Anemones comprise a large, diverse group of animals. Many recognize anemones by their symbiotic relationship with clownfish but their lifestyles extend far beyond this obvious example. Some clonal forms live in vast unconnected colonies but most species are solitary. Many species are photosynthetic and they all have stinging cells for catching and paralyzing prey. The sting can be unpleasant to painful to humans.
The bodies of anemones are entirely soft and they vary in size from a few millimeters to several feet (1 m) across. The body plan consists of a stalk with a number of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles can be long and tapering or very short and stubby. The tentacles sometimes branch and the tips are often conspicuously colored.
Commonly kept species are mobile so care must be taken to prevent encounter with pumps or drains. Fast water flow and moderate to intense light is a must for symbiotic species. All anemones are aggressive feeders and they should frequently be offered small to medium meaty morsels. Large clownfish-hosting anemones are long-lived and slow to reproduce so please use discretion when aquiring these species.
Apart from "pest" Aiptasia and Anemonia, very few species are propagated in aquaria. Only the bubble tip, Entacmea quadricolor, is a good reproducer in captivity. It often splits on it's own, or with conditioning it can be manually cut in half.
