Amphiprion melanopus – Fire Clownfish

The Fire Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) is a colorful, territorial fish that lives in symbiosis with sea anemones. They reach a length of 12 cm.

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Amphiprion melanopus – Fire Clownfish

Amphiprion melanopus was first described by Pieter Bleeker in 1852. The common name for this fish species is Fire Clownfish.

The genus name Amphiprion consists of two parts. ‘Amphi’ comes from Greek and means ‘around’ or ‘on both sides’. ‘Prion’ also comes from Greek and means ‘saw’. This is a reference to the deeply serrated structures on the gill covers of these fish. The species name melanopus is derived from the Greek, where “melano” means black and “pus” means foot. This refers to the fish’s black pelvic fins.

Synonyms: Amphiprion arion, Amphiprion monofasciatus, Amphiprion verweyi, Prochilus macrostoma.

Description

The Fire Clownfish has a robust and somewhat flattened body. The head and flanks of adults are usually dark red to orange with mahogany brown sides. The snout, belly, dorsal fin and tail are reddish, while the sides are often black.

Both juveniles and adults have a broad white band on their heads, which starts behind the eye and can sometimes have a blue tint. This band is a characteristic pattern for this species. Juvenile fish are red with one or two additional white bands on the center of the body and the base of the tail. These bands usually disappear as the fish ages.

The pelvic and anal fins are usually black, while the dorsal and caudal fins have a lighter color, sometimes cinnamon.

Adult Amphiprion melanopus can reach a maximum length of approximately 12 cm.

Sequential hermaphrodite

All Amphiprion melanopus are born as males. They usually form a harem in an anemone. The largest specimen is the female. The other specimens are somewhat smaller and male.

Depending on the hierarchy in the group, the males are always smaller. The largest male and the female form the couple responsible for reproduction. When the female dies, the largest male turns into a female. This way there is always an Amphiprion melanopus female available to breed with.

Symbiotic Anemone Species for Amphiprion melanopus

The Fire Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) lives in symbiosis with various species of sea anemones. The main anemone species with which this fish has a symbiotic relationship are:

  1. Entacmaea quadricolor
  2. Heteractis crispa
  3. Heteractis magnifica

These symbiotic relationships are essential for the survival of the Amphiprion melanopus, as the anemones provide protection from predators and a safe place to lay eggs.

Amphiprion melanopus in an Entacmaea quadricolor. Ribbon Reef in the Great Barrier Reef.
Amphiprion melanopus in an Entacmaea quadricolor. Ribbon Reef in the Great Barrier Reef.

Behavior and Temperament

Amphiprion melanopus is semi-aggressive and highly territorial, especially towards conspecifics and other fish approaching their anemone.

Lifespan

Life expectancy in the wild is not specifically stated in available documents, but clownfish can generally live up to 6-10 years. In captivity. they can often live longer, sometimes up to 10-15 years, depending on care and conditions.

Distribution and Habitat of Amphiprion melanopus

The Fire Clownfish is naturally found in the waters of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and the Pacific Ocean. They inhabit the coral reefs of these countries, usually in shallow waters to a depth of about 20 meters.

The natural habitat of the Fire Clownfish consists of coral reefs. The edges of the water are often covered with coral formations and sea anemones, which have a symbiotic relationship with the fish.

The natural enemies of the Fire Clownfish are mainly larger predatory fish and some species of sea turtles. However, due to their symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, which protect them with their stinging tentacles, they are relatively well protected from many predators.

Diet

In the wild, the Fire Clownfish eats a varied diet of zooplankton, algae, and small invertebrates. In an aquarium, they should be fed a balanced diet of microalgae (Spirulina), small crustaceans, zooplankton, fish flakes, pellets, and frozen food.

The Aquarium

This species is best kept alone or as a couple. The female must be considerably larger than the male. You can also start with two smaller ones. One of these will then grow bigger and turn into a female.

We recommend an aquarium of at least 200 liters. A host anemone is not strictly necessary for the survival of this species. The interaction between the clownfish and anemone naturally provides the most beautiful picture and shows the nicest behavior. If you place an anemone in the aquarium, it must be at least twice the size of the fish. Of the three suitable anemone species, Entacmaea quadricolor is the most commonly used. These are usually readily available and strong enough to survive in the aquarium.

Decorate the aquarium with plenty of live rock and create lots of hiding places.

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Paul en Jill
Richard Ling

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Additional information

Family

Subfamily

Genus

Species

melanopus

Synonym

Amphiprion arion, Amphiprion monofasciatus, Amphiprion verweyi, Prochilus macrostoma

Common name

Fire Clownfish

First described by

Pieter Bleeker

Character

Social behaviour

,

Breeding behaviour

Diet

Reefsafe

Minimum volume in liter

200

ecosystem

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Minimum length

10

Length maximum

12

Temperature minimum

23

Temperature maximum

27

pH minimum

8.1

pH maximum

8.4