Sebae Clownfish Care Guide
Amphiprion sebae is a northern Indian Ocean anemonefish with a dark body, two white bars and a yellow tail. It hosts the carpet anemone Stichodactyla haddoni.
Overview
Amphiprion sebae, the sebae anemonefish, is a reef-associated damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is blackish or dark brown with a yellow snout, breast and belly, two broad white bars (the mid-body bar angled backwards), and a yellow or orange tail. It is often confused with Amphiprion polymnus and reaches a maximum length of about 16 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacentridae
- Genus: Amphiprion
- Scientific name: Amphiprion sebae Bleeker, 1853
Habitat
The species occurs in the northern Indian Ocean, from the Arabian Peninsula and India through Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Andaman Islands and Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. It inhabits coastal waters and lagoons at depths of about 2 to 25 m, normally in association with the carpet anemone Stichodactyla haddoni.
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 sebae is an omnivore. 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. 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. As a larger anemonefish, it needs adequate swimming space.
Reef compatibility
Amphiprion sebae does not eat coral and is reef-safe. Because its natural host is a sand-dwelling carpet anemone, it suits 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 an oviparous protandrous hermaphrodite forming distinct breeding pairs. About 300 to 600 eggs are laid; the male guards the clutch, which hatches after about six to eight days.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2021).