S. mertensii Any info???

Mad Marine

Mad Marine

Member
Hey,

Does anyone have experience keeping Mertens Carpet Anemone (S. mertensii)?
There a lot of discussion about true carpets, haddoni's, BTA etc but not much on these guys. I know about the collecting methods, that's it's difficult (taking up to 45 minutes etc)....Also top three places to buy difficult to find anemones would be appreciated.

Thanks

MM
 
For once, they get really, really big, which is one of the reasons why they are not in high demand.
Then they are rather drab in color, which is another reasons why they are not in high demand.
Finally, they are rather difficult to collect, which is why they are usually not cheap either.

As where to get them in Ireland (or Europe in general) - no idea. Here in the US are a few places that may get them on special order. I would try a local store and see if they can order it through one of their sources. Most stores will at least try.
 
Thanks for your prompt response and thoughts on s. mertensii. I have taken all on board.

We have a good specialist award winning store in Ireland seahorseaquariums.com and I know the guys quite well, however it can take time (like anywhere else) to require your desired specimen. I contacted bob at ibluewater (specialist in clown and anemone as i'm sure you know), Bob can ship items to Ireland but it's pricey with customs, airport and certificate of health for livestock which comes to $450 before you buy or shipping charge. But he does have great stock, so I might purchase a pair of hard to find clowns and anemone from Bob. Is there anywhere the east coast (less transit time) similar to ibluewater?

Thanks again,

MM
 
Make sure you read all the review about his business before you order.
Shipping one anemone from US to Ireland seem pretty close to impossible to me. It is possible that he know something I don't know. I tried to send a few coral from the US (Seattle) to Canada (Vancouver) and it is just flatly not in my capability (the coral was tank raised in my tank)
 
Mad Marine said:
Thanks for your prompt response and thoughts on s. mertensii. I have taken all on board.

We have a good specialist award winning store in Ireland seahorseaquariums.com and I know the guys quite well, however it can take time (like anywhere else) to require your desired specimen. I contacted bob at ibluewater (specialist in clown and anemone as i'm sure you know), Bob can ship items to Ireland but it's pricey with customs, airport and certificate of health for livestock which comes to $450 before you buy or shipping charge. But he does have great stock, so I might purchase a pair of hard to find clowns and anemone from Bob. Is there anywhere the east coast (less transit time) similar to ibluewater?

Thanks again,

MM
Click to expand...
I would be careful with iBluewater, especially with overseas shipments. Many people here had quite a bit of trouble with Bob and what he shipped out.

I would stick with vendors inside the EU to avoid all the customs headaches.
See if your local store has an account with De Jong Marinelife. They can usually get everything.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Many thanks for the heads up guys. I know of De Jong in Holland, a great company, I'll check with the guys at Seahorse and see.

Regards

MM
 
I have had 4 different merten's carpets over the years. IME, they tend to be pretty easy if you have had success with haddoni carpets. The usually ship pretty well and don't come in with all the problems of gigantea carpets and don't need the water current and high light of the giganteas. Conditions in which you would normally keep BTAs or haddoni are fine for mertens.

If you can find a small individual it will be easier to keep it small for a longer period of time. Also be aware that they can double their size just going from holding tank to fully acclimated in your tank. (as they acclimate, they bring in a lot more water into their tissues which causes them the expand a great deal) I rarely target fed mine. I just relied on their ability to catch frozen and pellet food in the water column meant for the fish and good lighting.
 
phender said:
... and don't come in with all the problems of gigantea carpets and don't need the water current and high light of the giganteas. ...
Click to expand...

Why is everybody saying that gigs need high flow? I found that my gigs hate the high flow SPS like and rather prefer it mellow. In my 100 gallon tank I set up a tidal flow simulation with full blast periods and no flow periods (only the return pump creates a very mellow flow) and a ramping up an down in-between. When my pumps go to full power mode the gig clearly doesn't like it much, It rather prefers the light wave pattern before the turning of the tides. My other gigs are the same. My first gig (tan from LA) hated the high flow in my 18" cube so much that it shriveled down to the size of a maxi mini. I'm currently trying to nurse it back up.

Though as anemones that live just below the tidal zone gigs do like intense light.
 
I have to get him out. As you can see, I turn the light light on top of him out. He start to develop bubble in the mantel due to the high light. The mantel also get bend by the current and he does not like it. Maybe I am going to set a 24X36 tank and put him there connect to the main system.
 
OrionN said:
I have to get him out. As you can see, I turn the light light on top of him out. He start to develop bubble in the mantel due to the high light. The mantel also get bend by the current and he does not like it. Maybe I am going to set a 24X36 tank and put him there connect to the main system.
Click to expand...

I would strongly encourage this course of action. I think you will really regret selling it.
 
ThRoewer said:
Why is everybody saying that gigs need high flow? I found that my gigs hate the high flow SPS like and rather prefer it mellow. In my 100 gallon tank I set up a tidal flow simulation with full blast periods and no flow periods (only the return pump creates a very mellow flow) and a ramping up an down in-between. When my pumps go to full power mode the gig clearly doesn't like it much, It rather prefers the light wave pattern before the turning of the tides. My other gigs are the same. My first gig (tan from LA) hated the high flow in my 18" cube so much that it shriveled down to the size of a maxi mini. I'm currently trying to nurse it back up.

Though as anemones that live just below the tidal zone gigs do like intense light.
Click to expand...

I didn't say gigantea need high flow. I said mertens don't need as much flow as giganteas. Personally I think gigs like a large water volume washing over them like from a wave box, but not being blasted by a powerhead.

I will attach a out of focus video that may not work to show you what sort of flow I used.
http://vid221.photobucket.com/albums/dd234/phender_01/DSCN3422.mp4
 
Jesus, Read all of that - I think I'll skip my holiday in Greece and go to Sri Lanka instead and pick up my clowns and anemones straight from the exporters instead and do my own QT! Thanks. MM
 
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