Saddleback Clownfish

The saddleback clownfish is recognized by its dark brown-black body, orange-yellow snout and chest, the white bar behind the head and the saddle-shaped white patch extending from the middle of the back onto the dorsal fin. In the wild it lives in sandy and muddy lagoons rather than on coral reefs, in Heteractis crispa and Stichodactyla haddoni anemones. Wild-caught specimens are sensitive to shipping and disease; if a captive-bred specimen is available, choose it.

• At least 110 liters for a pair.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• An anemone is not essential; its natural hosts are anemones that live on sand bottoms and are difficult to keep in the aquarium.
• A calm layout with a sand substrate suits this species.

Omnivorous. Offer granule food, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and copepods; feed small amounts twice a day.

A pair defends its nest, but overall its territoriality is moderate. Clownfish are born male, and the larger fish of the pair turns into a female. Keep a single pair in the aquarium; do not add other clownfish species.

Good companions: Gobies, cardinalfish, blennies, chromis, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Other clownfish species, aggressive damsels, predatory fish.