Report: Amphiprion clarkii (Rcvd: 1/14/97)

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: AMPCLA-011497-HIGJOE-005 Date received: 1/14/97

Identification: Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett, 1830) Geographic origin: Indo-pacific

Taxonomy: (after I.C.Z.N.)

Description: Usually dark (black) with varying amounts of orange / yellow on face and tips of
fins. Three bars; head stripe behind eyes, mid-body stripe, and tail stripe at base of caudal fin,
usually white, sometimes with yellow edges. Maximum size is ~ 140 mm. Found with a wide
variety of anemone hosts. This species of anemonefish has the widest distribution.

Duration male(yr): 5+ Size male (mm): 65

Duration female (yr): 5+ Size female (mm): 100

Broodstock notes: Only fish in aquarium

Physical differences: Female is larger than male and has larger abdomen

Adult diet: Formula One®, table shrimp, plankton, Artemia (all frozen), Spirulina flake. Fed 3
times daily

Pre-spawning activity: Nervous chasing and vigorous cleaning of spawning site by male and
female.

Time spawning began: early afternoon Area spawning occurred: ceramic tiles (15 x 15
centimeter)

Frequency of spawning: bi-monthly Egg description: Orange circular mass, approximately
50 mm in diameter

Approximate quantity: not indicated Size: ~ 2.0 mm

Egg changes / development: Eye reflection at day 5.Eggs orange when laid, brown by day 3

Incubation period: 7 days Time hatching occurred: less than one (1) hour after lights off

Size of hatching larvae: ~ 3.0 mm Yolk sac present? no

Newly hatched appearance: attracted towards light

Transfer / removal method: Sometimes moved to rearing tank with a slow airstone near eggs
on night of or night before hatch.

Spawning tank size (liter):150 Sides of tank covered? Yes, blue

Lighting & photoperiod: 2 – 40 watt UltraLume® flourescent (14 hours); 2 – 40 watt actinic
fluorescent (14 hours). ~ 30 cm from surface.

Filtration: Central wet/dry, skimmer, UV sterilzer. 600 GPH . Instant Ocean® ASW

Additives and dosages: Iodine, 2 ml/weekly

Water temperature (F): 78-83 Specific gravity: 1.019 pH: 8.1 Nitrate: 20 ppm

Fry development / changes: Develope much slower than other clownfish. Sensitive to high
nitrates and require highre density of rotifers. Metamorphosis 16 days (7 days later than A.
frenatus) Keep nitrate level below 10 until after metamorphosis.

First food offered: rotifers

Second food offered: Artemia, day 3

Survival 1st week(%): 75% 2nd week: 65% 4th week: 65%

Rearing tank size (liter): 75 Sides of tank covered? Yes, black

Lighting & photoperiod: 1 – 40 watt Daylight fluorescent ( 15 hour); 1 – 40 watt UltraLume®
(15 hour),. 30 cm above surface.

Filtration: Same as above with denitrator.

Additives and dosages: Iodine, 2 ml/weekly

Water temperature (F): 75 – 83 Specific gravity: 1.018 pH: 7.8 – 8.2 Nitrate: 20 – 100 ppm
(try to keep below 40 ppm)

Comments: I let larvae grow-out in rearing tank rather than move to a “grow-out” tank. If I do
move I don’t do so while feeding brine shrimp (Artemia)

Original description: Originally described by Bennett 1830 as Anthias clarkii, in Fishes of
Ceylon First edition Pl. 29, from specimens collected at the south coast of Sri Lanka. Validated
as Amphiprion clarkii by Allen 1991. Described by Cuvier in 1830 as Amphiprion xanthurus, in
Cuvier & Valenciennes 1830, in Hist. Nat. Poiss. v. 5. From specimens collected at. Mauritius.
Described by Valenciennes 1833 in Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. v. 9.

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 clarkii is named in honor of Clark.

Suggested Reading:

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
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