Saddleback Anemonefish Care Guide
Amphiprion polymnus is a western Pacific anemonefish with a dark body, two white bars and a saddle marking. It pairs closely with the carpet anemone Stichodactyla haddoni.
Overview
Amphiprion polymnus, the saddleback anemonefish, is a reef-associated damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It has a dark body crossed by two white bars, the second of which is broken into a distinctive white saddle. It reaches a maximum length of about 13 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Amphiprion
- Scientific name: Amphiprion polymnus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Habitat
The species ranges across the western Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan through the Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea to northern Australia and the Solomon Islands. Adults inhabit silty lagoons and harbour areas at depths of about 2 to 30 m. It associates with the carpet anemone Stichodactyla haddoni and, more rarely, Heteractis crispa.
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 polymnus is an omnivore whose diet is based on zooplankton, small benthic crustaceans and algae, with a trophic level of 2.7. In the aquarium it accepts marine flake and pellet foods plus frozen mysis and brine shrimp, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
This diurnal species occupies the middle water column, is aggressively territorial and depends on its host anemone for shelter. 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 polymnus does not eat coral and is reef-safe. Because it naturally associates with a sand-dwelling carpet anemone, it does best in a system with an open sand bed. It is maintained at reef salinity of 1.024-1.026 specific gravity and carbonate hardness around 8-12 dKH.
Breeding
The species is a monogamous protandrous hermaphrodite: the breeding male changes sex to female if the sole female dies. Eggs adhere to the substrate and are guarded and aerated by the male until they hatch.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010).