Stichodactyla Mertensii Anemone

[robert s b.]

Here is a little video of my Mertensii Anemone, which I received 12-24-13. It has settled in and has grown quadruple in size. Only con at the moment, is that its growing to fast. :)

Here is it when I brought him home, within minutes my clowns gravitated to it.

<a href="http://s576.photobucket.com/user/booman_13/media/Build%20Thread/MertensiiAnemone.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss202/booman_13/Build%20Thread/MertensiiAnemone.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo MertensiiAnemone.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s576.photobucket.com/user/booman_13/media/Build%20Thread/Clownandanemone.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss202/booman_13/Build%20Thread/Clownandanemone.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Clownandanemone.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s576.photobucket.com/user/booman_13/media/before%20and%20after/IMG_2682.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss202/booman_13/before%20and%20after/IMG_2682.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2682.jpg"/></a>

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IjYcBVAQ7go" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[james30ct]

Nice nem and tank.

[D-Nak]

Glad to see it's doing well. Nice looking tank!

[robert s b.]

Nice nem and tank.

Thanks!

Glad to see it's doing well. Nice looking tank!

Thanks D-Nak, for leading me to this nice anemone!

[Winwood]

Like button!

[Ron Popeil]

interesting that yours has some structure to it. mine have all laid flat on the rocks like a sheet.

[Reefvette]

Ron,

Depending on flow, i have seen them sit either way.

In less flow they tend to be like the one in the video in a higher flow tank they tend to lay down there outer disk and grip it and rip it in the flow.

[Rare Angels]

hey guys, where do you get your Merten's from? I am hoping to put one in my tank, going to be a few months, but haven't seen any around.

[D-Nak]

hey guys, where do you get your Merten's from? I am hoping to put one in my tank, going to be a few months, but haven't seen any around.

They're extremely rare. Unfortunately, of the Stichodacytla family, mertensii is the least common and we know the least about them. There are multiple reasons why they're rare in the trade -- they are very large (largest of all carpets and can be over 3 ft.) and small ones are hard to find, they're relatively drab so collectors opt to find other, brighter colored and thus thought of as more desirable species, and they're sometimes mistaken for S. helianthus so they're not purchased by cherry pickers.

If you want one, there are two ways to go about procuring one: 1) get lucky and find one that's mis-IDed. A friend of mine found one for $40. 2) ask a reputable dealer to find one for you. If they know what they're getting you, expect to pay at least a couple hundred dollars for it.

Keep in mind that most wholesalers and LFS can't tell the difference between mertensii, haddoni, gigantea, and helianthus. Luck and patience definitely play a part in getting a mertensii. It's hard enough to get a gigantea. Here's how I see the scale of availability (from easiest to hardest) though not linear by any means -- gigs are a lot harder to get than haddoni:

haddoni -> gigantea -> mertensii

I left helianthus off the scale because they usually arrive as "misc. carpet anemone" and most wholesalers and LFS don't know what they are. In other words, they typically come in by accident -- the LFS rolls the dice by placing an order for "misc. carpet anemone" and hope they get something good to sell. I like to think that LFS don't knowingly sell helianthus to unsuspecting buyers.

I have a LFS that let's me know when mertensii arrive. If one comes in, I'll definitely let you know. Until then, good luck and be patient!

[deangelr]

hey guys, where do you get your Merten's from? I am hoping to put one in my tank, going to be a few months, but haven't seen any around.

I got mine off Ebay.. They pop up from time to time with other sellers, but is all a crapshoot as to when and where..

[Rare Angels]

thanks guys! I knew the process was a long one so that's why I am asking now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Reef1589]

Nice Nem and Tank :) good song as well :D

[robert s b.]

Nice Nem and Tank :) good song as well :D

Thanks!