The Carpet Anemone has a Brilliant color and is even better looking in potential size and appearance.  They aren't always available and in stock but when they are, they typically sell fast!  It is a Carnivore and prefers small chunks of squid, shrimp or silversides as a primary diet. It also likes to eat filter feeding invert food, Mysis Shrimp, micro-plankton a few times per week, when open.  The Stichodactyla sp. may be either Haddoni or Gigantea unless you specify a specific species below and is generally aggressive toward other tank mates. Many consider the Actinaria sp. a high-maintenance specimen. Has strong lighting needs.  Symbiotic algae zooxanthellae are hosted within this organism. The Giant Anemone, Giant Carpet Anemone requires intermediate water flow. Appearance will vary significantly. Lives symbiotically with clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion percula, or Dascyllus trimaculatus). Feed also with various meaty treats (fish, krill, shrimp). Aggressive when tentacles hook something. Flowers of the sea? Hardly. Most anemones are marine; but they are definitely animals, just a step or two up from the "tissue-grade" life that is the sponges, phylum Porifera. The trade in these stinging-celled animals is brisk, and well it should be; many species are reasonably available and hardy, undemanding aquarium fare. This series offers an overview of aquatic life natural history, and captive care. This installment deals with the polypoid cnidarians (coelenterates) we call anemones. Try imagining a reef system, photograph, television show, fish store without anemones. Hard to do, isn't it? Anemones are seemingly ubiquitous fixtures in all these. Check out our Keep water quality high (SG 1.023 - 1.025, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Temp. 72 - 78° F). The Carpet Anemone (Green) is commonly collected from Colombo but on a very rare occasion a blue, red or other may become available maybe once a year.  Due to variations in growth of Anemones, it is difficult to pinpoint exact sizes. These sizes are very approximate and will not apply in all situations.  The Carpet also has stinging cells known as nematocysts and to some fish can be painful and cause injury or even death (some humans have complained of even a rash after touch or worse) but be sure your tank is specific to the needs of this beautiful animal and all tank inhabitants suitable to it.

Carpet Anemones Rarity:

Red :  By far the hardest to locate and obtain.
Blue :  A very hard one to obtain but more common than the red color.
Electric Green:  More common than Blue and a absolutly Beautiful animal.
Yellow:  May be bright yellow or have some green in it but is more difficult to import than the common green and as rare as a Electric Green.
Green:  Commonly found in stock.
Other :  Colors like Tan, Grey, and mixed colors are always in stock.

Gigantea is harder to find than Haddoni and is often identifiable by a colored base such as a blue having a blue base and a red having a red base with a bit longer tentacles over the Hiddoni which will have a tan colored base (uncolored) and will have very short tentacles.  In either case, both have short tentacles and may be deceiving so the base is the best way to identify it.  The haddoni is sometimes labeled as a saddle anemone as science is trying to separate the carpet label from it.