Why is my carpet anemone's mouth wide open?

A persistently gaping mouth is a common sign of stress, usually indicating poor water quality, inadequate lighting, or acclimatisation shock. Check your water chemistry and temperature immediately.

Can I keep a Haddon's Carpet Anemone on bare bottom or shallow sand?

It is highly discouraged. They naturally bury their tapered foot in deep sand. Without at least 10 cm of substrate, they will wander, become stressed, and likely detach, putting them at risk of being sucked into a powerhead.

Why did my anemone eat my fish?

They are opportunistic predators with an incredibly sticky and potent sting. Any non-symbiotic fish, such as blennies, gobies, or careless tangs, that blunder into the tentacles is seen as prey and will be rapidly consumed.

How often should I feed my carpet anemone?

While they rely heavily on photosynthesis, offering small, meaty marine foods like raw shrimp or lancefish once or twice a week ensures they receive adequate nutrients for growth and robust health.

Will any clownfish host in a Haddon's carpet anemone?

No, only certain species like the Clark's and Saddleback clownfish are natural symbionts. Other popular species, like the Ocellaris clownfish, may not adapt and run a high risk of being stung or eaten.

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Haddon's Carpet Anemone

Stichodactyla haddoni

Haddon's Carpet Anemone is a spectacular but demanding marine invertebrate known for its deep sand bed dwelling habits and highly potent, sticky tentacles.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.024 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 40 – 60 cm
Minimum for adult specimen: 250 litres+
Lifespan: 20 – 80 years
Diet: Carnivore and Photosynthetic
Water flow: Low to moderate; avoid strong direct laminar flow which may cause detachment.
Preferred setup: Requires a deep sand bed (at least 10 cm) so the anemone can bury its pedal disc securely.

About the Haddon's Carpet Anemone

Stichodactyla haddoni is one of the most sought-after carpet anemones in the marine aquarium hobby, prized for its impressive size and vibrant colour morphs. Characterised by incredibly short, densely packed tentacles that feel like a sticky carpet to the touch, this species forms a beautiful, undulating oral disc that can span up to 60 cm in diameter. Unlike rock-dwelling anemones, it has evolved a smooth, tapered column specifically designed to bury deep into sandy substrates.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Haddon's Carpet Anemone comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef

Countries / regions

Australia, Indonesia, Fiji, Japan, Madagascar

Habitat

Shallow lagoons, sandy bays, and reef slopes where they can anchor their foot into a sandy substrate.

Widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific, primarily favouring soft, sandy substrates rather than hard reef rock.

Similar species

Giant Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla gigantea
Mertens' Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla mertensii
Magnificent Sea Anemone
Heteractis magnifica

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus
A natural symbiotic partner in the wild that readily accepts and thrives within the Haddon's carpet anemone.
Great
Clark's Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
A highly adaptable clownfish known to naturally pair with this species of anemone without being stung.
Great
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Not a natural host in the wild; while some individuals adapt, there is a distinct risk they may be stung or eaten.
Compatible with caution
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Generally large enough to avoid the anemone, but a startled fish could dart into the tentacles and become a meal.
Compatible with caution
Mandarin Goby
Synchiropus splendidus
A slow-moving bottom dweller that is extremely likely to blunder into the anemone's sticky tentacles and be consumed.
Not recommended
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Non-symbiotic crustaceans are at high risk of being captured and eaten if they touch the potent tentacles.
Not recommended

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