Blue Carpet Anemone #1 - Stichodactyla haddoni

Blue Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni)

The Blue Carpet Anemone, Stichodactyla haddoni, is a spectacular colour form of Haddon's Carpet Anemone, prized for its broad, flattened oral disc, dense short tentacles and intense blue colouration. This Indo-Pacific host anemone can become a dramatic centrepiece in a mature marine aquarium, but it is a powerful, sticky and predatory animal rather than a simple coral alternative. It requires strong reef lighting, stable water quality, a deep sandy area for attachment and careful placement away from fish and invertebrates that may be trapped by its sting.

Common Name:
Blue Carpet Anemone, Haddon's Carpet Anemone, Blue Haddoni Carpet Anemone, Saddle Carpet Anemone, Carpet Anemone.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Stichodactyla haddoni

Maximum Size:
Commonly around 50–80 cm across when mature, with some aquarium and trade references reporting specimens approaching 1 m in ideal conditions.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Indo-Pacific, including tropical reef regions from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean across to the western and central Pacific. Naturally found on sandy substrates, lagoon areas, reef flats and sandy zones beside reef structure, where the anemone anchors its foot deeply into sand or buried hard structure while the oral disc rests at the surface.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: SG 1.023–1.026

Temperament:
Stationary once settled, but strongly predatory and highly adhesive. It is not aggressive in the way a fish is, but its sting is powerful enough to trap fish and invertebrates that touch it. It should be given a dedicated area with space around the oral disc and should not be crowded by corals or mobile livestock.

Diet:
Photosynthetic and carnivorous. It gains much of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae under strong reef lighting, but also benefits from occasional feeding. Offer small pieces of marine fish, prawn, mussel, clam, squid or other meaty marine foods. Feed sparingly, as large meals or excessive feeding can harm water quality and may stress the anemone.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 300 litres is recommended for a single specimen, with larger aquariums strongly preferred due to its adult size, strong sting and need for stable conditions. This anemone is best treated as a centrepiece animal with a dedicated sandy zone.

Behaviour & Activity:
A sand-dwelling carpet anemone that usually settles with its column buried and its broad oral disc exposed above the sand. Once established it may remain in one place for long periods, but newly introduced or unhappy specimens can move in search of better light, flow or substrate. Its tentacles are very sticky, and fish that are not naturally associated with host anemones may be captured if they blunder into it. Suitable clownfish species may adopt it as a host, especially Saddleback and Clarkii-type clownfish, though hosting is never guaranteed.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe with Caution
It does not eat coral tissue in the same way a coral predator would, but it can sting nearby corals, trap fish and consume ornamental invertebrates that touch it. It should be placed with plenty of space away from corals, powerheads and overflow intakes. It is not suitable for delicate reef layouts packed with small fish or close coral placement.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Requires a mature, stable marine aquarium, strong lighting, gentle to moderate flow and a soft sand bed deep enough for secure attachment. Protect all pumps, wavemakers and overflow intakes, as a moving anemone can be badly damaged and may release tissue into the aquarium. Do not expose to copper-based treatments and avoid sudden changes in salinity, temperature or pH. Handle only when necessary and never pull the foot from rock or glass, as torn tissue can be fatal. This species is best kept by aquarists with previous anemone or advanced reef experience.

Suitable for:
Experienced fishkeepers

Availability:
Rare or occasional in trade

All images are a visual representation of the animal you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.