Purple Carpet Anemone #3 - Stichodactyla Haddoni

Purple Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni)

The Purple Carpet Anemone, Stichodactyla haddoni, is a striking colour form of Haddon's Carpet Anemone, admired for its broad flattened oral disc, dense short tentacles and rich purple to violet tones. This impressive Indo-Pacific host anemone can become a dramatic centrepiece in a mature marine aquarium, but it is a powerful, predatory anemone rather than a simple coral substitute. It requires strong reef lighting, stable water quality, suitable sandy substrate and careful placement away from fish, corals and invertebrates that may be stung or trapped.

Common Name:
Purple Carpet Anemone, Purple Haddon's Carpet Anemone, Haddon's Carpet Anemone, Saddle Carpet Anemone, Carpet Anemone.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Stichodactyla haddoni
Purple colour form.

Maximum Size:
Commonly around 50–80 cm across when mature, with some specimens capable of approaching 1 m in ideal conditions.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Indo-Pacific, including tropical reef regions of the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, northern Australia and the western Pacific. Naturally found in sheltered sandy areas, lagoons, reef flats and sandy zones beside reef structure, where it anchors its foot deeply into sand or buried hard substrate while the oral disc rests exposed 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 stinging and predatory. It is not aggressive like a fish, but its adhesive tentacles can trap and consume fish or invertebrates that touch it. It should be given a dedicated area with clear space around the oral disc and should not be crowded by corals.

Diet:
Photosynthetic and carnivorous. It gains much of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae under strong reef lighting, but may also benefit from occasional small feeds. Offer modest pieces of marine fish, prawn, mussel, clam, squid or other meaty marine foods. Avoid oversized meals and heavy feeding, as this can stress the anemone and affect water quality.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 300 litres is recommended for a single specimen, with larger aquariums strongly preferred due to its adult size, powerful sting and need for stable conditions. Best kept 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 lying flat above the sand. Once established it may remain in place for long periods, but newly introduced or unhappy specimens may move in search of better light, flow or substrate. Its tentacles are very sticky, and non-associated fish may be captured if they blunder into it. Some clownfish, especially Saddleback and Clarkii-type clownfish, may adopt it as a host, although hosting is never guaranteed.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe with Caution
It does not graze or 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 room away from corals, powerheads and overflow intakes. It is not suitable for crowded reef aquariums with small fish, delicate invertebrates or dense coral placement around the sand bed.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Requires a mature, stable marine aquarium, strong reef 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. Avoid copper-based treatments and sudden changes in salinity, temperature or pH. Handle only when necessary and never pull the foot from rock, glass or sand, 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.