Description:
Maroon Clownfish are found living in anemones on the reefs in the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. For this reason, they are considered to be anemonefish. Maroon Clownfish are hardy members of the Pomacentridae family. These beautiful fish have a red body with 3 white or yellow bars when they mature, and the characteristic spine on their cheeks. Due to selective breeding, there are some variations in coloration of this species. (Example: Lightning Maroon Clownfish) Use caution when moving these fish by net, as their cheek spine could get tangled in the net. The females of this species appear larger and are the more dominant. A significant difference in size is seen between the sexes, with females being one of the largest anemonefish, growing up to 6 inches in length while males are much smaller, usually being 2.4 to 2.8 inches. A Maroon Clownfish requires an aquarium of at least 30 gallons with plenty of room to swim.
Diet:
Maroon Clownfish are omnivorous. Their diet should be varied and consist of things like algae, phytoplankton, frozen brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, copepods, pellets, and flake food.
Behavior:
As stated earlier, a Maroon can reach up to 4 inches and requires an aquarium of at least 30 gallons. Maroon Clownfish are very territorial and should be one of the last fish you add to your tank due to their aggression. These clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites. This means they begin life as males. If a female is not present, the largest male will morph into a female. This new female will be aggressive to the other males to insure her dominance and prevent those males from morphing into females. She will normally not tolerate another female clownfish. If you would like more than 1 clownfish, buying a pair that has already accepted each other and bonded is an option. They like to have a safe spot to be able to run to, this could be a cave, an anemone, or crevice in the rockwork. Maroon Clownfish have been known to live in Bubble Tip anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor). While clownfish do not require an anemone, it’s one of the best symbiotic relationships a reef keeper can watch. If you intend to keep fish, a netted lid is recommended.