Pink Skunk Clownfish

With its pinkish peach-colored body, the thin white stripe running along its back and the narrow white band behind the head, the pink skunk clownfish belongs to the "skunk" clownfish group. It is one of the calmest clownfish. In the wild it lives mostly in the magnificent anemone (Heteractis magnifica); this anemone is difficult to keep in the aquarium. Most of those sold are wild-caught and sensitive to shipping; if you can find a captive-bred specimen, prefer it.

• At least 75 liters for a pair.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C; stable, clean water.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• An anemone is not essential; in a tank without an anemone it may choose a coral or a corner of rock as its home.

Omnivorous. Offer small granules, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and copepods. Wild specimens may at first accept only frozen food.

Shy and peaceful; it is bullied next to large, aggressive clownfish or damselfish. Clownfish are born male, and the larger fish of a pair turns into a female. Only a single pair is kept in the aquarium; it is not housed with other clownfish species.

Good companions: Gobies, firefish, cardinalfish, blennies, royal gramma, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Other clownfish species, aggressive damselfish, dottybacks, predatory fish.