Allard's Clownfish Care Guide
Amphiprion allardi, Allard's clownfish, is an East African anemonefish with a dark body, two black-edged white bars and a white tail. It is hardy and adaptable.
Overview
Amphiprion allardi, Allard's clownfish or the twobar anemonefish, is a reef-associated damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It has a dark-brown to black body crossed by two white bars with black edging, a white caudal fin and orange remaining fins. It reaches a maximum length of about 15 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Amphiprion
- Scientific name: Amphiprion allardi Klausewitz, 1970
Habitat
The species occurs in the western Indian Ocean along the East African coast between Kenya and Durban, extending east to the Seychelles, Mauritius and the Mascarene Islands. It inhabits sheltered reefs and shallow lagoons at depths of about 1 to 30 m and associates with the anemones Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora and Stichodactyla mertensii.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Lifespan: 12-14 years
Diet
Amphiprion allardi is an omnivore with a trophic level of 2.7. In the aquarium it accepts marine flake and pellet foods together with frozen mysis and brine shrimp, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
This species occupies the middle water column and lives in groups with a strict dominance hierarchy in which only one male and one female breed. It can be kept with tangs, royal gramma, wrasses and cleaner shrimp, while other clownfish species and aggressive predators such as triggerfish should be avoided.
Reef compatibility
Amphiprion allardi does not eat coral and is reef-safe. It is maintained at reef salinity of 1.024-1.026 specific gravity and carbonate hardness around 8-12 dKH. A host anemone is appreciated but not required in captivity.
Breeding
The species is a sequential (protandrous) hermaphrodite forming distinct breeding pairs. It is oviparous; eggs are laid at the base of the host anemone, and the male guards and aerates them. It shows high resilience, with a minimum population doubling time under 15 months.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010).