucked in. The aquarium should be decorated with rocks that have enough holes and crevices on which the anemone can anchor itself. If you combine the Bubble Tip Anemone with other corals, it is best to place the Bubble Tip Anemone in the aquarium first. It will then find a suitable place where it feels comfortable. If an anemone starts walking, this is usually immediately after placing it or after you have changed something in the aquarium, such as the lighting or water flow. After this, you can place the other corals. An anemone that starts walking shows that it does not feel comfortable in its current place, which is why it is looking for a better place. The nipple anemone grows to sometimes only a 5-centimeter wide disk with relatively short tentacles, but some specimens can become really large with a disk width of 40 centimeters and tentacles of up to 10 centimeters long.
Buying an Anemone
Be careful when buying a Bubble Tip Anemone! Always buy a specimen that has anchored itself to an object in the aquarium. Never buy a specimen with a swollen mouth, this is the way they excrete waste but it can also be a sign of bad health.
Reproduction Bubble Tip Anemone
Reproduction in the Entacmaea quadricolor can occur in two ways.
Sexually
The second way in which the Bubble Tip Anemone can move over a larger area in the wild is by depositing sperm and eggs; and yes, the Bubble Tip Anemone has male and female anemones. The fertilized eggs develop into larvae that, as they grow larger, descend to the bottom and look for a place to settle. In the aquarium, it is often seen that they release eggs and sperm into the water, but it has never been possible to raise the larvae to real anemones. For the survival of the Entacmaea quadricolor this is an important way of reproduction because it mixes the DNA of one anemone with that of another. This ensures the survival of the species in the long term.
Asexual – Splitting
The most common way in the aquarium is by splitting. The disk of the Bubble Tip Anemone is divided in two and you are left with two smaller Bubble Tip Anemones. The anemone can do this quite regularly, which means that you sometimes have new anemones in your aquarium regularly. The splitting of the disk starts at the outer edge, you will then see a notch appear in the disk. The notch slowly becomes larger towards the middle until it splits completely in two. The two halves each grow more tentacles and internal organs. This way of reproducing ensures that an anemone can spread over a small surface. If the anemone has found a good place to live, it can cover a larger surface by splitting off. The two split halves of the anemone are genetically identical. It is possible to split an anemone yourself. You will then have two smaller anemones. If the anemone is attached to a rock, you will have to loosen it for this. To do this, gently rub its foot to irritate it. This will cause him to gradually release the rock. This can take 15 minutes to an hour. Not all Bubble Tip Anemones are so easy to remove. Sometimes it works to put an ice cube over his foot or to hang the stone upside down or give the anemone too much current that he no longer likes the spot. It can sometimes take some searching to find out how to get the anemone out of its spot. After releasing the anemone, take it out of the water and cut it in two with a very sharp knife in one movement, straight through the mouth. After cutting, place the Bubble Tip Anemone back in the water. The disk will quickly fold around the wound and close the wound. The third video shows exactly how this works. Incidentally, the Entacmaea quadricolor does not only split when it feels good. It can also split when it is not fed well, the lighting is not right, the water values are different or the temperature is too high or too low. So don’t just assume that your water values are good when the Nipple Anemone splits! Incidentally, in the vast majority of splits, there is nothing wrong.
Conclusion
The Entacmaea quadricolor or Bubble Tip Anemone is a strong, beautiful anemone species that combines well with a number of anemone fish, gobies and shrimps. It is a beautiful addition to your aquarium if you take good care of it and take its wishes into account.
Video
Auteur John de Lange Copyright foto’sJan MesserschmithNemo’s Great UncleRichard Ling
