Orange Encrusting Anemone

About

Orange Encrusting Anemone (Epizoanthus scotinus) is an unusual find in the reef hobby, hailing from the chilly subtropical and temperate waters of the Eastern Pacific, ranging from Alaska down through Canada and into the western United States. Unlike the vast majority of zoanthids available to hobbyists, which typically come from warm tropical seas, this species is native to cold, dimly lit environments and can be found at depths from shallow nearshore zones down to around 54 meters. That origin story matters a great deal in aquarium keeping. This is not a coral for a standard tropical reef setup. It suits cooler, species-appropriate systems where its natural conditions can be replicated. Each polyp is small, topping out well under an inch, and the colony grows in the encrusting, mat-forming fashion typical of zoanthids. The orange coloration is what draws attention on a specimen when it does appear in the trade. It is sessile by nature, attaching firmly to hard substrate. Care is rated intermediate, partly because matching its cold-water origins requires more thought than simply dropping it into a standard reef tank. Low lighting and moderate water movement align with the deeper, shaded rocky habitats it occupies in the wild.