Bubble Anemone

Urticina lofotensis

Lighting: Moderate to High-Florescent bulbs, Power Compacts, VHO bulbs or Metal Halides are recommended.
Water Flow: Moderate.
Placement: Can be placed anywhere in the tank where it can receive good lighting, but anemones move.
Reef Supplements: Thrives with additions of iodine and trace elements.
Ease of Keeping: Moderate.
Special Needs: Alkalinity levels-(2.5meq/l or dKH 7-8) Anemones expand more with the use of trace elements and iodine. True percula, false percula, maroon, and tomato clowns host in this anemone.

The Bubble Anemone is the hardiest host anemone in the aquarium! Want an anemone that can withstand just about anything? Here it is! The standard colour form is greenish brown, going through to pale brown or pale green. More colourful Super Green Bubble Anemones, and rare Rose Bubble Anemones are also available.

In nature, this species hosts only the Maroon Clown (Premnas biaculeatus), but in the aquarium, most clowns will adopt the Bubble Anemone if it's all that is available. On the other hand the anemone will accept all the varieties of Clown Fish.

Tomato Clowns with bubble anemone

False Percula with Bubble Anemone

The Bulbous tips of the Bubble Anemone are often not clearly definable. When the tips are extended while sweeping for food, it may be scarcely apparent that the specimen is a bubble variety.

Feeding: At rest and after its meal, the arms retract and return to its plump, bubble form. Bubble Anemones require a strong lighting setup and will wither and fail with anything less. Low dissolved organic matter will help its overall health, so the use of a protein skimmer will be of help.

Temperment: High Nitrate levels will likely lead to its demise. The Bubble Anemone can be a good reef inhabitant if it finds a spot it prefers where it is out of reach of corals it will sting and injure. Some specimens may choose to roam and may cause damage.

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