Two-banded Anemonefish Care Guide
Amphiprion bicinctus is a Red Sea and western Indian Ocean anemonefish that pairs with several host anemone species and reaches about 14 cm.
Overview
Amphiprion bicinctus is a marine anemonefish of the family Pomacentridae, distributed across the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean. Its body ranges from yellow-orange to dark brown and carries two white bars edged in black, with the head bar notably wider than the second; juveniles show three bars before losing the rear one. The species is a generalist that associates with several host anemones.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Amphiprion
- Scientific name: Amphiprion bicinctus
- Common name: Two-banded anemonefish, Red Sea clownfish
Habitat
The species occupies sheltered reefs and shallow lagoons of the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean, Socotra and the Chagos Archipelago. FishBase records it as a non-migratory, reef-associated fish at depths of about 1-30 m in tropical waters. It hosts in at least five anemone species, including Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, Heteractis crispa, Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea, with a documented preference for Entacmaea quadricolor.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Maximum size: about 14 cm (females larger than males)
- Lifespan: 12-14 years
Reef compatibility
Amphiprion bicinctus is considered reef-safe and does not harm corals or invertebrates. A bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) is the most readily accepted host but is not required for long-term captive care.
Diet
In the wild it is an omnivore that feeds on algae and zooplankton. In aquaria it accepts a varied diet of marine pellets, frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp, fed roughly twice daily.
Compatibility
The fish is semi-aggressive and territorial around its host. It mixes well with tangs, royal gramma, wrasses and cleaner shrimp, but other clownfish species and aggressive triggerfish should be avoided. Only a single bonded pair should be kept per anemone.
Breeding
Like all anemonefish, the species is a protandrous sequential hermaphrodite: individuals mature first as males, and the dominant fish becomes female. Only one breeding pair reproduces per group. Spawning is oviparous; the demersal eggs adhere to substrate near the anemone and are guarded and aerated by the male. FishBase notes that functional sex reversal can complete within 26-145 days after removal of the female.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2010.