Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Amphiprion

Amphiprion rubrocinctus

Richardson, 1842

Australian Anemonefish, Red Clownfish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Northwestern Australia.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow fringing reefs at depths between 3 to about 30 feet (1 – 10 m) and usually found inhabiting various anemones where it feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), and algae.

General Husbandry: Very rarely seen in the trade due to its limite collection areas. Has a brownish head and body with a reddish belly and fins with adults having a narrow white head band. Juveniles usually have up to three bands.

Best maintained in aquaria having live rock, hiding places, macroalgae, peaceful tankmates, and with a hosting anemone.

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and should be offered once or twice daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Labroidei

    Family: Pomacentridae

    Subfamily: Amphiprioninae

    Genus: Amphiprion

FYI: In the wild, its hosting anemones are: Entacmaea quadricolor and Stichodactyla gigantea.

Females are larger than males.

If the female is removed, the male will change sex and one of the juveniles will become the new functioning male.

A member of the Tomato Complex.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Amphiprion rubrocinctus  (Australian Anemonefish, Red Clownfish)
Photo © John Randall
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