Panda Clownfish

About

The saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) is one of the more distinctive clownfish you'll encounter, wearing a dark brown to near-black base coloration interrupted by a broad white head bar and a second partial white bar that sweeps across the mid-body like a saddle. Hence both of its popular common names. A third white marking sometimes extends along the upper tail. The contrast is sharp and the pattern is variable enough that no two fish look quite identical. In the wild, this species ranges widely across the Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan down through the Philippines, Indonesia, and into Australian waters. Unlike many clownfish that favor pristine coral environments, saddlebacks tend to settle in silty lagoons and harbors, pairing with Heteractis crispa or Stichodactyla haddoni anemones. They're monogamous and protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning the dominant fish in a pair becomes female. A trait shared with other clownfish. Eggs are laid on hard substrate near the anemone and guarded attentively by the male. In a home aquarium, saddlebacks generally get along with other peaceful species, though like most clownfish they can become territorial around their chosen host. They're a reasonable choice for intermediate keepers who can provide a compatible anemone and stable water conditions.