Saddleback clownfish

Taxobox
name = Saddleback clownfish


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Pomacentridae
genus = "Amphiprion"
species = "A. polymnus"
binomial = "Amphiprion polymnus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

The saddleback clownfish, "Amphiprion polymnus", also known as the saddleback anemonefish is a member of the family Pomacentridae.

Habitat

" (Sebae anemone).

Appearance

Color ranges from dark brown to yellow orange with a thick white bar located just behind the eyes. A large white abbreviated saddle shape or slanted white bar across the middle of the fish's body makes it quite obvious to see how it got the name "Saddleback" Fautin, Dr. Daphne G.; & Allen, Dr. Gerald R. (1992) "FIELD GUIDE TO ANEMONE FISHES AND THEIR HOST SEA ANEMONES"] . In some varieties, typically those specimens initially associated with "H. crispa" anemone, the saddle shape may extend up onto the fish's Dorsal fin with a third white bar or margin located across the caudal peduncle (pictured in taxobox).

Melanistic variation has also been partially correlated with the fish's host anemone. Specimens associated with H. crispa tend to be darker than those associated with "S. haddoni". Aquarium specimens have been observed becoming lighter or darker after accepting a new host anemone species, sometimes within a few hours.

They can reach a maximum length of 12 cm.

Marie Rossiper:6scine.

Diet

This fish is an omnivore. It eats algae as well as small crustaceans.

Captivity

To be kept in an aquarium this species will do best in tanks of at least 30 gallons or larger, preferably aquascaped with live rock to allow multiple choices for hiding places. They should be fed small amounts of food, such as staple marine flake food with occasional frozen mysis shrimp or other small crustacean, two to three times per day.

The protection of a host anemone is not required in an aquarium and attempting to keep either of the species of anemones commonly associated with this clownfish in a captive aquarium environment is not recommended, even for experienced aquarists. This is due to the poor survival rate of wild collected specimens and the overall shortened lifespans these normally centarian organisms often experience in captivity.

See also

Clownfish

External links

*
* [http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bl_prsaddlebackclown.htm?terms=salt+water+aquarium+guide About.com Library Article]
* [http://www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html Field Guide To Anemone Fishes And Their Host Sea Anemones]

References