All fish / Pomacentridae

Allard's clownfish

Amphiprion allardi

Also known as allard's anemonefish, allardi clownfish, twobar anemonefish, allard clownfish, allard's clown, アラードクマノミ, 阿拉德小丑鱼, 阿氏双锯鱼

A dark brown to black clownfish with orange to yellow fins and face and two white bars across the body, with a whitish tail fin. Keepers like it as a hardy, bold alternative to the more common clownfish species, and it will often host in carpet or bubble-tip anemones.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a mated pair

Diet

Omnivore: quality marine pellets and flakes, frozen mysis and brine shrimp, chopped seafood and some algae-based food

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Indian Ocean: Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and eastern South Africa

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on a flat surface near their anemone or territory, and the male guards them until they hatch after about a week. It has been bred in captivity, though rearing the larvae needs rotifers and live plankton and takes some effort.

Good to know

Grows larger and becomes more territorial than ocellaris clownfish, so keep only one pair per tank and avoid mixing with other clownfish. Easily confused with Clark's clownfish (A. clarkii), which usually has a yellow rather than white tail.