Pizza Anemone Care Guide
Cryptodendrum adhaesivum is a rare host anemone whose disc bears two tentacle types and is extremely sticky; it hosts only Amphiprion clarkii.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Cryptodendrum adhaesivum, the adhesive or pizza anemone, grows to about 30 cm and is the only species in its monotypic genus. Its oral disc bears two distinct tentacle types: narrow, branched central tentacles about 5 mm long with five or more finger-like tips, and bubble-like edge tentacles around 1 mm across, often in contrasting colors. The disc has a beaded, waving curved edge and the tentacles are extremely sticky.
Taxonomy
- Family: Thalassianthidae
- Genus: Cryptodendrum (monotypic)
- Scientific name: Cryptodendrum adhaesivum
- Authority: Klunzinger, 1877
Habitat
It is widely distributed in tropical waters from the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific. It hosts symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that help feed the host, so it relies on photosynthesis as a primary energy source.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH (alkalinity): 8-11
- Lighting: strong, stable reef lighting
- Lifespan: long-lived (5-30 years)
Diet
Energy comes mainly from its symbiotic zooxanthellae. In aquariums it can be offered meaty foods such as mysis roughly once weekly, but stable bright lighting is essential for long-term survival.
Compatibility
It hosts only a single anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii, plus juvenile Dascyllus trimaculatus, although most specimens are found without anemonefish. Commensal associates include porcelain crabs (Neopetrolisthes maculatus), Periclimenes shrimp and Thor amboinensis. Butterflyfish should be avoided.
Cryptodendrum adhaesivum (Pizza Anemone) Breeding & Propagation Guide
Overview
Cryptodendrum adhaesivum is a host anemone that, per Wikipedia, grows to about 30 cm and is distinguished by a colored, beaded, waving edge with two distinct tentacle types: central branched tentacles roughly 5 mm long and extremely sticky, and peripheral bubble-tipped tentacles. Like all symbiotic anemones it hosts zooxanthellae, and its single hosted clownfish is the generalist Amphiprion clarkii. It is a marginal, demanding host species.
Reproductive Mode
As a sea anemone, C. adhaesivum can in principle reproduce both sexually and asexually. Wikipedia's general account describes males releasing sperm to stimulate females to release eggs, fertilization in the water column or internally, and a drifting planula larva that settles and metamorphoses. No captive spawning protocol specific to this species is documented in the consulted sources.
Asexual Propagation
Available asexual routes in sea anemones are longitudinal fission into identical clones, rarer transverse fission, and pedal laceration, where pedal-disc fragments regenerate into clones. This anemone is rare in the trade and not known to divide readily, so deliberate asexual propagation is not a practical option.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction is broadcast and pelagic, with gametes released into open water and planula larvae drifting before settling. This open-water phase cannot be reproduced in an aquarium, so home sexual breeding of C. adhaesivum is not feasible.
Common Challenges
It demands strong light, very stable parameters, and is considered difficult to keep alive long term. With reproduction effectively pelagic and division unreliable, the practical objective is survival of a single specimen rather than propagation.