WYSIWYG - Rainbow Pizza Anemone

WYSIWYG - Rainbow Pizza Anemone 6"-8" Inches The Pizza Anemone (Cryptodendrum adhaesivum) is a large, flat, disc‑shaped anemone with a “pizza‑like” appearance — a wide oral disc covered in short, colorful tentacles and a sticky, adhesive texture.** It’s hardy, striking, and unusual, but also semi‑aggressive and capable of eating fish, so placement and tankmate choice matter. 🍕 What It Looks Like The species is known for its big, round oral disc (often 12–20″ in the wild, commonly 6–10″ in aquaria) and dense, stubby tentacles that resemble toppings on a pizza. Coloration varies widely: greens, browns, purples, reds, and mottled patterns. Its tentacles are extremely sticky, similar to a Haddoni carpet — a key behavioral trait to keep in mind. 🌊 Natural Behavior & Habitat Found across the Indo‑Pacific, including the Red Sea and Western Pacific. Lives on reef slopes and lagoons with moderate–strong flow. Anchors its foot into sand or rubble. 🧪 Water Parameters Authoritative ranges from multiple sources: Temp: 77–82°F (25–28°C) Salinity: 1.023–1.025 pH: 8.1–8.4 Tank size: 53+ gallons recommended (some hobbyists report success at 30 gallons minimum, but larger is safer due to size and aggression) 💡 Lighting & Flow Moderate to strong lighting — high light improves color vibrance. Moderate flow — enough to keep the oral disc clean but not so strong that it lifts the foot. 🍤 Feeding Pizza anemones are carnivores and will readily accept: Shrimp pieces Fish meat Other meaty marine foods Regular feeding increases growth; limited feeding slows it. Important: They can eat fish — especially slow swimmers, bottom perchers, or fish that accidentally land on the disc. 🤝 Symbiosis They can host Clarkii clownfish, though not as reliably as carpets or BTAs. Some shrimp species may also associate with them. 🧬 Reproduction Asexual: pedal laceration (small pieces of the foot become new anemones). Sexual: gamete release in the wild. ⚠️ Compatibility & Risks Reef-safe with caution: Can sting nearby corals. Can eat fish (documented repeatedly). Very sticky — similar to carpet anemones. With other anemones: Generally fine with BTAs if given space, but avoid direct contact. 📍 Placement Tips for Your Shop Tanks (Portland context) Given your Seahorse Aquarium systems and customer‑facing displays: Use a dedicated zone with sand or rubble for anchoring. Keep fish load light or choose fast, mid‑water swimmers. Provide clear signage noting its semi‑aggressive nature and fish‑eating potential. Avoid placing near high‑value corals — tentacles can sting. Strong lighting from your Red Sea ReefLEDs will make colors pop beautifully. 🧭 Quick Care Summary (Customer‑friendly) Pizza Anemone (Cryptodendrum adhaesivum)** Difficulty: Moderate Lighting: Moderate–high Flow: Moderate Placement: Sand or rubble, give space Feeding: Meaty foods weekly Behavior: Sticky, semi‑aggressive, may eat fish Symbiosis: Sometimes hosts Clarkii clowns Size: Can reach 10–20″