{"product_id":"mini-maxi-carpet-anemone-aa1-stichodactyla-tapetum","title":"Mini Maxi Carpet Anemone AA1 | Stichodactyla tapetum","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAA1 is a Mini Maxi Carpet Anemone, \u003cem\u003eStichodactyla tapetum\u003c\/em\u003e, the small cousin of the giant carpets and by some distance the most manageable member of the group. Its short, beaded tentacles ripple continuously and it stays around 8 cm across, which makes it one of the few anemones that genuinely suits a small or medium reef. It is still a stinging animal that moves, so it needs a mature, stable system rather than a freshly cycled one.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStichodactyla tapetum\u003c\/em\u003e is found through the shallow tropical Indo-Pacific, with much of the aquarium trade supplied from Vietnam and Indonesia, in nearshore reef flats and tidepools. Unlike the large carpet anemones it is not a deep-sand species. It wedges its foot into coral rubble or a crevice in rock and spreads its small disc flat in bright light, which is exactly how it should be offered a home in the aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe disc is covered in very short, tightly packed knobbed tentacles that give a flat, beaded, carpet-like surface, and the margin is often ruffled. Colour is where this species earns its price: single and multi-toned specimens occur in green, teal, blue, purple, pink, orange and red, frequently with contrasting tentacle tips and a differently coloured mouth. Adults typically reach 5-10 cm across. Colour intensifies under blue-weighted lighting once the animal has settled.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSemi-aggressive. It is small but it is not harmless. The tentacles are extremely adhesive and it will readily catch and eat small shrimp, and occasionally small fish that rest against it. Corals in direct contact will be stung and burned back, so leave 10-15 cm of clear space around it. Expect it to move about until it finds a crevice it likes, and to shift again if conditions change. Fit intake guards to powerheads and overflows before adding it, since a small anemone is even easier to draw into a pump than a large one.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhotosynthetic, so it draws most of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae and lighting is part of feeding it rather than decoration. Supplement with small target feeds once or twice a week: finely chopped prawn, mussel or fortified mysis, sized to the disc so it can close over the food. Portions should be genuinely small, roughly what would sit on the tip of a teaspoon. Remove anything rejected rather than letting it decay in the tentacles.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA minimum of 40 L is workable, with 75 L or larger recommended for stability. Keep temperature at 24-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4 and salinity 1.024-1.026. Lighting should be moderate to high, roughly 100-200 PAR at the animal, increased gradually rather than in one step. Provide moderate, turbulent flow and avoid a direct blast. Offer rubble or rockwork with crevices and let it choose its own position rather than forcing placement. Small tanks swing faster than large ones, so a mature, fully cycled system with steady parameters matters just as much here as it does with a large anemone. Reef safe with caution.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis is one of the more cooperative anemones in captivity. Healthy specimens divide by longitudinal fission, producing genetically identical clones, and they have also been induced to spawn under aquarium conditions, which is why so many colour morphs circulate in the hobby. A settled animal in good light and with regular small feeds will often split of its own accord.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStichodactyla tapetum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMini Maxi Carpet Anemone, Maxi Mini Anemone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShallow tropical Indo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-10 cm across the oral disc\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMany years, and effectively indefinite where it divides\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive, very sticky and stings corals it contacts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate, the most manageable of the carpet anemones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhotosynthetic carnivore: zooxanthellae plus small target feeds of finely chopped prawn, mussel and mysis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1-8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.024-1.026 specific gravity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature nano and mid-sized reef aquariums with good lighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with caution, stings corals it contacts and may wander\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBe clear about one thing before buying: this is not a reliable host anemone. It is generally too small for clownfish to occupy, and while a juvenile ocellaris will occasionally investigate one, most clownfish ignore it entirely. Buy it for its colour, not as a clownfish home. It sits well with peaceful reef fish that keep off the rock, such as small tangs, wrasses, anthias, blennies and firefish, and with a snail clean-up crew kept clear of the disc.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid ornamental shrimp, which are frequently caught and eaten, and avoid very small or weak-swimming fish that might settle against it. Keep it out of contact range of LPS, SPS and soft corals, and do not place it near larger anemones, which will out-compete it chemically. It is unsuitable for newly cycled tanks, low-light systems and any aquarium with unguarded powerheads.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAA1 ships as the exact individual pictured, WYSIWYG. In-store pickup and local delivery are both offered. Questions about whether it fits your setup? Contact us any time, we enjoy helping customers choose well.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55232738853155,"sku":"AA1275","price":75.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/mini-maxi-carpet-anemone-aa1-stichodactyla-tapetum","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}