Indo-Pacific, from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific; deeper reef slopes in strong current
Water
saltwater
Care level
expert
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Not photosynthetic; light only for viewing
Flow
Strong, steady
Care
Annella mollis is a large, non-photosynthetic sea fan with a flat, net-like skeleton that can grow over a metre wide in the wild. It is usually red, orange or brown. It is very difficult to keep: without zooxanthellae it must catch all of its food from the water, and most specimens slowly starve in aquariums. Keep it only in a dedicated system with strong, steady flow across the fan and heavy feeding. Water: keep a standard reef: about 24–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, alkalinity around dKH 8–11. Neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists this species; the figures are general guidance for the genus, not from a source. Not CITES-listed. Sources: general reef-keeping guidance; neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists this species. Checked October 2026.
Diet
Not photosynthetic: it needs daily feeding of very fine foods such as phytoplankton, rotifers, copepod nauplii and other plankton.
Breeding
Not propagated in the hobby.
Compatibility and tank mates
Peaceful. Keep it away from corals that could sting it.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
About Aquatic-Auctions
Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.