Giant Carpet Anemone

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. It inhabits shallow sandy or rocky reef flats exposed to high sunlight and moderate water currents.

Taxonomy: Member of the family Stichodactylidae. Large anemone with a wavy oral disc covered in very short, sticky tentacles. Grows up to 50.0 cm.

Social Behavior: Sessile and aggressive. Possesses strong stinging cells and highly adhesive tentacles capable of trapping and consuming unwary fish.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colors range from green and brown to brilliant blues, purples, or pinks. Visual sex differences are absent.

Tank Setup: Requires a large aquarium with a deep sand bed near rocks. High-output reef lighting and moderate to strong water flow are essential.

Diet and Feeding: Photosynthetic, but requires supplemental direct feeding of fresh seafood pieces (shrimp, fish) once a week.

Water Quality: Demands absolute stability. pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.023-1.025, and low nutrient levels. Perform regular water changes.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Natural host for clownfish species. Dangerous to other small fish, which may be stung and eaten. Avoid mixing with delicate corals.

Aquarium Breeding: Extremely rare in captivity. In the wild, they reproduce sexually.

Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to copper. Prone to bacterial infection and foot damage during transplantation.