Maroon Clown Yellowstripe (Premnas Biaculeatus) Captive Bred

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Semi-aggressive

Color : Gold, Maroon, White, Gold

Diet : Omnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 6"

Origin : Captive Bred

Family : Pomacentridae

Minimum Tank Size : 30 gallons

Maroon Clown Yellowstripe (Premnas Biaculeatus), commonly known as Spine-Cheeked Anemonefish or the Maroon Clownfish, is a species of anemonefish found in the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. 

Yellowstripe Maroon Clownfish are generally maroon in color; however, their coloration can vary from maroon to red to even and orangish-red color. They have 3 relatively wide white stripes, one near the head, one in the middle of the body and one right before the tail fin. The gold color of the stripes typically does not develop until the fish are about 9-12 months old. Fish are shipped at about 6-7 months, so they are showing the juvenile white stripes. They will develop the gold color in time, starting with the head stripe. The fins of the Maroon Clown are round in shape and flow seamlessly off of the body. 

Captive-bred Clownfish are very hardy and durable fish making them a perfect addition for the novice or seasoned aquarist. Like all anemonefishes it forms a symbiotic mutualism with sea anemones and is unaffected by the stinging tentacles of the host anemone.

Yellowstripe Maroon Clownfish typically reach about 6 inches in length and can be comfortably housed in aquariums 30 gallon or larger. They originate from tropical coral reefs, thus will require live rock or other aqua-scaping to provide them with adequate caves and crevices to retreat to when they feel threatened.

Maroon Clowns are more aggressive than most other Clownfish species and should not be kept with other Clownfish or similarly sized fish unless in a very large aquarium. It has been observed that the gold stripe variety seems a little less aggressive than the White Striped variety. 

The Maroon Clownfish can be aggressive, especially towards other Clownfish regardless of species. Housing it with other Clownfish is therefore unadvisable unless you have a very large and well decorated aquarium. A male and a female can however do well together if they are compatible. The Maroon Clownfish will usually only display severe aggressive behavior toward non-clownfish species if a fish tries to venture into the territory claimed by the Maroon Clownfish. Clownfish are reef safe and can be kept with peaceful invertebrates and corals, and most clowns will host an anemone present in the tank.

Captive-bred Clownfish are easy to breed in the home aquarium. Males are around one-third the size of females, growing to a little more than 5″ in length. Females are bigger, reaching sizes of over 6″. 

Yellowstripe Maroon Clownfish are omnivores and will require a mixed diet of meaty foods and marine algae or herbivore preparations. Diet should include a variety of frozen and live mysis and brine shrimp as well as spirulina, marine algae, nori, and algae based foods, 2-3 times daily. They may also pick at algae or other items growing on live rock within the aquarium.