My Salty Obsession

Australian Anemonefish

(Amphiprion akindynos)

Tank: Fish-only, reef, or live rock-based fish-only system with plenty of swimming room. 48 gallons or larger. Spends much of its time in or around its host anemone, where present. Otherwise, it occasionally roams around in mid-water, often adopting another invertebrate as a surrogate. Keep singly or in pairs.

Aquarium Behavior: When guarding eggs or protecting its anemone, it can prove a threat to almost any fish, regardless of size. However, unprovoked aggression is unlikely and it is largely peaceful. 

Maximum Length: 2-3.5 in 

Food & Diet: Should readily accept most foods offered, including brineshrimp, mysis, flake, pellet, and similar foods.

Reef Compatibility: May cover sessile invertebrates with the sand it moves away from its host anemone using vigorous sweeps of its tail. Should largely ignore ornamental shrimp.

Red Sea Anemonefish

(Amphiprion bicinctus)

Tank: Fish-only, reef, or live rock-based fish-only system with plenty of swimming room. 13 gallons or larger assuming excellent water quality. Thrives with or without an anemone, but behaves more naturally when a suitable host is present. Small individuals stay close to the host, but larger ones roam all over the aquarium, returning frequently to the anemone. Keep singly or in male/female pairs.

Aquarium Behavior: Anemonefish vigorously defend their anemone and the immediate area, but are content for other fish to leave the area, rather than chase them relentlessly. 

Maximum Length: 4-5 in 

Food & Diet: Offer brineshrimp and mysis to smaller individuals, together with dried algae in a lettuce clip. Readily accepts suitable substitutes. After fully acclimated to the aquarium, larger fish will except most meaty foods, like flake and pellets.

Reef Compatibility: Will not harm sessile inverts unless it uses them as surrogate anemone, some corals become irritated by the fish's presence. Should not harm ornamental shrimp.

Clarke's Anemonefish

(Amphiprion clarkii)

Tank: Best kept with an anemone, although many do well without. Live rock-based fish-only system or a reef aquarium. 66 gallons or larger, assuming excellent water quality's are present. In the absence of an anemone, the fish remains close to rockwork. If anemone is present it will stay with its host. Keep singly or in pairs.

Aquarium Behavior: This species is very protective when it feels its anemone is at threat, attacking anything that comes close. Choose robust tankmates.

Maximum Length: 4-5.5 in 

Food & Diet: Offer this species enriched brineshrimp, mysis, chopped shellfish, and flake. Accepts most aquarium foods.

Reef Compatibility: Should not harm most ornamental inverts, although there are reports of some large adults that repeatedly bunt herbivorous snails till they fall into their host to feed.

Quick Notes: Has been successful when breeding in captivity. Smaller specimens of Clarke's are the most vulnerable to other fish, but seem quick enough to avoid more aggressive fish. Mature adults can hold their own among significantly larger fish.

Tomato Anemonefish

(Amphiprion frenatus)

Tank: Live rock-based fish-only system or a reef aquarium. 80 gallons or larger preferred for a fully-grown pair. Small juveniles can spend extended periods close to rockwork or beneath corals. When the reach adult hood they can dominate an entire aquarium.

Aquarium Behavior: This species is very protective when it feels its anemone is at threat, attacking anything that comes close. Watch your fingers, it can be pretty painful.

Maximum Length: 5 in 

Food & Diet: This diet should include dried algae, mysis, brineshrimp, and other small particulate foods.

Reef Compatibility: Should not harm ornamental shrimp. May harm corals it adopts as surrogate anemones that usually occurs when anemones are not present.

Pacific fire Anemonefish

(Amphiprion melanopus)

Tank: Live rock-based fish-only system or a reef aquarium. This species can be maintained without an anemone. 46 gallons or larger for a pair with excellent water conditions. Ventures into the water column for food or to defend territory unless anemone is present. Keep singly or in a pair.

Aquarium Behavior: Can be very aggressive when established, protecting there anemone. If you are stocked with just one they will be less belligerent. 

Maximum Length: 4 in 

Food & Diet: Accepts mysis, chopped shellfish, brineshrimp, and formula foods. Flake or granular foods can be feed after enticed with foods already mentioned.

Reef Compatibility: May move corals or cover them with sand, sweeping them out of the way with their tail movements. Should not harm ornamental shrimp.

Maldive Anemonefish

(Amphiprion nigripes)

Tank: Live rock-based fish-only system or a reef aquarium. This species can be maintained without an anemone. 40 gallons or larger is perfered. Will swim into open water once settles. If anemone is present they will stay close to it.

Aquarium Behavior: Can be aggressive towards other species in defense of its host anemone. Other wise, largely peaceful. 

Maximum Length: 3.2-4.3 in 

Food & Diet: Accepts mysis, chopped shellfish, brineshrimp, and formula foods. Flake or granular foods can be feed after enticed with foods already mentioned.

Reef Compatibility: Should be perfectly safe with corals, ornamental shrimp, and various sessile inverts.

Common Clownfish

(Amphiprion ocellaris)

Tank: Live rock-based fish-only system or a reef aquarium. This species can be maintained without an anemone. 25 gallons or larger is preferred with excellent water conditions. Keep singly, in pairs, or small groups.

Aquarium Behavior: Mostly peaceful but will defend its anemone from potential aggressors. 

Maximum Length: 2-4 in 

Food & Diet: Entice with mysis and brineshrimp, gradually increasing the diversity of foods as the fish settles. Most will accept flake and pellet foods.

Reef Compatibility: Should not harm sessile inverts unless a fish chooses a sensitive coral as a surrogate anemone. If this happens, the coral may not expand its tentacles. Its natural anemones are (Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea and S. mertensii).

Percula Clownfish

(Amphiprion percula)

Tank: Live rock-based fish-only system or a reef aquarium. This species can be maintained without an anemone. 25 gallons or larger is preferred for a pair with excellent water quality. In the absence of an anemone, this fish may spend prolonged periods at the water surface. With time it will descend to the reef or rockwork. Keep singly, in pairs, or in small groups.

Aquarium Behavior: Although a clownfish will vigorously defend its host against potential aggressors, it reserves its real temper for its own species. 

Maximum Length: 2-4 in 

Food & Diet: Entice with finely chopped shellfish, mysis, and brineshrimp. Dried foods with time. Should accept dried flake and pellets as well.

Reef Compatibility: In the absence of a host anemone deemed suitable by the clownfish, it may adopt a surrogate. This can cause the coral to become irritated, so that polyp expansion is reduced or sometimes does not occur.

Pink Skunk Anemonefish

(Amphiprion perideraion)

Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. 13 gallons or larger is suitable for this species assuming their is excellent water quality. Keep singly, in small groups added simultaneously as juveniles, or as wild-collected pairs. Will venture into open water to feed or defend their territory.

Aquarium Behavior: Can be aggressive when protecting anemone. However, it is more tolerant than most anemonefish. 

Maximum Length: 2-4 in 

Food & Diet: Entice with brineshrimp, mysis, chopped shellfish, and dried algae.

Reef Compatibility: Should not harm inverts unless it adopts a long-tentacled coral species as a surrogate anemone. This can cause irritation to the coral and keep it from expanding its polyps.

Orange Skunk Anemonefish

(Amphiprion sandaracinos)

Tank:Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. 40 gallons or larger. Keep in pairs or small groups introduced simultaneously as juveniles.

Aquarium Behavior: Can be aggressive when protecting anemone. This is the same with most Anmonefish.

Maximum Length: 2-4 in 

Food & Diet: Enrished brineshrimp, chopped mysis, and chopped shellfish. Settled fish should accept dried, granular, or flaked foods. This species may also nip at dried algae.

Reef Compatibility: Should not harm inverts unless it adopts a long-tentacled coral species as a surrogate anemone. This can cause irritation. Use caution.

Maroon Anemonefish

(Premnas biculeatus)

Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Will follow host anemone where present. Keep singly or in pairs.

Aquarium Behavior: Can be aggressive when protecting anemone. This is the same with most Anmonefish.

Maximum Length: 4-6 in 

Food & Diet: Will accept most foods offered. Enrished brineshrimp, chopped mysis, and chopped shellfish. Settled fish should accept dried, granular, or flaked foods. This species may also nip at dried algae.

Reef Compatibility: May move corals or cover them with sand.