Yellow Cluster Anemone

About

The Yellow Cluster Anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae) is a colonial zoanthid native to the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, where several regional subspecies have established themselves as distinct populations across areas including the Adriatic and Ligurian seas. Despite the common name referencing anemones, this is firmly a zoanthid, a colonial soft coral, forming dense clusters of individual polyps that together create a carpet-like colony. Each polyp is a warm, saturated yellow that remains consistent across the colony, making this a visually cohesive addition to a reef display. In the wild, these colonies are sessile creatures of subtropical waters, often found in lower-light conditions on rocky reef structures, shaded walls, and cave entrances where direct sunlight is limited. That preference for reduced illumination actually makes them somewhat easier to place in a typical reef tank than many corals that demand intense lighting. Moderate water movement suits them well, mimicking the gentle currents of their natural Mediterranean and Atlantic habitats. Care is considered intermediate. Not the first coral a new reefer should tackle, but well within reach for someone who has moved past the basics. This species also offers something genuinely different: a European and Mediterranean origin that is far less common in the hobby than the typical Indo-Pacific fare.