Barrier Reef Clownfish
Amphiprion akindynos
The Barrier Reef anemonefish showcases a vibrant orange-brown body with two black-edged white bars. This territorial omnivore forms lifelong mutualistic relationships with various host anemones.
Wassertemperatur
24 - 28 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Mitte
Erwachsenengröße
10,3 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 120 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 2
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Distributed in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, notably around the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, New Caledonia, and the Loyalty Islands. Found in reefs at depths of 1 to 25 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Pomacentridae. Oval and compressed body shape. Reaches a maximum standard length of 10.3 cm. Possesses rounded fins characteristic of anemonefishes.
Social Behavior: Forms mutualistic relationships with host anemones. Shows territorial behavior dedicated to protecting its host anemone, although it is generally less aggressive than larger clownfish.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Orange-brown base color with two black-edged vertical white bars. The tail and tail base are white. Females are larger than males, displaying sexual dimorphism.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Requires a minimum tank volume of 120 liters with structured rockwork. Host anemones like the Bubble-Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) are highly beneficial for husbandry.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous diet. Feeds on zooplankton, frozen foods (artemia, mysis), and high-quality prepared foods including marine algae flakes or pellets.
Water Quality: Requires marine water parameters: temperature 24-28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity range of 1.020-1.025 with proper water movement.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Compatible with reef-safe tankmates. Avoid introducing multiple pairs of clownfish to prevent territorial fights. Keep with peaceful reef fishes.
Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous and protandrous. Deposits demersal eggs on flat rocky surfaces near the host anemone. The male maintains and guards the nest until hatching.
Risks and Diseases: Prone to typical marine parasites such as Marine Ich and Brooklynella. Quarantine is recommended for wild-caught specimens to ensure acclimation success.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Distributed in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, notably around the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, New Caledonia, and the Loyalty Islands. Found in reefs at depths of 1 to 25 meters.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeAustralien, Neuguinea und Ozeanien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Active
- While generally peaceful when young, the Barrier Reef Anemonefish develops a semi-aggressive and highly territorial temperament as it matures. The female, in particular, will vigorously defend her mate, anemone, and eggs against any perceived threats, sometimes even biting the aquarist's hand. This territoriality is confined to a specific area rather than the entire tank. Providing ample space and choosing compatible tank mates minimizes potential conflicts.
- Diät
- Omnivore
- The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is an omnivore that requires a varied diet to thrive and maintain its vibrant colors. In the wild, they feed on zooplankton, copepods, and various types of algae. In the home aquarium, they eagerly accept high-quality marine flakes, pellets, and frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp. Supplementing their diet with spirulina or other algae-based foods is highly beneficial for their overall health.
- Lebenserwartung
- 6-10 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 10.3 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Pair
- A pair of Amphiprion akindynos consists of a larger, dominant female and a smaller male. If a group of juveniles is introduced to an aquarium, the largest and most dominant individual will become the female, while the next in line becomes the breeding male. The remaining fish will stay as sexually immature males, often relegated to the outskirts of the territory. It is highly recommended to keep them individually or in bonded pairs to avoid severe aggression.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- To mimic their natural foraging habits, it is best to feed the Barrier Reef Anemonefish small amounts of food 1 to 2 times a day. Overfeeding should be avoided to prevent uneaten food from degrading water quality. They are generally enthusiastic eaters and will quickly swim to the surface during feeding time. Target feeding their host anemone is also an important practice to ensure both fish and host are nourished.
- Bioload
- Medium
- The Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos) has a moderate bioload that is easily managed in most standard marine aquariums. While not overly messy eaters, they do consume hearty meals and produce a proportional amount of waste. A properly sized protein skimmer and regular mechanical filtration maintenance will keep water parameters in check. Consistent bi-weekly water changes are recommended to dilute dissolved organics.
- Fluss
- Moderate
- Amphiprion akindynos adapts well to a variety of flow conditions, but generally prefers moderate water movement. In the wild, they rely on the flow to bring planktonic food to their host anemone. While they can handle stronger currents, they need slower-moving areas to rest, usually within the tentacles of their host. Providing a mix of flow zones ensures they can swim actively and retreat when needed.
- Sprungrisiko
- No
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is a protandrous hermaphrodite, meaning all individuals are born male and the most dominant fish transitions into a female. They are substrate spawners, laying hundreds of eggs on a flat surface near their host anemone. The male meticulously cleans the spawning site, fertilizes the eggs, and aggressively defends the nest until they hatch. Captive breeding is very common and forms the backbone of the marine ornamental aquaculture industry.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Peaceful
- This species is generally reef-safe and can be kept with a wide variety of peaceful to semi-aggressive tank mates. However, once paired and established, they become fiercely territorial around their chosen host anemone or territory. They may aggressively chase away fish that venture too close to their home. It is best to avoid housing them with highly aggressive predators or other clownfish species.
- Tankfüllstand
- Middle
- The Barrier Reef Anemonefish typically occupies the middle to lower levels of the aquarium, closely associating with its host anemone or chosen territory. It rarely strays far from its home base, preferring to stay within a protective radius. While it will swim to the surface to feed, it immediately returns to its secure location. Their strong site fidelity makes them an excellent focal point in a reef tank.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 2,7 ± 0,29 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.02455, b = 2.96
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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