Not furry either, still lovely.
Rock Flower Anemone
Epicystis crucifer
Also called Flower anemone, Beaded anemone, Red beaded anemone, Phymanthus crucifer
From Caribbean Sea and West Indies, on sandy bottoms near reefs and rocky ledges.12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Oral disc diameter. Wikipedia gives up to 15 cm, most smaller; a retailer gives 5-10 cm in aquariums.
Looks how to spot one
Flower-shaped anemone with a patterned oral disc
A small anemone whose wide disc carries about 200 short tentacles and bold stripes radiating from the mouth. Its column has sticky red bumps that hold bits of gravel and shell for camouflage, and it can pull back into a crevice when startled.1
Personality what they are like
A calm anemone that picks a spot and rarely wanders, which makes it easy to plan a reef around. Rated semi-aggressive, so give it its own space.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Mostly stationary; it may bury its foot in the sand or wedge into rock.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Offer occasional small meaty foods and keep it in a well-established tank. No grooming needed.2
Home where they are happiest
A reef tank of at least about 115 L (30 US gal) with live rock, some shaded spots and a sandy bottom. Moderate to high light and moderate flow.2
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Gains energy from light and from nutrients in the water, and takes small meaty foods such as chopped shrimp.2
Company who they like around
Lives singly or in loose groups; it gets along with gobies, blennies, cleaner and pistol shrimp and zoanthids.2
The story where it all began
Charles Alexandre Le Sueur described it from the West Indies in 1817. Long overlooked in favour of Indo-Pacific anemones, it has become a favourite small reef anemone thanks to its colours and settled habits.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy (via Wikipedia)
- Described by Le Sueur in 1817; Wikipedia currently lists it as Phymanthus crucifer in the family Phymanthidae, with Epicystis crucifer widely used in the hobby.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Rock Flower Anemone. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingDepends on species, many feed from the light and the watervaries
- Salinity checkevery week
- Water testevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Light checkevery month
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Rock Flower Anemone?
Feed your Rock Flower Anemone once or twice a week with a small piece of meaty food. Furry Diary's starting plan is to offer occasional small meals, but watch your anemone's response and adjust as needed.2 Furry Diary plan
What does a Rock Flower Anemone eat, and what should it never eat?
It gains energy from light and water nutrients, and enjoys small meaty foods like chopped shrimp. Never feed it anything large or processed; stick to tiny, natural pieces.2
How much space does a Rock Flower Anemone need?
A reef tank of at least about 115 L (30 US gal) with live rock and a sandy bottom is ideal. It stays small and rarely moves, so it doesn't need excessive space, but give it room to settle.2
What temperature, light or water does a Rock Flower Anemone need?
It needs moderate to high light and moderate water flow in a well-established reef tank. Keep water stable with weekly salinity checks and biweekly water changes of 10-20%.2 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Rock Flower Anemone's home?
Clean the tank by doing a 10-20% water change every two weeks and topping up evaporation daily with fresh RO water. No special cleaning is needed for the anemone itself. Furry Diary plan
Can a Rock Flower Anemone live with others?
Yes, it gets along with gobies, blennies, cleaner and pistol shrimp, and zoanthids. It is rated semi-aggressive, so give it its own space and avoid crowding.2
How long does a Rock Flower Anemone live?
With proper care in a stable reef tank, it can live for several years. Lifespan varies based on tank conditions and diet, so ask your exotic-pet vet for specifics.
Can I handle a Rock Flower Anemone?
It is best not to handle it, as it can be stressed and its sticky column may hold gravel. Enjoy watching it from a distance in its chosen spot.1
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Phymanthus crucifer (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for names, taxonomy, range, size, colours, body, reproduction
- Rock Flower Anemone (Saltwaterfish.com) saltwaterfish.comused for aquarium size, behaviour, care, diet, tankmates
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.