 Maroon Clownfish
(Premnas biaculeatus)
Maroon clownfish have got to be one of the most striking of marine tropicals... with apologies to the "Nemo" lovers of the world... With their bold salmon red overall body and fin coloring, demarcated with white to yellow barring... As far as personalities go, Premnas are just as "comical" as other clowns when young... however, very often they can and do become belligerent... sometimes to the extreme with age and growth. Keeping this species is relatively easy, particular tank bred and reared stock as opposed to wild-caught. Though this amphiprionine will gladly host with a number of anemones and other stinging-celled life, it can happily and often less belligerently get along without such symbionts. Captive produced specimens can be easily acclimated to aquarium conditions, but wild-caught individuals should be carefully selected, dipped/bathed and quarantined for at least two weeks before introduction to a main/display tank. Imported specimens are quite susceptible to Cryptocaryon (marine ich), Amyloodinium (velvet) and Brooklynellosis ("clownfish disease")... and these protozoan parasites are WAY better "treated" by exclusion during quarantine, then trying to fight in your principal system. Scientific Name : Premnas biaculeatusCommon Names : Maroon Anemone fish, Spine Cheek Anemone fish Care Level : Easy to Moderate Size : Up to 6 inches (15 cm) Life span : 5 - 7 possibly much longer pH : 8.1 - 8.4 Temperature : 75°F - 82°F (25°C - 28°C) Specific Gravity : 1.020 - 1.025 Carbonate Hardness (dKH) : 8 - 12° Origin / Habitat : Indo-Pacific Temperament / Behavior : They may be aggressive with other Clownfishes in most tank setups and might bully smaller tankmates. They will defend their host anemone (if included in tank) aggressively. Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : This fish has been successfully bred in captivity with many tank raised specimens being offered for sale. Once paired off, the pair will clean off a suitable spot (flat rock) and then place the eggs in this location and defend the area aggressively. Tank Size : 30 gallon (1144 liters) minimum Compatible Tank Mates : Use caution when selecting tank mates. It's probably not wise to keep them with Lionfish or Triggers large enough to eat them. Also avoid keeping them with smaller more peaceful tankmates because the maroon clowns may bully them. Fish Disease : Saltwater Fish Disease - Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment Diet / Fish Food : Primarily feeds on zooplankton in the ocean but they generally are not very picky when it comes to food. Try to give them a variety of marine preparations. They should accept vitamin enriched flake foods, frozen and definitely live foods. Tank Region : All over Gender : Males are generally smaller, more red and less aggressive than the female. This fish has the ability to change it's sex when the top female dies. A larger male will turn into a female. Compatible Anemones :
Bubble Tip Anemone (Rose Anemone) (Entacmaea quadricolor)
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