Sebae Clownfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Northern Indian Ocean, from southern India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives to Indonesia. Found in shallow coastal reefs.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Genus Amphiprion, family Pomacentridae. Often confused with A. clarkii, but distinguished by a darker body, having only two white bars, and a yellow tail.

Social Behavior: Natural symbiont of Stichodactyla haddoni. Exhibits strong territorial aggressiveness in the vicinity of its chosen shelter.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Velvety dark brown or black body with an orange snout and yellow caudal fin. Features two wide white vertical bars. The dominant female is much larger than the male.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a larger aquarium of at least 200 liters due to its substantial adult size. Provide a Stichodactyla haddoni carpet anemone to recreate its biotope.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Feed frozen foods (mysis, brine shrimp, krill) along with vitamin-enriched granular dry foods and spirulina algae.

Water Quality: Optimal temperature between 25°C and 27°C, stable pH between 8.0 and 8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025, KH 8-12, GH 15-25.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Semi-aggressive. Vigorously defends its territory. Do not house with other clownfish species or slow, timid tankmates.

Aquarium Reproduction: Protandrous hermaphrodite. Spawning occurs at the base of the anemone. The male cares for the eggs, which hatch in about a week.

Risks and Diseases: Susceptible to Brooklynella hostilis and Oodinium parasites. Extremely sensitive to sudden pH drops or spikes in ammonia and nitrite.