All fish / Pomacentridae

Madagascar Clownfish

Amphiprion latifasciatus

Also known as madagascar anemonefish, wide-band anemonefish, wideband clownfish, madagascar clown, latifasciatus clownfish, wide band anemonefish, マダガスカルクマノミ, 马达加斯加小丑鱼, 阔带双锯鱼

A rare clownfish from the western Indian Ocean, it has a brown to black body with yellow-orange fins and two broad white bars, the middle one notably wide. Keepers prize it for its unusual looks and scarcity in the trade, and it usually lives with the magnificent sea anemone in the wild.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a bonded pair

Diet

Omnivore: marine pellets and flakes, mysis, 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: Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Aldabra and East Africa (Kenya)

Breeding

Like other clownfish it is a protandrous hermaphrodite that lays eggs on a hard surface near its anemone, with the male guarding them until hatching after about a week. Captive breeding has been achieved but is uncommon, so most fish sold are wild caught.

Good to know

Adults can be territorial and aggressive towards other clownfish, so keep only one pair per tank. Wild-caught specimens are expensive and may need careful acclimatisation and quarantine.