All fish / Pomacentridae

Three-band Anemonefish

Amphiprion tricinctus

Also known as three-band clownfish, three band clownfish, threeband anemonefish, three-banded clownfish, tricinctus clownfish, marshall islands clownfish, ミスジクマノミ, 三带小丑鱼, 三带双锯鱼

A sturdy clownfish with three white bands over a body that ranges from orange to almost completely black, often keeping orange fins and snout. It comes only from the Marshall Islands, so it is prized as an unusual clownfish that still adapts well to reef tanks, and it often hosts carpet or bubble-tip anemones.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a mated 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

Marshall Islands, western central Pacific

Breeding

Pairs spawn on hard surfaces close to their anemone and the male looks after the eggs until they hatch after roughly a week. Captive breeding is achievable, but raising the larvae needs rotifers and then newly hatched brine shrimp, and they grow slowly.

Good to know

Adult females become territorial and can be aggressive, so keep only one pair per tank unless it is very large. Mixing it with other clownfish species often leads to fighting.