Common name: Isarachnanthus night anemone

General information

Isarachnanthus maderensis, commonly known as the Isarachnanthus night anemone or Madeira anemone, is a cerianthid tube-dwelling anemone. Unlike many other anemones, it does not form a symbiotic relationship with clownfish or other fish. Instead, it lives inside a soft sediment tube that it secretes, which provides protection and allows it to retract quickly if threatened.

Care

The Isarachnanthus night anemone is a nocturnal species, extending its tentacles at night to feed. In the aquarium, they require a deep sand bed or a soft substrate in which they can create their tube. They feed on small planktonic organisms and detritus, so a gentle current to deliver food is beneficial. They are sensitive to water quality and require stable conditions with low nitrate levels.

Reproduction

Reproduction in Isarachnanthus maderensis is not well documented in the home aquarium. However, like many anemones, they can reproduce asexually through pedal laceration or sexually by releasing gametes into the water column.

Habitat

Isarachnanthus maderensis is found in the Eastern Atlantic, from the Madeira Archipelago to the Canary Islands. It prefers deeper waters, typically between 9 and 40 meters, where it can be found in soft substrates away from strong light and currents.