Carpet Anemone Identification 10/12/09 Hello wonderful people (and places and things, etc) at Wet Web Media! <Hello Sally> I came across a small (4-5" in diameter) Stichodactyla sp. carpet anemone but I'm not sure which one type it is. I've been reading the descriptions here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/carpetanemones.htm and Carpet Anemone Identification links, books (The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, 2nd ed.), etc, but cannot find a consistent description. Habitat: it has its body over sand, like the gigantea or haddoni Oral Disc: it looks bare, like the gigantea or haddoni Column: attached to rock like the gigantea or mertensii Verrucae: not sure what this is. a growth? Disc Tentacle field: short, two-toned like haddoni I'm attaching 2 pictures that might be helpful! If you're able to identify which type this is, can you describe what gave it away? <Based on your info and the pics, I'd vote for it being a badly bleached gigantea. I am basing that on the large oral cavity and no two toned banding of tentacles, and likely not a mertensii, their tentacles are not very sticky (re your last email). I'm asking Bob for his input here also.><<Worthless>> Thank you! Hugs & kisses :* :* <Oh no, I'm getting loved up again:) James (Salty Dog)> Truly yours, Sally Re Carpet Anemone Identification 10/12/09 Oh yeah, one other thing! :) It was very sticky to touch, but I didn't feel stung by it. <Gotcha.> Thank you!!! ;) <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>

soon to be dead.

Re Carpet Anemone Identification 10/13/09 Ty ty ty ty! The picture doesn't show the brighter yellow coloring of slightly 2 toned tentacles. Would that still call for it being a badly bleached gigantea? In order to care for it best, should I shield it from my 2 ocellaris clowns that love it so much? <At this point, it really doesn't matter what type of anemone this is, as it will soon die. Badly bleached means on it's way out. I would suggest you remove it from the system before you have a total wipe out.> Thank you! ;) <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> Re Carpet Anemone Identification 10/12/09 Hello Bob, Hoping you had a nice trip to the East Coast. Am wondering what you meant by "<<worthless>>". <My input> If it was directed toward the ID, I based this on information in your article on Carpet Anemones as well as information from other noted authors. James Re Carpet Anemone Identification 10/18/09 Hello again! <Hi Sally> Quite frustrated with my bleached purchase, I took it back and complained a lot until I was offered a replacement. Can you believe that I was even told by one employee that it wasn't bleached, but naturally lighter in color??? I had to quote you friendly fish lovers at WWM to gain any sort of credibility! Thank you!!! <You're welcome.> The story goes on... and I have a new carpet anemone. It's a bit larger, and much darker than the one I parted with. I drip acclimated it for 3-4 hours and it seems to be happy after a night (the tentacles are moving happily and it ate a piece of a silver side fish for me!). Can you help me identify the type of my new carpet anemone? It's sticky like the last one, and I believe it's gripping to a piece of live rock and hovering over the sand like the last. I can take more pictures if needed. <Is enough.> Thank you all so much. James (Salty Dog) especially. I'm glad I was able to trade it in... but was told I wouldn't be able to trade it a second time (but I could donate it back, so please let me know if you see any obvious things that I wouldn't notice). <Before I go any further, I see in looking at your last few emails, you give no description of your system as to size of tank and lighting along with tankmates. I'd like to be sure you can even meet the requirements for keeping a carpet anemone alive for any length of time. Your attempts may be futile. James (Salty Dog)> Ty ty ty!!! ;) Sally Re Carpet Anemone Identification 10/19/09 Hi again James! :) <Hello Sally> My system is a Clear For Life Acrylic 100 gallon Bow Front Aquarium (60" x 18" x 24"), with a 30 gallon sump underneath, protein skimmer and another 20 gallon refugium. <Tank is actually a little on the small side for keeping carpet anemones with any degree of success, but the sump and refugium are a plus.> My lighting system is made of T5 HO with 6 bulbs in a row along the entire length. <This may be borderline lighting with a 24" deep tank. Best chances for success with tanks 24" or deeper are with metal halide lighting in the 5500-10000 Kelvin temperature range. Excessive use of the blue spectrum is useless from a photosynthetic perspective and energetically wasteful. S. haddoni and S. mertensii are more adaptable to variations in light intensity than is S. gigantea. Based on your photos, it appears your anemone is a Haddon's or haddoni Carpet Anemone, the most readily available species. The Merten's or mertensii are rarely seen in the trade with the S. gigantea not lagging too far behind.> I keep the tank at 77 degrees with heating and chilling, <Temperature and parameters must be kept rock stable for these animals. Your means of temperature control is another plus. Use of an ozonizer is another great benefit in keeping water quality high, which these animals also demand.> and in it are a variety of shrimp (2 skunk cleaner, 2 peppermint, 2 fire red), <Very likely to become food soon.> 50+ snails variety, a few crabs, 1 Chocolate Chip Starfish, <Would remove the starfish also.> 2 Ocellaris clownfish, this carpet, and the only other thing on my list is a algae blenny. <Other fish can/will fall prey to carpet anemones.> Thank you! I appreciate you looking out for me. Please advise! ;) <Based on your system details, the odds of successfully keeping this anemone long term would be low. Larger tanks increase the chances of success to a higher level. More research on your part, and from more than one source, should have been done before purchasing this anemone. I'm thinking you do not realize the difficulty in caring/providing for carpet anemones. James (Salty Dog)> Sally Re Carpet Anemone Identification 10/19/09 <Hellooooooo Sally> Thank you for your sincere reply James! Sad news for me... <Shouldn't be sad news, just reality.> I've been reading up on these a lot. <After reading, did you still feel you had the system to give yourself an honest shot at it?> I'd like to try, but if my odds are low at keeping this long-term (lower than average which is 10% already), <The odds are low for anyone, not just yourself.> would you suggest that I try to give it back to my fish store? :-( I do have another 46 gallon tank for the other items (shrimp, starfish) that could potentially get eaten. <Well Sally, being that you mentioned the LFS will not take it back, you may want to attempt this, the choice is yours to make. You may be one of the lucky few to succeed. One of the problems that lead to the difficulty in keeping carpets, is that they do not ship well. From the time they are collected and find their way to the LFS, the anemone has gone for quite a few days without proper lighting, food, and likely in water conditions not to it's liking with the end results being a stressed animal by the time it gets to the dealer's tank. It isn't that these anemones are touchy or sensitive, most live longer lives than us. It's the fact that most of these anemones are in the very early stages of death before we receive them, and, it takes a very good system with excellent water quality to attempt reversing this process and return the anemone to a healthy state.> Also, in case it helps-- the tank has about 3-5" of sand, and the carpet is attached to a piece of rock, so it's raised up higher than the 24" depth. Does that help? <Keep in mind that T5 HO lamps can provide enough light in some cases, it's just that metal halides are preferred. If you decide to attempt this, you can help yourself and the anemone by switching to 10K lamps. More of the proper light will be present for photosynthesis. I'd like you to read this article on carpet anemones if you haven't already. Is a good, informative article on the subject. http://blog.captive-aquatics.com/captive_aquatics/2009/05/carpet-anemones-captive-aquatics-blog-saltwater-aquarium.html James (Salty Dog)> Sally

Stichodactyla ID 3/19/09 Hello Everyone, <Hello Steve> Thanks for your site....I have covered your facts page(s) well before many purchases and it has made a world of difference. <Good to hear.> I have what I believe is a Stichodactyla Haddoni. Pet store picked it up at a popular reef where house <I don't know where the house is.> in L.A. but wont specifically I.D. the anemone. Based on your sites pictures, I am guessing. Could you please I.D. him? In the picture he just woke up to MH, so he might have "bed head". I'll insert the picture. <Sure looks like a haddoni to me, how about you, Bob?> <<Mmm, no, I'm a human... this is the Actinarian you state. RMF>> Thanks everyone. <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> Steve C

Responsible Anemone/Scallop Keeping 8/12/04
Hi there! It's been awhile since I've had a question come up, so here I am. ;]
<we've been waiting with bells on>
I recently got a deep blue carpet anemone. I'm in love. ;]
<this is an illegal relationship in most civilized countries>
It is very sticky, the foot is in perfect condition, and it ate a chunk of food on the first day!  I have it in a tank with lots of light and very good flow.
<all good>
My main question is how can you tell the difference between S. haddoni and S. gigantea?  
<listen for the accent in their speech betraying the locale of their origin/speciation.>
Do S. haddoni come in blue as well?  
<yep... RIT brand dyed fresh from some charming Indo exporters>
I have two rock/flower anemones that are near the carpet (3 inches away) but not touching.  Will this be a problem?  
<I expect the carpet will stress or kill these in time>
Everybody seems happy at the moment. Do pink skunk clowns take to carpet anemones?
<the answer to this question, as with the details of speciation between anemones (like the tentacle-free distinction around the mouth of S. haddoni) and so much more is waiting for you in our archives. We work hard to build this database... please do make the effort to use it and help yourself. There's a clownfish/anemone compatibility chart ta boot:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
be sure to follow the many other links atop these pages>
I feed all of my anemones (3 flowers, RBTA, green BTA) a mixture of live plankton and Prime Reef/Frozen Brine shrimp by Formula foods.  They all seem very happy and are growing.  
Is this an acceptable diet for the carpet anemone as well?
<seem weak to me... the phyto is of dubious value for the carnivorous anemones (they feed on zooplankton principally)... and brine shrimp is a truly hollow food (barely useful even if gut loaded). Please do add better variety here with 4-6 other meats of marine origin. Shredded cocktail shrimp, Mysid shrimp, Pacifica plankton... minced krill... and fish eggs (grouper roe from the LFS or flying fish eggs from an Asian groceria... excellent food for such filter feeders)>
Thanks for everything!  Morgan Mok
ps: Just as an update for the naysayers and the "blind squirrel people", my red flame scallop is over 1 1/2 years old in my system. ;p
<Morgan... you do understand that we are here to serve the greater good in the hobby? I hope you are too. Encouraging the majority of aquarists to keep inappropriate animals like flame scallops just because less than 1% survive over one year is... well... irresponsible. Unless you can clearly explain and document how yours lived to 18 months (still not much of an accomplishment when many simply take longer to slowly starve via a small daily deficit in nutrition as from brine shrimp feedings over time... and all have a natural lifespan on a scale of magnitude much longer!), let me ask... rather, beg (!) that you do not casually promote the keeping of flame scallops or the like as if its a lottery, and telling people the equiv. of "you might win too!". The truth is that most lose... and these are living creatures lives lost... not lottery tickets. Your fave naysayer, perhaps... Anthony :) >

Yellow vs. Green carpet anemone Hello Bob, <Steve> I am curious, why does every authority state that this anemone should be green. It has been yellow for Two years! Thanks Steve <Well, you and I will state otherwise. Have seen this carpet in quite a few colors, including yours here... in the wild and captivity. Can even change color due to lighting, feeding, water quality, perhaps other factors. Bob Fenner>

Carpet Anemone ID
Hey Wet Web People...
<Discriminating against extraterrestrials, are we?  The shame!>
I bought a carpet anemone...sadly I for once didn't look up your website and wonder if I will regret it now.  They are cheap here in Bangkok and I got suckered in (US$8) as it looked healthy and well coloured.
<Starting off with a healthy specimen is half the battle, but PLEASE do your research before impulse buying!  Life should not be measured by the cost of acquiring it>
I am not sure what species of carpet it is.
<Most likely Stichodactyla haddoni or Stichodactyla gigantea...can you get a picture of it, especially a pic of it's mouth?>
The colouration is a soft pinky burgundy base and the tentacles are light green.  Its about 7 inch wide.  Also very sticky.  Is it gigantea?
<See above.  Stickiness is a good sign though, make sure you feed it often>
Are all carpets fish eaters?  I have seen tanks with them with fish in the past...it's one hell of an ordeal to get LFS to take stock back here so I am hoping not to.  The tank occupants are two pipe fish - Doryrhamphus sp.. (black snout/orange front to the body/blue back section with a black tail with a white central patch and rim?), a clarkii clown, and sifting goby of some variety. Other than the clown, I am guessing they aren't the best tank mates with one of these.
<Yes they are, and expect to lose all of your fish eventually except for the clarkii, especially the pipe fish.  Do you have adequate lighting, space, and water flow for your new anemone?  They like bright light, you will need halides or natural sunlight to keep one long term.  Make sure you keep it well fed also, with shredded\small pieces (1\4") of fresh seafoods>
Thanks for the advice
<Anytime>
Brett Moloney
<M. Maddox>
Bangkok
<Aym ah Texan>

Anemones (Carpets)
Hello,
Will a green and blue carpet do well together in a 180 gal? Or will they poison each other? I was thinking about adding a red carpet. 
<probably no anyway you slice it. Green carpets are a legitimate and natural color/species. Blue, Red and Yellow carpets are most often dyed and most are not destined to live long for the stress of it all. If they are otherwise naturally occurring distinct species, then you are still beat from the extra specific aggression. Bottom line... two different anemones are not recommended together. Besides... carpets get enormous and you would need a huge tank for two three foot diameter carpets <wink>. Do read though the archives for information on dyed anemones>
also what else can you feed them besides Thawed krill, shrimp silver sides?
<the above foods are good if finely shredded. Feeding large whole prey otherwise can be harmful to an anemone in the long run. Most meaty foods of ocean origins are fine (Pacifica plankton, Mysid shrimp, fish roe, etc).
Thanks, Scott
<best regards, Anthony>

Anemone Husbandry...
Hey Guys,
<Scott F. your guy today..>
I just bought a new carpet anemone (don't really know what kind, it has bright green, stubby tips) <Might be Stichodactyla mertensii...can be a tough one to keep, since it requires a lot of light and food... Also, you could be looking at S. haddoni, which has shorter, blunt tentacles. It gets quite large, but is otherwise about average in care requirements as carpet anemones go...Meaning- it is touchy...> and went to get new lights for it.  I bought Aqualight 20" quad strip with 96 watts (do you think that is enough) and I was wondering if I should feed him live food or just let him photosynthesize?
<Well, in regards to the light- I think that you might need to move the animal high up on your rockwork to get adequate light. You may want to keep a close eye on the animal's behavior to see if the lighting is enough (on the surface, it sounds like it's not...You'll have to feed often, almost daily, in order to keep the animal in good shape)...And, again- light...lots of light- and current!>
If I should feed him, what should I feed him?
<Various forms of plankton tend to be natural foods.>
Also, one more question, do you think black percula clowns will be more prone to live in the carpet than orange perculas.
<Hard to say...Many perculas are tank raised, and have never seen an anemone...It is often disappointing for hobbyists to find that their clowns don't go into the anemone...Here's to hoping!>
Thanks a lot guys.
<My pleasure...really learn all that you can about the species that you have an it's husbandry...Anemones are simply not easy animals to keep, and require a high level of care...Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

Stichodactyla tapetum - mini-carpet anemones 7/20/03
Thanks for the quick response.  Something I had forgotten about, (due in part because I never see that part of the rock) is that on a zoo rock I bought back in May, is one of the .   smallest species of carpet anemones  - Stichodactyla tapetum.  I have been in contact with the fellow I bought the rock from, and he confirms that the un-identified critters I wrote you about are indeed the small anemones.  thanks for your help, and any advice you might have on keeping these happy would be appreciated.
Neil
<the mini-carpet anemones you have do not present any unusual challenges in husbandry. Treat as you would other anemones and corallimorphs... feeding fine foods several times weekly. A fishless refugium to produce plankton for them and others in the tank will be even better. They lean towards the hardy end of the spectrum relative to other cnidarians at large. Best regards, Anthony>