Mertens' Carpet Anemone Care Guide
Stichodactyla mertensii is regarded as the largest sea anemone, attaches to rock, and hosts about half of all anemonefish species.
Overview
Stichodactyla mertensii, Mertens' carpet anemone, is regarded as the largest sea anemone, with a diameter that can exceed 1 m. The oral disc is more ovoid than circular and contours to the surrounding substrate. Its tentacles are uniformly shaped, blunt or pointed, and only about 1-2 cm long.
Taxonomy
- Family: Stichodactylidae
- Genus: Stichodactyla
- Scientific name: Stichodactyla mertensii
- Authority: Brandt, 1835
Habitat
Unlike sand-dwelling relatives, this species attaches to rocky or coral substrate using adhesive verrucae (wart-like projections). It is distributed across the Indo-Pacific from Mauritius to Fiji and from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan to Australia, with reports extending to Hawaii.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH (alkalinity): 8-11
- Lighting: strong reef lighting for obligate zooxanthellae
- Lifespan: very long-lived (5-100+ years)
Diet
The anemone hosts obligate symbiotic zooxanthellae and relies heavily on photosynthesis, supplemented by capturing prey with its tentacles. In aquariums it accepts meaty foods such as mysis offered roughly once weekly.
Compatibility
It hosts roughly half of all anemonefish species (at least 13 documented), plus the damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus. Specialist partners such as Amphiprion fuscocaudatus and A. latifasciatus are found only with this species. Butterflyfish and angelfish may nip at the anemone and should be avoided.