Mini Carpet Anemone

Quick facts

Handling caution: Venomous sting can cause a severe skin reaction in sensitive people; handle with care

Identity

Also known as

Rock Anemone; Pizza Anemone

Synonyms

Stoichactis tapetum

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Red Sea, East Africa, Indo-Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, southern Japan, Vietnam

Habitat

Shallow tide pools and rubble zones on sandy or rocky bottoms in the top few meters of sheltered reef flats

Sourcing

Wild-caught

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Adult size

1 – 4 in (2.5 – 10 cm)

Lifespan

5 – 20 yrs

Min tank

20 gal (76 L)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Bottom

Water

Temperature

75 – 82 °F (24 – 28 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.025 SG

Flow

Moderate

Behavior & compatibility

Social

Colony

Aggression to own kind

Low

Active

Daytime

Reef safe

With caution

Invert safe

With caution

Shrimp safe

With caution

Clean-up role

Pest control

Population boom risk

Low

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Carnivore

Foods

Frozen, Zooplankton, Live

Breeding type

Broadcast spawner

Breeding difficulty

Difficult

Sexing

No external sexual dimorphism; reproduces mainly by asexual fission in captivity

Target feeding

Beneficial

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Care guide

Overview

Found across the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea in shallow tide pools and rubble flats, this compact anemone anchors its pedal disc to rock or sand and rarely relocates once settled. Colonies form clusters through asexual fission, with a short oral disc rarely exceeding four inches. Strong light and moderate flow keep it healthy, and its sting warrants caution around fish, corals, and bare skin.

Care

This anemone is smaller and generally more forgiving than its larger Stichodactyla relatives, but it still needs a mature, chemically stable reef tank rather than a newly cycled one. Strong lighting is required to support the zooxanthellae it relies on for much of its energy, and moderate to strong water flow helps keep its disc clean and expanded. Provide a mix of live rock and sandy substrate so it can attach its foot securely, since once it wedges itself into a crevice it becomes very difficult to relocate without causing damage.

Feeding

Feed small meaty items such as chopped fish, mysis, brine shrimp, or bits of raw shrimp several times a week, since photosynthesis alone will not sustain long term health. Offer pieces small enough to be drawn fully into the mouth, as oversized chunks may be rejected and foul the water. Regular feeding tends to improve coloration and encourages the animal to remain settled in one spot.

Tank mates

Its sting is disproportionately strong for its size, so keep a buffer of open space between it and corals or other anemones that could be stung during nighttime tentacle extension. It is not considered a natural host for clownfish and rarely accepts one in captivity, though small commensal shrimp such as Periclimenes and Thor species will often take up residence on it. Avoid pairing it with easily stung soft corals or LPS placed too close on the same rockwork.

Breeding

Reproduction in aquariums occurs almost exclusively through pedal laceration or binary fission, producing genetically identical clone colonies over time. Sexual reproduction via broadcast spawning is known in the wild but is not something hobbyists can reliably induce or witness in a home tank. Given enough time and stable conditions, a single specimen can slowly multiply into a cluster on the same rock.

Health

Anemones that repeatedly wander the tank are usually signaling dissatisfaction with lighting, flow, or water quality, and forcing them to stay put by trapping them can cause fatal injury. Deflation or bleaching of the tissue points to insufficient light or a recent water quality swing, both of which should be corrected quickly since decline can be rapid once it starts. A dead or dying anemone releases toxins that can crash a tank, so any individual that will not stop deteriorating should be removed promptly.

Sources

1. Stichodactyla tapetum – Mini Carpet Anemone – AquaInfo
2. Mini Carpet Anemone – LiveAquaria
3. Mini Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla tapetum) | Red Sea Creatures
4. Proper Care for Carpet Anemones - Shrimp and Snail Breeder

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