All fish / Pomacentridae

Orange-fin anemonefish

Amphiprion chrysopterus

Also known as orangefin anemonefish, orange-fin clownfish, orangefin clownfish, blue-stripe clownfish, bluestripe clownfish, blue stripe clown, chrysopterus clownfish, chrysopterus clown, オレンジフィン・アネモネフィッシュ, 橙鳍双锯鱼, 金翅小丑

This is a large clownfish with a dark brown to blackish body, two white bars that often have a bluish tint, and bright orange fins and face. People keep it for its strong colours and its interesting bond with host anemones, and tank-bred fish adapt well to aquarium foods.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Single fish or one bonded 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 and central Pacific: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, including Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, French Polynesia and the Marshall Islands

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on hard surfaces next to their anemone, and the male guards them until they hatch after about a week. It has been bred in captivity, but rearing the larvae needs rotifers and live plankton, so it is harder than breeding the common clownfish.

Good to know

It becomes quite territorial and grows larger than most clownfish, so keep only one pair per tank and avoid mixing it with other clownfish species. In the wild it hosts in anemones such as Heteractis crispa and H. magnifica, but it does not need an anemone to do well in an aquarium.