Coral Anemone

About

Coral anemone (Discosoma carlgreni) is a corallimorpharian. Part of a group that sits somewhere between true anemones and stony corals, though it builds no hard skeleton of its own. Native to subtropical waters along the eastern coastlines of the United States and Canada, this sessile invertebrate clings to hard surfaces and spreads a fleshy disc fringed with the small forked tentacles that give it one of its common names. The disc coloration can vary, and the overall form is soft and somewhat flattened, which distinguishes corallimorpharians as a group from their stony coral relatives. In the aquarium, Discosoma carlgreni is considered a beginner-friendly option, largely because it tolerates low light and low flow conditions that would challenge many other reef inhabitants. It asks for very little in terms of water movement and does not need intense lighting to thrive, making it practical for smaller or less technically demanding reef setups. It is considered reef safe, so it can share a tank with other corals without posing a significant threat. If you are looking for an undemanding, genuinely hardy piece of reef life with an unusual texture and an interesting natural history, this species is worth considering.