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The Mertensii Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla mertensii) is a host anemone - a marine cnidarian that forms symbiotic relationships with clownfish and several damselfish species. Anemones differ from corals in three critical ways: they are mobile (and will move to find optimal light/flow), they are predatory (capturing fish and shrimp passing too close), and they require dramatically higher light and stable water chemistry than even SPS corals.
Anemones are not beginner livestock. The hobby loses more anemones to inadequate lighting and unstable parameters than any other class of marine livestock. A bleached, half-dead anemone in an established system is far more common than a healthy specimen, and this is almost entirely a husbandry failure rather than a sourcing problem. Aquacultured BTAs from ORA, Sustainable Aquatics, and a growing list of hobbyist breeders are now the standard - far hardier than wild-caught Indo-Pacific imports.
The Mertensii Carpet Anemone requires extreme PAR (350-500+ micromoles) at the placement. Most anemone deaths trace directly back to insufficient light. Reef-spec LEDs (Radion XR30, Hydra HD52, Reef Brite XHO supplemented with point-source LED) are required - standard reef fixtures tuned for SPS work, but T5-only setups rarely produce enough PAR penetration to sustain a host anemone long-term. Photoperiod 8-10 hours of full output.
Anemones move themselves to the placement they prefer. Provide moderate, varied flow (15-25x turnover) and let the anemone pick its spot. Do not glue anemones to rockwork, do not place them where they can reach pump intakes (death by impeller is common), and do not move them once they have settled and tentacles are extended.
The Mertensii Carpet Anemone is photosynthetic via zooxanthellae but supplements with predatory feeding. Target-feed silversides, mysis, krill, or shelled raw shrimp 2-3 times per week. Whole pieces no larger than the size of the mouth. Healthy specimens grasp food and pull it into the mouth within 30 seconds; specimens that consistently spit food back out are stressed or ill.
Carpet anemones (Stichodactyla genus) host a wide range of clownfish but their potency (ability to capture and digest passing fish) makes them dangerous to non-clownfish tank mates. Larger fish and shrimp can be eaten.
Fast Aquatics connects you to vetted vendors of the Mertensii Carpet Anemone across all 50 US states. Every listing on Fast Aquatics ships overnight via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air. Climate-aware shipping holds the order if forecasted temperatures at your ZIP exceed safe thresholds. The 4-hour DOA window starts at carrier-reported delivery, with photo-evidence-based claim filing and Fast Aquatics mediation when needed. An optional Tiered Living Guarantee (1mo / 3mo / 6mo / 12mo) extends coverage well beyond the standard arrival-state protection.
Other anemone in the same genus (Stichodactyla).
The Mertensii Carpet Anemone requires a minimum tank size of 100 gallons. Larger systems are recommended for adult specimens to allow proper territory and stable water chemistry.
The Mertensii Carpet Anemone is rated expert care difficulty. an expert-only species reserved for hobbyists with proven track records on similar specimens
Carnivore
Fast Aquatics connects you to vetted vendors selling captive-bred and aquacultured specimens of this species across all 50 US states. Carrier-tracked overnight shipping with 4-hour DOA guarantee on every order.
The Mertensii Carpet Anemone is reef-safe with caution. Some specimens may nip at coral polyps or harass small invertebrates.