Merten’s Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla mertensii)
| Merten’s Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla mertensii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Merten’s Carpet Anemone |
| Name Lat. | Stichodactyla mertensii |
| Family | Host Anemones |
| Family lat. | Stichodactylidae |
| Order | Sea Anemones |
| Order lat. | Actiniaria |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific |
| Diet | Autotroph, carnivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-12 °KH |
| Lighting | Medium - high |
| Current | Moderate |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive |
| Keeping | Individual |
| Care Level | Experts only |
| Life Span | N/A |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | < 150 cm |
| Temperature | 22-27 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | 800 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | < 59" |
| Temperature | 72-81 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | 200 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The range of Stichodactyla mertensii, the largest actinia species, extends from the coast of East Africa to Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean. They live solitary in crevices of rock and coral reefs, where they can retreat in case of danger
Maintenance
They should be positioned in a bright spot among fissured rock with medium, alternating flow by gently pressing them there for a short time.
It is recommended to use live stones for setting up the aquarium. The bacteria living in the porous stones act as a biological filter. Only substrates rich in lime and free of heavy metals should be used as substrate. Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| Salinity: 33-36 ‰ | pH value: 8.1-8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness: 8-12 °KH | Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l |
| calcium content: 420-450 mg/l | Nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l |
| Magnesium content: 1.250-1.350 mg/l | phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l |
Regular addition of trace elements, especially iodine and strontium, is recommended. For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention shall be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.
Diet
Zooxanthellae, which are unicellular symbiotic algae, live in their tissue and provide them with assimilation products of their photosynthesis (high light requirement). The zooxanthellae promote growth and provide additional food to the plankton and small particles collected from the water current. In addition to the food produced in the aquarium during fish feeding, they must be fed several times a week specifically with small pieces of fish, crab or shellfish meat, shrimp, krill, etc
Regular and varied feeding promotes health and avoids deficiency symptoms.
Behaviour and compatibility
This solitary anemone is a symbiotic anemone for 14 species of anemonefish and Dascyllus trimaculatus (three-spotted Prussian fish). They should be socialized with anemonefish such as Amphiprion clarkii, A. sebae, etc. or with Dascyllus trimaculatus. Other animals are held and devoured by their non-adhesive tentacles. A sufficient distance to other corals and anemones must be maintained to avoid entanglement.
Reproduction and breeding
They are separately sexual. Their larvae are part of the plankton for several weeks until they settle in a suitable place. Reproduction by division is also possible, which occasionally succeeds in the aquarium.
Important
They come in different colors, such as white, green or yellow-brown, the coloration depending on the symbiotic algae in their tissue. After introduction into the aquarium, they sometimes wander until they find a suitable place themselves. Keeping them is not unproblematic due to their size and willingness to migrate, as well as their highly cnidate tentacles
The anemonefishes or three-spot-preus fishes living in symbiosis with it are very helpful in the often difficult acclimation. Healthy animals have a closed oral disc and look "pumped up". Recommended for their growth (zooxanthellae) is supplementing lighting with Actinic light, a short-wave violet-blue light. With their nettle-like tentacles, skin contact is better avoided
Newly introduced animals must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium. If different species are kept together, make sure that fish and invertebrates match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the ecological needs of all species kept together. Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: Werner Winter
Source: BAENSCH & DEBELIUS (2006): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch