Maroon Clownfish
Encyclopedia
The maroon clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, is a species of clownfish
that is found in the Indo-Pacific
from western Indonesia
to Taiwan
and the Great Barrier Reef
. They can grow up to be about 17 cm (6. 7 in), and as they grow, they become more aggressive towards other clownfish. It is also known as the spine-cheeked clownfish, or the maroon anemonefish. It is the only member
of the genus
Premnas, although it has been suggested that the taxon
epigrammata from Sumatra
should be recognized as a distinct species, Premnas epigrammata (Fowler
, 1904).
The stripes across the body are normally white, but they are yellow in the taxon
epigrammata. The female is usually larger than the male and dark red or maroon
, and the male smaller and a bright red.
with the sea anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor, and preferably this should also be provided in the aquarium (but is not a requirement). The maroon clownfish likes frozen shrimp
and herbivore
preparations.
Because of its spines, this clownfish should not be caught using a net. The spines can get entangled in the net, which can injure the fish. Instead, catching with a cup is recommended.
The maroon clownfish is one of the larger, more aggressive members of the clown family. It is best to house them singly, the only exception being a mated pair. Do not mix maroon clownfish with any other type of clownfish or bullying will occur. A good way to curb their aggression is to rearrange the rock work periodically. Also if it is planned to keep one or a pair it is best to add them last. If the right parameters are met the maroon clown will be a hardy and amusing member of the aquarium community. They are human responsive to the point of trying to "intimidate" people with whom they are not familiar.
Clownfish
Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Twenty-eight species are recognized, one in the genus Premnas, while the remaining are in the genus Amphiprion. In the wild they all form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones...
that is found in the Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
from western Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
. They can grow up to be about 17 cm (6. 7 in), and as they grow, they become more aggressive towards other clownfish. It is also known as the spine-cheeked clownfish, or the maroon anemonefish. It is the only member
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Premnas, although it has been suggested that the taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
epigrammata from Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
should be recognized as a distinct species, Premnas epigrammata (Fowler
Henry Weed Fowler
Henry Weed Fowler was an American zoologist born in Holmesburg, Pennsylvania.He studied at Stanford University under David Starr Jordan...
, 1904).
The stripes across the body are normally white, but they are yellow in the taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
epigrammata. The female is usually larger than the male and dark red or maroon
Maroon
Maroon, marooning, or marooned may refer to:* Maroon , a dark shade of red* Maroon , runaway slaves, of African origin, in the Americas* Marooning, the act of leaving someone on a deserted island-Music:...
, and the male smaller and a bright red.
In the aquarium
A 30-gallon tank is suggested for one fish or 60 gallons for a pair. In the wild, it is strictly associatedSymbiosis
Symbiosis is close and often long-term interaction between different biological species. In 1877 Bennett used the word symbiosis to describe the mutualistic relationship in lichens...
with the sea anemone
Sea anemone
Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger...
Entacmaea quadricolor, and preferably this should also be provided in the aquarium (but is not a requirement). The maroon clownfish likes frozen shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
and herbivore
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
preparations.
Because of its spines, this clownfish should not be caught using a net. The spines can get entangled in the net, which can injure the fish. Instead, catching with a cup is recommended.
The maroon clownfish is one of the larger, more aggressive members of the clown family. It is best to house them singly, the only exception being a mated pair. Do not mix maroon clownfish with any other type of clownfish or bullying will occur. A good way to curb their aggression is to rearrange the rock work periodically. Also if it is planned to keep one or a pair it is best to add them last. If the right parameters are met the maroon clown will be a hardy and amusing member of the aquarium community. They are human responsive to the point of trying to "intimidate" people with whom they are not familiar.