Australian Anemonefish

About

The Australian anemonefish (Amphiprion rubrocinctus) is one of the least commonly encountered clownfish in the hobby, which is a shame because it has a lot going for it. Endemic to the coastal and lagoon reefs of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, this species replaces the more familiar clownfish in that corner of the world. In appearance it leans toward the darker, more rust-red end of the anemonefish spectrum, with a single white bar behind the head rather than the multiple bands you see on some relatives. In the wild it has a strong association with bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) and, less often, Stichodactyla gigantea, and keeping it with a suitable host anemone in captivity will bring out its most natural behaviors. Like other anemonefishes, pairs form a tight bond, with the male taking on egg-guarding and fanning duties after spawning on a hard substrate near the anemone's base. The species has been successfully bred in captivity, so captive-raised specimens do turn up occasionally. Care falls into the intermediate range. Not because this fish is fragile, but because a healthy reef setup and ideally a host anemone will serve it far better than a bare-bones fish-only tank.