All fish / Pomacentridae

Cinnamon Clownfish

Amphiprion melanopus

Also known as cinnamon clown, red and black clownfish, fire clownfish, fire clown, black-backed anemonefish, dusky anemonefish, teak clownfish, red and black anemonefish, ハマクマノミ, ikan badut hitam, 黑背双带小丑鱼, 红黑小丑

A sturdy clownfish with an orange-red body, a large dark brown to black patch along the flanks and a single white bar just behind the eye. It is kept for its bold colours, hardiness and its habit of hosting anemones, most often the bubble tip anemone.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Single fish or one bonded pair

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia (Great Barrier Reef), Melanesia and Micronesia

Breeding

Pairs form with the larger fish becoming female, and eggs are laid on a hard surface near the anemone and guarded by the male. Captive breeding is fairly straightforward and tank-bred fish are widely available, though rearing larvae needs rotifers and careful husbandry.

Good to know

Adult females can become quite territorial and aggressive towards other clownfish and tankmates that approach their anemone. Easily confused with the tomato clownfish (A. frenatus) and A. rubrocinctus, which share the single head bar.