The Breeder’s Registry© Information contained in this report is taken from submitted observations from aquarist unless noted otherwise (see comments). Information may be reproduced providing the Breeder’s Registry is cited.

Breeder ID: AMPFRE-101592-SOFJOS-001

Date received: 10/15/92

Identification: Amphiprion frenatus (Brevoort, 1856)

Geographic origin: Pacific (Malaysia northwards towards Japan)  

Taxonomy: (after I.C.Z.N.)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Subphylum Vertebrata

Class Osteichthyes

Order Perciformes Superorder Teleostei

Family Pomacentridae

Genus Amphiprion

Species frenatus (Brevoort, 1856)

Description: One of the larger species of anemonefish attaining a maximum length of 140 mm. Females larger than males (typical) with red to blackish coloration on most of body with a single vertical white bar behind the eye . Male is generally redder. Juveniles may have 2 – 3 white bars. Commonly associated with the anemone Entacmaea quadricolor (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828).  

Duration male(yr): 0.2

Size male (mm): 62

Duration female (yr): 0.2

Size female (mm): 110

Physical differences: Except for size no other observable difference

Adult diet: Special Formula VHP®, Total Marine Flake® soaked in Selcon® or Vita-Boost®, fresh shrimp and greens. Fed 3 times per day.

Pre-spawning activity: Appeared very agitated and reclusive prior to spawning. Fed up until spawning then ate very little. Cleaned all gravel around nest site (clay flower pot) down to UGF plate piling gravel up in front of the glass. Very protective of nest site.

Time spawning began: 1500 hours

Area spawning occurred: Inside clay pot on upper surface

Frequency of spawning: First spawn

Egg description: Orange adhesive mass, ~ 25 x 100 mm

Approximate quantity: 400

Size: not indicated

Egg changes / development: Day 2 turned violet. Day 7; silver like mercury.

Incubation period: not indicated

Time hatching occurred: did not hatch, male dislodged eggs.

Spawning tank size (liter): 75

Sides of tank covered? Yes, back is blue

Lighting & photo period: 1 – 40 watt Phillips® daylight; 12 hours

Filtration: UGF, Skilter®, Magnum ® cannister filter

Additives and dosages: Selcon® and Vita-Boost®

Water temperature (F): 80

Specific gravity: 1.022

pH: 8.3

Nitrate: 0.10

Comments: Fish preparing for next spawn. Eggs will be removed to separate tank.

Original description: Brevoort 1856, Perry Exped. v. 2 (fig. 4) from specimens collected at Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan. Based on a drawing. Validated by Allen 1991. Later described as Prochilus polylepis, by Bleeker 1877 in Versl. Akad. Amsterdam (Ser. 2) v. 11 from specimens
collected at Amboina, in southeast New Guinea. Synonym of Amphiprion frenatus.

Word origin: Amphiprion is from the Greek roots amph, -I, -o, meaning Around, on both sides; double, and -prion which means a saw. The genus frenatus is from the Latin root fren, -a, -at, =um, meaning bridle, probably in reference to the single head stripe.

Suggested Reading:

Hoff, Frank H., Conditioning, Spawning and rearing of Fish with Emphasis on Marine
Clownfish, 1996, Aquaculture Consultants, Inc., 33418 Old Saint Joe Road, Dade City, FL
33525, USA, softbound, 212 pages.

Fautine, Daphine G. and Allen, Gerald R., Anemone Fishes and their Host Sea Anemones, 1994,
Tetra-Press, Tetra Werke, Dr. rer. Nat. Ulrich Baensch GmbH, P. O. Box 1580, D-49304 Mella,
Germany. Distributed in USA by TetraSales (Division of Warner Lambert), 3001 Commerce
Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060-6671, USA. WL-Code: 16088. ISBN 1-56465-118-5, hardbound,
157 pages.

About this report: Information contained in this report is taken from submitted observations. Taxonomy, Synonomy, Original description , Word origin and Suggested reading are provided by member(s) of The Breeder’s Registry staff. Information is presented under the belief that it is accurate. If you have information in addition to, or contrary to that presented you are encouraged to contact the Breeder’s Registry. Permission is granted for “one-time” personal use. Reproduction as distributed or accessible media is prohibited without prior written permission. All rights reserved. 1999