Help me with ID of carpet anemone

CliftonArbogast · 05/09/2012, 05:24 PM

Need some help, this was sold to me as a carpet anemone, and is about 3 inches across. With the coloration (which is a little more purple than picture) is this more likely a haddon nem or a mini Anemone. I like the coloration and if its going to grow big im stoked

, if its a mini thats fine too but will need a better home for my maroon clown.

sjkarrow87 · 05/09/2012, 05:44 PM

Looks like a mini.

ItsNotJustFish · 05/09/2012, 05:58 PM

i found something very interesting. why are maxi minis called maxis? i thought it had something to do with their species name until i remember theyre called stichodactyla tapetum. anyways its definitely a mini

BonsaiNut · 05/09/2012, 06:40 PM

That's an S. tapetum. In my personal opinion there are probably two separate sub-species (the mini and maxi versions), and I personally don't think they belong in the stichodactyla genus... but I don't want to go there

If you think there is drama on reef aquarium forums, you should see the battles people have about proper classification of marine inverts

Sytje1234 · 05/09/2012, 09:45 PM

Maxi mini.....Definitely! I've also heard them called maxi mini Carpet Anemones. They mostly only get up to about 6 inches. I put mine in the tank and it is a sand/rock lounger. It has not moved to any other spot and is a very nice inhabitant. They come in so many different colors and variations. Beautiful. I really like mine, eventually hope to get a larger anemone for my clowns. My clowns took to my torch coral, very seldom do they or the maxi mini host each other if at all. I really like my maxi mini alot! They seem to be very mello, but can sting just like any other anemone.

garygb · 05/10/2012, 09:47 AM

I agree with Bonsai, what is classified as S. tapetum has two types, I would say they are two different species, but perhaps they are only or sub-species. Whatever the case, your pic is of the maxi-mini, the mini-mini only grows to the size of a quarter or so. The mini also seems to asexually divide much more frequently than the maxi.

CliftonArbogast · 05/10/2012, 12:22 PM

Thanks all,

Thats what i was expecting, nice to know Im getting better at what these types are. Guess I'm in the market for a BTA or Haddoni carpet for my clown.

garygb · 05/10/2012, 03:51 PM

Since you have a maroon, I would suggest a BTA as that is their natural host. Sometimes maroons take to haddoni in aquariums, despite it not occurring in nature. However, haddoni have been known to eat clownfish, so you might not want to risk it.

05/09/2012, 06:40 PM	#4
BonsaiNut Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 4,629	That's an S. tapetum. In my personal opinion there are probably two separate sub-species (the mini and maxi versions), and I personally don't think they belong in the stichodactyla genus... but I don't want to go there If you think there is drama on reef aquarium forums, you should see the battles people have about proper classification of marine inverts __________________ "You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!" - The Hobbit; J. R. R. Tolkien

05/09/2012, 05:44 PM	#2
sjkarrow87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lake Zurich, IL Posts: 470	Looks like a mini.

05/09/2012, 05:58 PM	#3
ItsNotJustFish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SFL Posts: 15	i found something very interesting. why are maxi minis called maxis? i thought it had something to do with their species name until i remember theyre called stichodactyla tapetum. anyways its definitely a mini

05/09/2012, 09:45 PM	#5
Sytje1234 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Warm Springs, OR Posts: 103	Maxi mini.....Definitely! I've also heard them called maxi mini Carpet Anemones. They mostly only get up to about 6 inches. I put mine in the tank and it is a sand/rock lounger. It has not moved to any other spot and is a very nice inhabitant. They come in so many different colors and variations. Beautiful. I really like mine, eventually hope to get a larger anemone for my clowns. My clowns took to my torch coral, very seldom do they or the maxi mini host each other if at all. I really like my maxi mini alot! They seem to be very mello, but can sting just like any other anemone.

05/10/2012, 09:47 AM	#6
garygb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 4,471	I agree with Bonsai, what is classified as S. tapetum has two types, I would say they are two different species, but perhaps they are only or sub-species. Whatever the case, your pic is of the maxi-mini, the mini-mini only grows to the size of a quarter or so. The mini also seems to asexually divide much more frequently than the maxi.

05/10/2012, 12:22 PM	#7
CliftonArbogast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston TX (south side) Posts: 165	Thanks all, Thats what i was expecting, nice to know Im getting better at what these types are. Guess I'm in the market for a BTA or Haddoni carpet for my clown.

05/10/2012, 03:51 PM	#8
garygb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 4,471	Since you have a maroon, I would suggest a BTA as that is their natural host. Sometimes maroons take to haddoni in aquariums, despite it not occurring in nature. However, haddoni have been known to eat clownfish, so you might not want to risk it.