Meet Bellactis Lux, the lightbulb anemone!

[LiverockRocks]

Meet Bellactis lux n. sp. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae), ​

a new sea anemone from the Gulf of Mexico!​

​

Tampa Bay Saltwater founder, Richard Londeree, has been observing Lightbulb anemones for over 30 years in the Gulf of Mexico and as of October 2023, this anemone has an official name: Bellactis Lux!

Researchers collected 10 specimens between 2010 - 2023 to identify this new species. They are small in size, up to 3.5" and vary in color from translucent browns, beiges and rarely, yellow. Tentacles tend to be inflated creating a bulbus shape and sport pronounced or subtle rings.

They are from the family Aiptasiidae, which consists of nine genera and 21 species. Species of aiptasia differ in appearance (color, shape, size), reproduction, and nematocysts. The lightbulb anemone can asexually reproduce, although we have no reports of this happening in a home aquarium. They are found solitary on the TBS farm and are not often harvested on live rock.

Bellactis Lux are easy keepers in peaceful reef tanks, feeding on particulates in the water and situated mid-level under aquarium lighting. Folks often misjudge them as a negative live rock hitchhiker under the dreaded label, Aiptasia! Lightbulb anemones are as reef safe as a bubble tip anemone. While they won't host clownfish, they won't eat them either. Peppermint shrimp, Copperband Butterflies and gorilla crabs (family Xanthidae) will quickly eat smaller individuals.

Images of Bellactis Lux harvested from the TBS farm:

Bellactis Lux Article

Add your photos and experiences with Bellactis Lux to this thread.
Rock on.

 

[bradleym]

Love this post! Hopefully, there will be more color variants available in the hobby as more are properly identified and cultivated. Looking forward to a yellow one myself someday!

 

[LiverockRocks]

This recently harvested live rock hosts the first yellow Bellactis Lux anemone Jocelyn has seen. Interesting that it's location is the underside of the rock while the beige and brown ones are found on top of live rock.

 

[LiverockRocks]

Bump

 

[mww00ds]

I think I might have one of these guys growing in my tank and was wondering what it was

 

[LiverockRocks]

I think I might have one of these guys growing in my tank and was wondering what it was

That’s awesome, let’s see it.

 

[mww00ds]

Not 100% but I think this guy is

 

[JoJosReef]

This recently harvested live rock hosts the first yellow Bellactis Lux anemone Jocelyn has seen. Interesting that it's location is the underside of the rock while the beige and brown ones are found on top of live rock.

That is a beautiful rock!

 

[LiverockRocks]

 

[GlassMunky]

Think this is one. He’s pretty big so he’s living in the sump and loving it

 

[GlassMunky]

This recently harvested live rock hosts the first yellow Bellactis Lux anemone Jocelyn has seen. Interesting that it's location is the underside of the rock while the beige and brown ones are found on top of live rock.

that yellow variety is beautiful though!

 

[LiverockRocks]

Think this is one. He’s pretty big so he’s living in the sump and loving it

Yes, it does look like one. Have you seen the tentacles inflated?

 

[GlassMunky]

Yes, it does look like one. Have you seen the tentacles inflated?

Yes occasionally they are but not as much as the smaller ones inside the rocks

 

[LiverockRocks]

that yellow variety is beautiful though!

The yellow is lovely in natural daylight / white lights, drab under the blues.

 

[SaltyCabbage]

Got a bunch with my last order, would be sweet if a yellow one popped up.

 

[LiverockRocks]

Bellactis Lux

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I've had these pop up on the rock I got from you guys, I wasn't convinced they were aiptasia, so I've left them. Very striped like your pictures, but thinner. I haven't seen them get inflated at all. Have seen 5 show up so far and only in the last month or so, and I got this rock in early summer.

 

[jabberwock]

After 18 months, mine is all growed up now...

before (about the size of a nickel):

Today (the size of a tennis ball):

 

[LiverockRocks]

After 18 months, mine is all growed up now...

before (about the size of a nickel):

Today (the size of a tennis ball):

Thanks for sharing how a lightbulb nem can look different; stringy tentacles or inflated.

It is much like a bubble tip anemone in that they don't always have bubble tips. We have also observed them moving locations similar to a bta.

 

[jabberwock]

Thanks for sharing how a lightbulb nem can look different; stringy tentacles or inflated.

It is much like a bubble tip anemone in that they don't always have bubble tips. We have also observed them moving locations similar to a bta.

Mine moves around with flow changes. It likes moderate flow. My lights are pretty weak, so I don't think they effect it much. It is cool to have a newly defined species in my tank!