All fish / Pomacentridae

Clark's Anemonefish

Amphiprion clarkii

Also known as clarkii clownfish, clark's clownfish, yellowtail clownfish, sebae clownfish, clarki clown, clarkii clown, clark clownfish, black clarkii, ปลาการ์ตูนอินเดียแดง, クマノミ, ikan badut clarkii, 克氏双锯鱼

Clark's anemonefish has a dark brown to black body with two or three white bands and usually a yellow or orange snout, fins and tail, though colour varies a lot by region. It is one of the hardiest clownfish and will live with many host anemones, making it a popular choice for beginners and reef keepers alike.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Single fish or one bonded pair

Diet

Omnivore: marine pellets and flakes, frozen mysis and brine shrimp, chopped seafood and some algae

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and East Africa to Japan, Australia and Micronesia

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on a hard surface near their anemone, and the male guards them for about a week until they hatch. It breeds readily in aquariums and is widely captive bred, although rearing the larvae needs rotifers and live plankton.

Good to know

It becomes territorial and pushy with age, so avoid keeping it with other clownfish in smaller tanks. An anemone is not required, and captive bred fish are the better choice over wild caught ones.