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Hemprich's sea anemone

Heterodactyla hemprichii · also called Hemprich's anemone, Hemprichii anemone

An odd-looking anemone of the Indo-West Pacific whose wide disc carries dense branched tufts and, near the rim, small pale spheres in place of ordinary tentacles. Clownfish do not use it, and so little care data exists that any claim of easy keeping has nothing behind it. How strongly it stings is poorly documented, so handle it as you would any big anemone and keep corals and small fish well away until you know better.

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Quick facts

Size	Broad disc reported at about 20-40 cm across, depending on the source.
Lifespan	—
Social needs	solo
Native region	Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea to Japan, the Marshall Islands and Australia
Origin	Old World
Climate	Tropical
Water type	Marine
Family	Thalassianthidae
Genus	Heterodactyla

Part of the Sea Anemones

Stinging, sessile cnidarians ranging from clownfish-hosting giants to nano-sized carpet species. Many are demanding, mobile, and can sting corals or be drawn into pumps — careful placement and rock-stable water are essential.

Beaded sea anemone Bubble tip anemone Carpet anemone Christmas anemone Condy anemone Haddon's carpet anemone Hell's fire anemone Long tentacle anemone Magnificent anemone Mertens' carpet anemone Mini Maxi Anemone Pizza anemone Rock flower anemone Sebae Anemone +2 more →

Color & pattern variants

Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.

Natural

Green Hemprich's Anemone →

Named for its green colour.

Teal Hemprich's Anemone →

Named for its teal colour.

Gold-Green Hemprich's Anemone →

Named for its mix of gold and green.

Purple Hemprich's Anemone →

Named for its purple colour.

Cherry and Kiwi Hemprich's Anemone →

A hobby colour name that points to red and green tones. No fuller description is on record.

Habitat & enclosure

Expect it to need strong light. Sources disagree on where it lives, placing it either on sand or in rock crevices and on stones, with depth reports running from about 1 to 20 m, so offer both rock and sand. Its range runs from the Red Sea to Japan, the Marshall Islands and Australia. Care references ask for a large system, from 50 gal (190 L) up to 500 L.

Keep stable reef water: SG about 1.025, 22-27 °C (72-81 °F), pH 8.1-8.4.

Substrate

Offer large rounded stones or rock with a gap on a sand bed, so the animal can choose between hard surface and sand. Sources conflict, and the animal should be allowed to settle where it prefers.

Equipment & setup

Use strong reef lighting and steady flow. Guard pump intakes, because this animal can wander, and use gloves for tank work.

Diet

Relies on light and on food. Its family is said to carry zooxanthellae, and one reef reference says it draws on light as well as eating invertebrates. Give strong lighting and place small meaty foods such as chopped fish or fortified brine shrimp on the tentacles several times a week.

Behavior & temperament

The name honours the naturalist Wilhelm Hemprich. It is no host for clownfish, although anemone shrimp may settle on it. One keeper's animal did well for about six months, then began to wander, settled on the glass in a dark corner and shrank, so do not read early success as long-term success.

Health

Sting strength is not well documented. One care reference warns of a strong sting that harms corals and other anemones, while one keeper reported little sting. Its family carries peptide toxins that killed crabs in laboratory work, so treat it as a stinging animal and give corals and small fish a wide berth. Wandering and shrinking are warning signs. One reference knows of no proven success in captivity.

Tips, DIY & hacks

Add it before fixed corals, and hold corals and small fish at a distance until you know how it behaves. Treat any claim that it is easy with doubt, because no source checked supports it. Wear gloves when handling it, and keep notes, because published care is thin.

Sources

Heterodactyla hemprichii, World Register of Marine Species (web)
Heterodactyla hemprichii, Wikipedia (web)
Hemprich's Anemone, Red Sea Creatures (web)
Heterodactyla hemprichi, Saltcorner Aquarium Library (web)
Heterodactyla hemprichii, Reeflex (web)