Carpet Anemone – Description & Care Guide
Common Names: Carpet Anemone, Gigantic Carpet, Saddle Carpet, Merten’s Carpet
Scientific Names:
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Stichodactyla haddoni (Haddon's Carpet)
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Stichodactyla gigantea (Gigantic Carpet)
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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.
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Haddoni tends to stay in the sand.
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Gigantea prefers rockwork and higher flow.
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Mertensii is usually attached to hard substrates and can grow extremely large.
🧪 Water Parameters
| Parameter |
Ideal Range |
| Temperature |
75–80°F (24–27°C) |
| Salinity |
1.025–1.026 |
| pH |
8.1–8.4 |
| Alkalinity |
8–12 dKH |
| Calcium |
400–450 ppm |
| Magnesium |
1250–1350 ppm |
| Nitrates |
<10 ppm |
| Phosphates |
<0.05–0.1 ppm |
💡 Lighting & Flow
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Lighting: High. Carpet anemones require intense lighting (reef LEDs, T5s, or metal halide).
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Flow: Moderate to strong, especially for gigantea. Ensure it's not being blasted directly.
🍽️ Feeding
Do not overfeed; small portions are key.
📍 Placement
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Haddoni: On sandy substrate with foot buried and base touching hard surface below.
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Gigantea: Prefers rockwork and more flow. Often climbs higher in the tank.
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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
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Strong Sting: Carpet anemones can harm or consume fish that wander too close.
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Tank Mates: Best kept with clownfish and fast-swimming or aware species. Avoid slow, bottom-dwelling fish.
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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.
