Purple Carpet Anemone

Carpet Anemone – Description & Care Guide

Common Names: Carpet Anemone, Gigantic Carpet, Saddle Carpet, Merten’s Carpet
Scientific Names:

• Stichodactyla haddoni (Haddon's Carpet)

• Stichodactyla gigantea (Gigantic Carpet)

• Stichodactyla mertensii (Merten’s Carpet)

Origin: Indo-Pacific
Type: Large, host anemone

🌟 Description

Carpet anemones are large, fleshy anemones with a dense field of sticky, short tentacles covering a broad oral disc. They come in a wide range of colors: green, blue, purple, tan, or red. They are known for their intense stickiness and clownfish-hosting capabilities, particularly with species like ocellaris, percula, and clarkii.

• Haddoni tends to stay in the sand.

• Gigantea prefers rockwork and higher flow.

• Mertensii is usually attached to hard substrates and can grow extremely large.

🧪 Water Parameters

💡 Lighting & Flow

• Lighting: High. Carpet anemones require intense lighting (reef LEDs, T5s, or metal halide).

• Flow: Moderate to strong, especially for gigantea. Ensure it's not being blasted directly.

🍽️ Feeding

• Photosynthetic, but benefits greatly from supplemental feeding 1–2x per week:

  • Mysis shrimp

  • Chopped fish or shrimp

  • Silversides (small pieces only)

  • High-quality frozen reef foods

Do not overfeed; small portions are key.

📍 Placement

• Haddoni: On sandy substrate with foot buried and base touching hard surface below.

• Gigantea: Prefers rockwork and more flow. Often climbs higher in the tank.

• Mertensii: Requires strong light and a large rock base to attach to.

Allow ample space—they can grow up to 2 feet wide and sting nearby corals.

⚠️ Compatibility & Caution

• Strong Sting: Carpet anemones can harm or consume fish that wander too close.

• Tank Mates: Best kept with clownfish and fast-swimming or aware species. Avoid slow, bottom-dwelling fish.

• Secure Lid: Carpets are powerful and may move—ensure all powerheads are guarded.

✅ Summary

The Carpet Anemone is a dramatic, colorful centerpiece for experienced reef keepers. It offers a natural symbiotic relationship with clownfish and thrives under strong lighting and stable conditions. Due to its sting and large size, careful placement and tank mate consideration are essential.