Orange Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion Sandaracinos)

Species Name : Amphiprion Sandaracinos

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Semi-aggressive

Color : Orange, White

Diet : Omnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 5"

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Pomacentridae

Minimum Tank Size : 30 gallons

The Orange Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion Sandaracinos), also known as the Skunk-striped Anemonefish, is pale orange with one white stripe behind the head that runs down the entire length of the back. Its body has a stock appearance, oval shape, compressed laterally and with a round profile. Unlike A. perideraion, the Orange Skunk Clownfish and the similar Amphiprion Akallopisos species has no vertical white headband present; has a somewhat bold white stripe that runs from the snout upwards between the eyes, continuing along both sides of the dorsal fin, ending at the upper part of the tail fin. All the fins have the same coloration as the body except the dorsal fin which is partially white. Its iris is bright yellow.

The Orange Skunk Clownfish makes an ideal reef tank fish, as it does not grow as large as some clownfish and pairs well in the home aquarium. A 30-gallon or larger aquarium with many hiding places is desirable. An anemone host such as Stichodactyla mertensii or Heteractis crispa is preferred, but not required.

The Orange Skunk Clownfish are semi-aggressive towards conspecifics and may be intimidated by boisterous tank mates. They are social and very peaceful with other species as well as other peaceful clownfish and can even be kept in a school if the tank is large enough. Clownfish are reef safe and can be kept with non aggressive invertebrates and corals, and most clowns will host an anemone present in the tank.

Clownfish are easy to breed in the home aquarium. It is a sequential hermaphrodite with a strict sized based dominance hierarchy: the female is largest, the breeding male is second largest, and the male non-breeders get progressively smaller as the hierarchy descends. A breeding male will turn into a female if the only breeding female dies and the largest non-breeding male becomes a breeding male.

Orange Skunk Clownfish are an omnivorous species whose diet should consist of a variety of meaty food items such as chopped shrimp and frozen herbivore preparations. A high quality, vitamin-enriched, color-enhancing marine omnivore flake food can be given to supplement adequate levels of nutrients.

Size: 3/4" to 1-1/4"