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Maroon clownfish, an anemonefish species, is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific belt. Their maroon body has resulted in their name. However, the shades and stripes of this species differ according to their sex as well as geographical location. Like most clownfish species, the maroon clownfish also exhibit protandry with the male transforming to a female in case of the death of the breeding female. One of the largest anemonefish species, they are well-suited for a reef.
| Scientific Name | Premnas biaculeatus |
| Other Names | Spine-cheeked anemonefish, spine-cheek clownfish, yellow stripe maroon clownfish, and gold stripe maroon clownfish |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific belt from the western parts of Indonesia to Taiwan as well as the Great Barrier Reef |
| Type | Freshwater fish |
| Conservation Status | Not recorded |
| Behavioral Characteristics | Aggressive even when attempted to keep in pairs and territorial |
| School Size | Not a schooling fish due to their aggression; keep them in mated pairs with other aggressive or semi-aggressive species |
| Physical Traits | Colorful and striped appearance with a spine on its cheek that defines it the best; |
| Colors | Juveniles: Bright red or yellow Males: Bright red with three vertical white or yellow bands behind its eyes, between the dorsal fins and near the base of its tail fin Female: Maroon or brown with grey bars that become white if provoked ; Both males and females change color with age, with the latter often turning black with the body bars almost disappearing. |
| Size (How big do they get) | Medium; Males: 2.4 – 2.8 inches (6 – 7 cm); Females: 6.7 inches (17 cm) |
| Lifespan | 5 – 7 years |
| Sexual Dimorphism | Present; Female maroon clownfish species are larger and more dominant than their male counterparts |
| Probable Diseases | Brookllynella (clownfish disease), marine ich |
| Approximate Price (How much is it for) | $25 |
| Care Level | Beginner |
| Tank Size | 30 gallons (113.5 liters) for a single fish; 60 gallons (227.1 liters) |
Water Parameters
| pH Level | 8.1 – 8.4 |
| Temperature | 75 – 82°F (25 – 28°C) |
| Hardness | 8 – 12 dGH |
| Aquarium Water Flow | Moderate to high |
Tank Ambience
| Lighting | Moderate |
| Substrate Type | Pebbles, sand, gravel, and plants |
| Tank Mates | Compatible with: Aggressive fish like tangs, and wrasses Incompatible with: Other clownfish species like the percula since they may display territorial behavior |
| Suitable Position in the Tank | Bottom |
Feeding
| Diet | Live foods like brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, chopped mussels, chopped fish, also algae wafers (since they eat algae in the wild), and pellets and flakes |
| Frequency | 2 – 3 times a day |
The maroon clownfish and anemone share a symbiotic relationship, benefitting from one another. The most suitable anemones to keep in a reef with the maroon clownfish, as well as other clownfish species, include saddle anemone, carpet anemone, long tentacle anemone, and bubble-tip anemone.
The colorations of the male and female maroon clownfish differ according to their geographical location to a great extent. The species inhabiting the central Malay Archipelago and Komodo islands have dull yellow head bars and white body bars. Those in the Sumatra and the Andaman Islands have all three yellow bars.
Like most other clownfish species, the maroon clownfish bites its owners too, especially if the aquarists get close to their anemone that it is hosting.
Yes, the maroon clownfish have been crossed with the ocellaris clownfish to produce the blood orange clownfish.
Besides this, the maroon lightning clownfish (known for its lightning kind of pattern), and the golden nugget (with a golden body and maroon face and fins) are variants of the maroon clownfish.
