Mcculloch's Anemonefish

About

Mcculloch's anemonefish (Amphiprion mccullochi) is one of the more unusual clownfish in the hobby, primarily because of its incredibly restricted natural range. It is found almost exclusively around Lord Howe Island in the Southwest Pacific, making it far less commonly encountered in the trade than its Indo-Pacific relatives. In the wild it occupies lagoon habitats and rocky reef areas, forming its characteristic bond with the bubble-tip anemone Entacmaea quadricolor. The coloration is distinctive among clownfishes, featuring a largely dark body with a white snout and tail region, giving rise to its alternate name, the whitesnout anemonefish. Like all clownfishes it is oviparous, with pairs spawning adhesive eggs onto hard substrate near their host anemone, and males take on the job of guarding and fanning the clutch. Where this species really demands attention is its temperament. Mcculloch's is genuinely aggressive, particularly toward other members of its own species. Dominant individuals will relentlessly harass subordinates, including fin-biting and pinning. Anyone keeping more than one should watch carefully for escalating aggression and be prepared to use dividers or separate tanks if things get out of hand. A single specimen or a bonded pair in a dedicated setup is usually the safest approach.