Fun Mini Carpet Anemone Facts For Kids

Rhea Nischal
Oct 20, 2022 By Rhea Nischal
Originally Published on Aug 06, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Fact-checked by Gowri Rao
Discover captivating mini carpet anemone facts about its size, locations, habitat, and more!

The mini carpet anemone, Stichodactyla tapetum, is a mesmerizing ocean-dwelling invertebrate, that is similar to a coral. It that can be spotted in seagrasses in the wild.

They originate from the Red Sea, Eastern Coast of Africa, across Indo-Pacific to southern Japan, and south to Great Barrier Reef. It possesses stunning rainbow colors and is famous in the aquarium trade due to its coloration.

It is quite easy to take care of as it has a small size and grows 4-6 in (10.1-15.2 cm) only. It flourishes in tanks with a strong water flow and lighting.

It needs a thick sandy substrate in the tank. Its tank also must have various rocky and sandy locations.

The mini carpet anemone must be fed carnivorous foods daily. Its diet must comprise plankton-sized foods, like shrimp, fish, and marine meaty foods like Brine shrimp, and Mysis.

Its health can be assessed by how sticky it is, with very sticky being the best. As it is sticky, something grabbed by it wouldn't be let go by it easily.

It can also sting which can cause a reaction in people, so gloves must be worn while handling it. It does not have a relationship with clownfish like its larger cousins, Stichodactyla gigante and Stichodactyla haddoni.

It has never been observed to host a clownfish. However, anemone shrimp and anemone crabs enjoy being around the mini maxi carpet anemone and are frequently spotted near it.

This anemone is incredibly mesmerizing and is easy for nano-aquarium enthusiasts to take care of due to its small size. Keep reading to discover interesting facts about this fascinating multi-colored creature!

If you enjoyed reading our interesting facts about this sea anemone, you must check out our giant green anemone surprising facts and sea anemone facts for kids!

Mini Carpet Anemone Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a mini carpet anemone?

The mini maxi carpet anemone, Stichodactyla tapetum, originates from the Red Sea, Eastern Coast of Africa, across Indo-Pacific to southern Japan, and south to Great Barrier Reef. It's an anemone of small size that grows up to 6 in (15.2 cm) only.

It was given its Latin name in 1834 by Hemprich and Ehrenberg and has been around for a long while.

What class of animal does a mini carpet anemone belong to?

The maxi mini carpet anemone belongs to the class Anthozoa.

How many mini carpet anemones are there in the world?

The population of this species has not been evaluated yet. However, it is assumed to have a stable population across its distribution.

Where does a mini carpet anemone live?

The maxi mini carpet anemone inhabits seagrasses in the wild. It originates from the Red Sea, Eastern Coast of Africa, across Indo-Pacific to southern Japan, and south to Great Barrier Reef.  

What is a mini carpet anemone's habitat?

In the wild, the maxi mini carpet anemone inhabits seagrasses. In captivity, it needs a tank of 25 gal (94.6 l) size with strong lighting and excellent water movement.

A high current in the tank aids this anemone to feed well and stay healthy. About mini carpet anemone placement, it must be placed in the bottom or middle of the tank.

However, they shouldn't be placed near corals as they wouldn't be able to defend themselves from these anemone invertebrates. If corals are near them, there are high chances that this anemone will sting them.

They must be placed in the tank in such a way that will allow them to spread out easily. Its aquarium must have various rocky and sandy locations for it to seek refuge.

After it settles into a location of its preference, it will hardly move. The temperature or the tank must be 72-78°F (22.2-25.5°C), with a pH ranging between 8.1-8.4.

Who do mini carpet anemones live with?

A mini carpet anemone-clownfish relationship does not exist which makes these anemones different from their cousins, the  Stichodactyla gigante and Stichodactyla haddoni.  It has never been observed to host a clownfish. However, anemone shrimp and anemone crabs enjoy being around the mini maxi carpet anemone and are frequently spotted near it.

How long does a mini carpet anemone live?

The maxi mini carpet anemone (Stichodactyla tapetum) can live for years if cared for properly.

How do they reproduce?

These creatures reproduce by means of fission  They tear themselves in half. The mature gametes shed into coelenteron. Spawning takes place through its mouth. The zygote of these anemones develops into a larva, after which metamorphosis begins.

What is their conservation status?

These anemones have not been evaluated by the IUCN currently. Hence, they are Not Listed.

Mini Carpet Anemone Fun Facts

What do mini carpet anemones look like?

The mini maxi carpet anemone is an incredibly beautiful anemone. This invert/coral comes in a variety of colors like green, neon yellow, and red.

Orange and yellow colored one is the rarer one of this species and costs a lot. This anemone has a bright pink-colored center and has bubble-like polyps that are similar to the carpet anemones that are bigger.

It also has a green shade at tips. It has short tentacles that look like bumps. They are arranged in a neatly wedge-shaped arrangement.

How cute are they?

These small creatures are quite cute. They are multi-colored and look dazzling even in a tank. They come in vibrant colorations and are adored by many nano-aquarium enthusiasts.

How do they communicate?

Anemones communicate with chemicals and with their tentacles. They have the ability to contract their tentacles to communicate.

How big is a mini carpet anemone?

The mini carpet anemone size is quite small as compared to other anemones. It grows between the range of 4-6 in (10.1-15.2 cm). It is an invert that is similar in appearance to a coral. The mini maxi carpet anemone length is usually the same as that of a lined seahorse!

How fast can a mini carpet anemone move?

The mini carpet anemone rarely moves about. It will move in a tank only to shift to an area where it receives good lighting and good water flow. Once it settles in a location of its choice, it'll stay put.

How much does a mini carpet anemone weigh?

The weight of this beautiful creature has not been evaluated yet. However, other larger anemones range between 400-440 lb (181-199 kg) in weight.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no special names for females and males of the mini carpet anemones.

What would you call a baby mini carpet anemone?

There is no special name for the newly produced anemones of this species.

What do they eat?

These creatures contain symbiotic zooxanthellae in their body which produce sugar through the light which helps them to grow and live. They can also catch plankton-sized foods that pass nearby. In captivity, their diet must include uncooked shrimp, marine meaty foods like Brine shrimp and Mysis, and fish.

These anemones feed mostly produce energy via photosynthesis. They can also be fed oysters. They are preyed upon by sea slugs, codfish, and eels.

Are they dangerous?

They are non-aggressive, but sting like all other anemones. They are also venomous like all other species of anemone.

However, their venom won't reach inside a human hand easily as the pores are very tight. However, the sting will hurt like a bee sting, so it's better to be wearing gloves. It doesn't host any fish, but the anemone shrimp and anemone crabs enjoy being around the mini maxi carpet anemone and are frequently spotted near it.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, these beautiful creatures are a great addition to an aquarium. Their care level is easy because of their simple requirements and small size.

They are also non-aggressive, which makes them easy to take care of and perfect pets for nano-aquarium enthusiasts. They'll be just fine as long as their tank has the right water conditions with strong lighting. Their price ranges between $24.99-349.99, depending upon the color and rarity.

Did you know...

It was for the first time in 1868, that Collingwood C. discovered Stichodactylidae after seeing large anemones in the China sea!

What colors do mini carpet anemones come in?

There are many varieties of these creatures, namely the green mini carpet anemone, the neon yellow mini carpet anemone, and the red mini carpet anemone.

How to care for a mini carpet anemone?

Mini carpet anemone care is quite easy. It will not require much care as long as the water conditions are good. It needs a reef aquarium, with good water movement and strong lighting. It needs to be fed daily or weekly.  Its diet must include uncooked shrimp, marine meaty foods like Brine shrimp and Mysis, and fish.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these giant green anemone surprising facts and brain coral interesting facts pages!

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable sea anemone coloring pages!

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Written by Rhea Nischal

Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in Management

Rhea Nischal picture

Rhea NischalBachelor of Business Administration specializing in Management

A background in Business Administration and Management from MCM DAV College, Rhea has led her to work for her father's global business. However, her passion for content production, where she manages operations to ensure all processes run smoothly. Outside of work, she enjoys playing the piano and spending time with her one-year-old nephew.

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Fact-checked by Gowri Rao

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

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Gowri RaoBachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

With a bachelor's degree in Economics from Krea University, Gowri is a highly skilled data analyst and an expert in regression and causation modeling. Her interests in economic trends, finance, and investment research complement her professional expertise. In addition to her professional pursuits, Gowri enjoys swimming, running, and playing the drums, and she is also a talented tutor.

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