Heteractis aurora (Beaded Anemone) Care Guide
Heteractis aurora, the beaded anemone, is a sand-dwelling host anemone whose tentacles carry bead-like swellings; it hosts several clownfish species.
Overview
Heteractis aurora, the beaded sea anemone, is a sand-dwelling host anemone. Its broad, flattened oral disc reaches about 250 mm across and is brown or purplish, sometimes with white or brown markings radiating from the centre. The tentacles are up to 50 mm long, may be sticky, and carry the species' distinctive swellings that resemble beads on a string, with up to about 20 beads per tentacle; tentacle tips can show magenta colour. In WoRMS this taxon is treated as Radianthus aurora.
Taxonomy
- Family: Stichodactylidae
- Order: Actiniaria
- Genus: Heteractis
- Scientific name: Heteractis aurora
- WoRMS note: treated as Radianthus aurora
Habitat
The species ranges from Micronesia and Melanesia to East Africa and the Red Sea, and from Australia to the Ryukyu Islands. It lives among coral and along rocky reef edges and slopes, prefers areas with strong currents, and remains partially buried in sediment or sand, retracting into the substrate when threatened.
Reef parameters
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Alkalinity (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Substrate: sand bed for burrowing
- Size: 15-30 cm
Diet
As a host anemone it carries zooxanthellae and gains much of its energy through their photosynthesis, requiring good lighting. It supplements this by capturing prey with its tentacles, so occasional feeding with meaty marine foods supports it.
Compatibility
Heteractis aurora is a generalist anemone that hosts about seven anemonefish species, including the barrier reef, Allard's, two-band, Clark's, Mauritian, orange-fin and three-band anemonefish. It is described as a nursery anemone because it rarely hosts sexually mature fish.