Saddleback Clownfish

• ExerciseModerate

  An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.

• GroomingAttentive tank care

  Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment10–18 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Ich (white spot) · Fin rot · Parasites

The Saddleback Clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) lives in the western Pacific from Japan to northern Australia, growing to about 10 to 13 cm. Its marking is distinctive: a head bar plus a broad white saddle that sweeps up and back across the mid-body, over brown to black flanks with an orange face. Unusually for a clownfish it favours silty lagoon floors rather than clear reef faces, hosting Haddon's carpet anemone in open sand. A pair needs 150 litres or more at 24-27C, salinity 1.024-1.026, pH 8.1-8.4. Include an area of open sand as well as rock, which suits its natural habits. Feeding is simple: mysis, enriched brine, marine pellets and some algae food twice daily. It is hardy and captive-bred stock is common, but it is moderately territorial as an adult and holds a wider patch than an ocellaris does. Keep one pair only, and choose tankmates that swim in the upper water column rather than competing for the sand bed.

• How active is a Saddleback Clownfish?

  Moderate. An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.

• How much maintenance does a Saddleback Clownfish need?

  Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• What tank size does a Saddleback Clownfish need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Saddleback Clownfish a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Saddleback Clownfish live?

  10–18 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Saddleback Clownfish?

  Keep an eye out for Ich (white spot), Fin rot, Parasites. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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