Maldive Anemonefish
Amphiprion nigripes
An elegant clownfish distinguished by its yellow-orange hue, black belly, and single vertical white bar. It forms strict mutualistic bonds with the Magnificent Anemone in established reef setups.
Température de l’eau
24 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Milieu
Taille adulte
10 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 100 L
Groupe minimal
>= 2
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Western Indian Ocean, primarily found in the Maldives, Laccadive Islands, and Sri Lanka. Inhabits shallow coral reefs at depths of 2 to 25 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Pomacentridae. Features a slightly elongated, compressed body. Reaches a maximum size of 10 cm. Adapted to swim within the sting of anemone tentacles.
Social Behavior: Lives in a strict mutualistic relationship, most frequently with the Magnificent Anemone (Heteractis magnifica). Strongly defends its host anemone against potential threats.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Yellow-orange base color. The belly, pelvic fins, and anal fin are deep black. Features a single white vertical bar behind the eye. Females are larger than males.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Requires a minimum tank size of 100 liters with plenty of rock caves. Keeping its preferred host anemone (Heteractis magnifica) is highly recommended.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Provide a varied diet of frozen foods like brine shrimp and mysis, high-quality dry foods, and preparations containing marine algae.
Water Quality: Maintain stable marine conditions: temperature 24-28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity 1.020-1.025 with moderate water circulation.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Good for community reef aquariums. Do not house with other clownfish species to prevent severe territory disputes. Keep with peaceful tankmates.
Aquarium Breeding: Oviparous, protandrous hermaphrodite. Spawns adhesive eggs on clean rock surfaces near the host anemone. The male guards and fans the nest.
Risks and Diseases: Vulnerable to common marine external parasites like Brooklynella and velvet. Ensuring high water quality and quarantine is essential.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Native to the Western Indian Ocean, primarily found in the Maldives, Laccadive Islands, and Sri Lanka. Inhabits shallow coral reefs at depths of 2 to 25 meters.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAsie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- While generally peaceful when young, the Maldive 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.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- The Maldive 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.
- Espérance de vie
- 10-20 years
- Taille adulte
- 10 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Pair
- A pair of Amphiprion nigripes 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.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- To mimic their natural foraging habits, it is best to feed the Maldive 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.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- The Maldive Anemonefish (Amphiprion nigripes) 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.
- Courant
- Moderate
- Amphiprion nigripes 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.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- The Maldive 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.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- 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.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle
- The Maldive 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.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,7 ± 0,3 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01445, b = 3
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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