All fish / Pomacentridae

McCulloch's Clownfish

Amphiprion mccullochi

Also known as mcculloch's anemonefish, whitesnout anemonefish, whitesnout clownfish, mccullochi clownfish, mcculloch clownfish, lord howe clownfish, マッカローキー, 麦氏双锯鱼, 麦氏小丑鱼

This is a dark brown to black clownfish with a single white bar on the head running down over a white snout, and a pale white tail. It comes from a small area of subtropical reefs around Lord Howe Island, so it is rarely seen in the trade and collectors value it for its unusual look. In the wild it lives in bubble-tip anemones, but in aquariums it does fine without one.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a bonded pair

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, marine pellets and flakes, chopped seafood and algae-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Lord Howe Island, Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs and Norfolk Island area (southwest Pacific, Australia)

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on hard surfaces next to their anemone, and the male guards them until they hatch after about a week. A small number have been bred in captivity, and the larvae are raised on rotifers and then newly hatched brine shrimp, much like other clownfish.

Good to know

Its very small natural range means wild-caught fish are scarce and costly, and Australian collecting is tightly controlled. Like other clownfish it can turn territorial once mature, so keep only one pair in each tank.