The tentaclesof Entacmaea quadricolor are upto about 10cms long and usually brownish with orange or purple tips. There are bulbs at the end of the tentacles, which are white around their equators. Bulbs can be quite large or relatively inconspicouous. Bulbs may be more enlarged when fish are present. Entacmaea quadricolour is often attached deeply in a hole so that its smooth column is hidden and only the emergent tentacles are visible.

The bulb-tipped anemone below is an unusual white form. This may be due to the lack of zooxanthellae.