Live Aquaria:  Quality Aquatic Life Direct To Your Door
Free Shipping!
FREE SHIPPING: See details >
Sneak Peak: Save up to 50% on Black Friday Deals
Home > Marine Inverts & Plants > Anemones > Haddon's Carpet Anemone
Haddon's Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni)
Haddon's Carpet Anemone
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Haddon's Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni)
Additional locales and sizes may be available!
Additional locales and sizes may be available!

Quick Stats

Care Level Difficult
Temperament Aggressive
Color Form Green
Reef Compatible With Caution
Water Conditions 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Family Stichodactylidae
Lighting High
Supplements Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Waterflow Medium
Placement Bottom
Minimum Tank Size 30 gallons
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level Difficult
Temperament Aggressive
Color Form Green
Reef Compatible With Caution
Water Conditions 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Family Stichodactylidae
Lighting High
Supplements Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Waterflow Medium
Placement Bottom
Minimum Tank Size 30 gallons
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information

Overview

The Haddon's Carpet Anemone lives singly, in the shallow waters of the Indo Pacific and Red Sea. Found outside of the reef it resides in soft muddy or sandy substrate and can attain a size of up to 3 feet in diameter. This colorful Anemone is also referred to as Haddon’s Anemone, Saddle Anemone, Saddle Carpet Anemone, or Saddleback Anemone. Haddon's Carpet Anemone have short, blunt tentacles with a very potent sting, and can be distinguished from their close relatives Stichodactyla gigantea and Stichodactyla mertensii by the lack of any coloration, spots or markings on the underside of the anemone and down its column.

This anemone serves as a "host" for many types of Clownfish in the wild including: Amphiprion clarkii, A. sebae, A. akindynos, A. chrysogaster, A. chrysopterus, and A. polymnus. In the home aquarium, they can also serve as host for Amphiprion ocellaris, A. percula, and A. allardi.

The Haddon's Carpet Anemone requires a tank with strong lighting and good water movement. The aquarium should have a variety of sandy and rocky locations as this animal oftentimes can move about and seek refuge in a place it prefers. This species of Haddon's Carpet Anemone prefers to bury its foot into the sandy bottom, and will oftentimes attach itself to the bottom of the aquarium glass, where its column is completely buried in the sand for protection. When first introducing this anemone into the display, it is best to try and dig out an area of the sand bed where you prefer it will reside, while decreasing the flow rate during this time so that its not blown around the display. Doing so will allow the anemone time to settle in and bury its foot completely into the sand bed. Once in place, carefully move some sandy substrate around the column and increase the flow rate back to the normal output.

The Haddon's Carpet Anemone has a very potent sting and may harm corals and other anemones as it moves about the aquarium. It is not compatible with other anemones within a 12" diameter, so monitor it when it is first introduced into the tank. This species of Carpet Anemone can eat fish in the display aquarium so use caution when housing a Carpet Anemone in with fish other than clownfish.

When healthy, this anemone is very sticky to the touch, and when they grasp something (or someone), it is very difficult to convince it to let go without damaging the animal. It is also one of the few anemones that can cause a severe reaction in humans, so keeping one requires care in handling.

Although one of the easiest “Carpet Anemones” to care for this animal is still challenging, and is best left to the seasoned veteran aquarists. For proper care, a fully established aquarium, with perfect water chemistry, adequate flow and strong illumination, along with weekly or even daily feeding is needed. Ideal foods consist of chunks of fresh fish, uncooked shrimp, and other meaty marine foods.

Approximate Purchase Size When Fully Expanded: Small: 2" to 3"; Medium: 3" to 4"; Large: 4" to 5"; Xlarge: 5" or larger.

Customer Testimonials

Eric F Sdealia , MT
I was a bit worried as to what the anemone might looked like seeing that it was listed as assorted. When the anemone arrived I was very surprised to find an very nice looking anemone. Every bit what I would have expected if I had chosen a WYSIWYG. Thank LiveAquaria for never disappointing!
Denise M South China , ME
I have one of these, only mine is green. Once use to the tank, he is instinctively wise and has never harmed any livestock.

He has only stung me once and it was my horribly painful, like 50 bee stings all at once and it burned afterward tremendously. I had the mark of the tentacles left on the outside of my hand; it was my fault I moved to quickly while cleaning the glass of algae. Otherwise I touch the carpet freely without being stung.

He is a good carpet; my favorite showpiece. He plays with the clown all day. He closes up on her and only lets her face peek out. He makes all sorts of shapes. He blows up, like a fat pregnant carpet, and sometimes makes himself a funnel, a mushroom, lays on one side or the other. Really picks on the clown. They really do love each other. In fact, when transferring them to a new tank, Carpet blew up like a balloon and hid the clown until they were moved over to the other tank. I'm so glad I got them :-)

1-2 of 2 testimonials

Bookmark and Share
LAQ-AZ-WEB-02-P