Heteractis magnifica (Magnificent Anemone) Care Guide
Heteractis magnifica is a large host anemone with long flowing tentacles that demands intense light and stable water; it hosts clown and percula anemonefish.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Heteractis magnifica, the magnificent sea anemone, is a large host anemone of the family Stichodactylidae. Its flared oral disc measures roughly 20-50 cm across, occasionally reaching one metre. Tentacles exceed 8 cm in length, are arranged in concentric circles and often have lighter, fingered tips. The oral disc is light beige to white, while the column can be electric blue, green, red, pink, purple or brown. In the World Register of Marine Species this taxon is now treated as Radianthus magnifica (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833).
Taxonomy
- Family: Stichodactylidae
- Order: Actiniaria
- Genus: Heteractis
- Scientific name: Heteractis magnifica
- WoRMS note: accepted as Radianthus magnifica (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
Habitat
The species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from eastern Africa and the Red Sea to Polynesia, and from southern Japan to Australia and New Caledonia. It prefers hard substrates well exposed to light and current, from the surface down to about 20 m, and has been observed to 40 m.
Reef parameters
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Alkalinity (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Lighting: intense reef lighting
- Size: 30-100 cm
Diet
Heteractis magnifica feeds largely through the photosynthesis of symbiotic zooxanthellae living in its tissues, which is why strong, stable lighting is essential. It also captures prey with its tentacles, so supplemental feeding with meaty marine foods supports its energy needs.
Compatibility
This anemone hosts around 12 anemonefish species, including Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion percula, Amphiprion clarkii and Amphiprion pacificus, and may also shelter the threespot dascyllus and commensal shrimps. It is sensitive to parameter swings, so it should only be added to a mature, stable system. A wandering anemone can sting nearby corals.
Magnificent Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) Breeding Guide
Overview
Heteractis magnifica, the magnificent sea anemone, inhabits tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific waters from East Africa and the Red Sea to Polynesia, and from southern Japan to Australia and New Caledonia. Its oral disc reaches up to about 1 metre across, with tentacles over 8 cm long arranged in concentric circles in multiples of six and an outer column coloured electric blue, green, red, pink, purple or brown. It sustains itself by photosynthesis via zooxanthellae plus prey capture, and hosts 12 anemonefish species including Amphiprion ocellaris and A. perideraion.
Reproductive Mode
Reproduction can be sexual, by simultaneous transmission of male and female gametes into the water, or asexual by scissiparity. Asexual fission occurs primarily at the rim of the distribution range rather than centrally, so sexual reproduction predominates over most of its range.
Asexual Propagation by Fission
When it does occur, asexual scissiparity splits one anemone into separate individuals, yielding genetically identical clones. Unlike the bubble-tip anemone, H. magnifica rarely splits spontaneously; aquarium propagation of this species has been achieved through deliberate fission in specialist facilities rather than as a routine home event.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction releases gametes into the water, producing swimming planula larvae that disperse pelagically. This anemone may live for decades, with one captive individual surviving about eighty years. The long-lived pelagic larval phase means sexual reproduction is not reproduced in home aquaria.