Haddon's carpet anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni) care guide

Group

Corals

Other names

Saddle carpet anemone, Haddoni carpet

Family

Stichodactylidae

Origin

Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, on soft sand and mud in shallow water, usually off the reef

Water

saltwater

Maximum size

90 cm

Temperature

22–26°C

pH

8.1–8.4

Hardness

dKH 8–12

Minimum tank

114 litres

Care level

expert

Reef safe

with_caution

Lighting

High (LiveAquaria)

Flow

Moderate

Care

Haddon's carpet anemone is a large, flat carpet anemone covered in short, sticky tentacles, often in contrasting stripes. LiveAquaria sells green and red forms. It can reach about 90 cm across. LiveAquaria rates it difficult. It lives on the sand bed: it buries its foot in the substrate and may attach to the glass, so give it deep sand at the bottom of the tank with high light. LiveAquaria suggests turning the flow down while it settles. LiveAquaria's minimum tank size is 30 US gallons (about 114 litres), but its adult size means a much larger tank is wise. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.1–8.4 and 22–26 °C, with strontium, iodine and trace elements. It needs a fully established tank. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/haddons-carpet-anemone). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic but needs frequent feeding: LiveAquaria recommends fresh fish chunks, raw shrimp and other meaty marine foods.

Breeding

Not propagated in aquariums.

Compatibility and tank mates

Aggressive (LiveAquaria) with a very potent sting that harms corals and other anemones; keep it at least 30 cm from other anemones. It may catch and eat fish other than clownfish. In aquariums it can host ocellaris, percula and Allard's clownfish (LiveAquaria).

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.