I have finally been able to collect some snakelocks anemones for my native marine aquarium. I have wanted some for a long time, but they are not very common in North Wales. I found most of them attached to pieces of algae on the low shore. One of them lacerated into two within 48 hours of being placed into the aquarium. This is how they can rapidly colonise an area, they clone themselves! I have a lighting bulb with is designed to promote the survival and growth of photosynthetic organisms. It is important to have this as snakelocks anemones have zooxanthellae in their tentacles which require high light levels and specific wavelengths for photosynthesis, which keeps the anemone healthy and colourful. The tentacles are also stinging and capture live or dead prey. If the anemones turn brownish then I will know the light levels are not optimum for the symbiont zooxanthellae in their tentacles. They also have fluorescent proteins in their tentacles which gives them their beautiful fluorescent green colour. I hopeful that these anemones should flourish in the aquarium.
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| Anemonia viridis as found on the rocky shore |
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| Anemones in the tank showing bright green tentacles |
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| Anemonia viridis (snakelocks anemone) lacerating itself into two new individuals |
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