Anemone
Rock flower anemone
Phymanthus crenatus (and others)
Also sold as RFA
- Type
- Anemone
- Care level
- Beginner (often called the easiest anemone)
- Light
- 50 to 200 PAR (medium)
- Flow
- Low
- With neighbours
- Peaceful
Safety: handling rock flower anemone
Low hazard
How do you care for rock flower anemone?
Placement
Rock or sand; settles and tends to stay put
Flow
Low to moderate; direct flow damages tissue typical, check
Feeding
Small meaty pieces weekly typical, check
Growth
Slow
Water quality
Hates large chemistry swings typical, check
How much light does it need?
Sources put it at about 50 to 200 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.
Modest light and flow needs. typical, check
Which neighbours are safe?
Low
Small, about 10 cm
Fish
Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.
Take care (1)
- Copperband butterflyfishCopperband butterflyfish may nip anemones, more so when underfed.
Other corals
Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.
Take care (10)
- Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
- Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.
Take care (3)
- Emerald crabSome emerald crabs nip corals when hungry.
- Peppermint shrimpSome peppermint shrimps nip corals when hungry.
- Camel shrimpSome camel shrimps nip corals when hungry.
These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.
Pests, dips and quarantine
None specific
Do not use coral dips
No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.
Origin conflicts: most sources say Caribbean, one listing Indo-Pacific. typical, check
Where sources disagree
| Topic | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Notes |
| Sources differ here, so we give the range and the reasons rather than one number. |
Sources
Last checked . How we check
Found a mistake? Tell us how to fix it.
Related corals
Bubble tip anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
- Stings neighbours
Photo Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mini maxi
Stichodactyla tapetum
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
- Stings neighbours
Photo Chaloklum Diving, CC BY 3.0
Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)
Stichodactyla haddoni, S. gigantea
- Care
- Advanced
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Stings neighbours
Photo Liné1, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ritteri anemone
Radianthus magnifica (formerly Heteractis magnifica)
- Care
- Advanced
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Stings neighbours
Photo Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0