Skunk clownfish

About

The nosestriped anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) is a slender, peachy-orange clownfish instantly recognized by the single white stripe running from snout to tail along the dorsal midline. No side bars, no fuss, just that clean skunk-like streak. It ranges across a wide sweep of the Indo-West Pacific, from the coast of East Africa and Madagascar through the Andaman Sea and down to the islands of the Java Sea, where it typically settles into shallow inshore reefs, sometimes in areas with surprisingly strong currents. In the wild it associates closely with Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla mertensii anemones, living in tight social groups: one large dominant female, a smaller breeding male, and a handful of juveniles that stay developmentally suppressed as long as their seniors are present. Remove the female and the male shifts sex to replace her. Classic protandrous hermaphroditism. Pairs are monogamous and attentive parents, with the male aerating and guarding the egg clutch until hatching. In an aquarium, a suitable host anemone is strongly recommended to get the best behavior out of this species, though it is not strictly required. This is a rewarding fish to keep, but the anemone's care needs push it into intermediate territory overall.