Lightning Maroon Clownfish

Lightning Maroon Clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, are stunning and make great additions to a marine tanks. Unlike most clowns, these fish have splendid, warm dark bodies instead of bright orange. This colour can range from red to dark brown. As a result, this colour nicely accentuates their bright white patterns. Instead of regular stripes, the defining feature for these clownfish, are the jagged, lightning or pebble like patches on their sides. These markings are unique to the fish and vary in shape and size.Some fish will onyl have the pattern on one side while others will have it on both. Lightning Maroon Clownfish are perfect for someone after something a bit different, yet elegant. Our pictures and videos. As in any population, natural variation within a species and between specimens is to be expected. Clownfish in particular can show a fantastic range in colour and patterns. To make matters more confusing, in a lot of cases there are multiple names that can be used to describe the same clownfish. This is particularly in the case of high end ‘designer clownfish’, where there is an abundance of breeder and no official classification framework. Meaning no two clownfish will be exactly alike and it isn’t always clear what to expect from the name alone. To help with this, we have provided videos and images of our past stock to help cut through this confusion. Please note that the images and videos displayed on our website are intended as a guide only. We have done our utmost to provide the closest representation possible for each clownfish, to help give an idea of what to expect. While the videos do display our stock, they are not kept up to date as they are merely representations of the appearance and quality of the fish. They are not to be used to inform on current stock: availability, size, price or offers. Please refer to the website page itself for prices, size guide and stock level for any marine livestock seen in these videos. Unfortunately, we can not fulfil requests for videos of exact specimens that are not already being sold as WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). We do however provide sizes alongside our guide images to help customer’s decide. Lightning Maroon Clownfish Ecology. In nature, Clownfish form strict hierarchies, where the dominant fish is female. In the absence of a matriarch, a larger male clown will change gender and become the new boss. This is protandrous hermaphroditism. When it is time to lay eggs, the breeding pair will clear an oval shaped space for brood to go. The male Lightning Maroon Clownfish take up the job of guarding and fanning the eggs. Success of the brood depends on how attentive the subordinate males were. Famously, Clownfish share a  symbiotic relationship with anemones. The Anemones offer the clownfish protection against predators. This is so, because anemones have stinging cells called nematocysts. Clownfish have protective mucus coats, which prevents the host from stinging them. In return, the Lightning Maroon Clownfish brings in food and keeps the Anemone free from parasites. Clownfish are omnivorous, they will eat some algae and small meaty foods such as zooplankton or larvae. Lightning Maroon Clownfish: In the Aquarium.  Care. Clownfish are a hardy saltwater species, making them a popular choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists. They thrive in a stable marine environment with excellent water quality and moderate flow. Clownfish are relatively easy to care for and adapt well to both reef and fish-only tanks. There relatively smaller size makes them popular for smaller aquariums as well as big display tanks. Tank Mates. Clownfish can be kept alone, in pairs or in groups. While it is possible to form your own pair from two singles and plenty of our customers do, they do form hierarchies so can display aggression towards each other. Buying already bonded pairs can reduce the risk of overly aggressive clownfish. Feel free to call us for further advise specific to your set up. Clownfish pairs do not need to be the same type necessarily. Mixed pairs are common in the trade. If you want to see examples, best thing to do is visit us in store. As these fish are relatively peaceful, there is a long list of potential compatible tank mates, depending on set up and space. Potential tank mates include but not limited too: gobies, blennies, firefish wrasse, cowfish, boxfish, Angelfish, Tangs, corals and invertebrates. Anemones are not necessary to keep clownfish but they are definitely worth having to fully appreciate their behaviour. Feeding. Clownfish are omnivorous, they will eat some algae and small meaty foods such as zooplankton or larvae. Lightning Maroon Clownfish do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept frozen Mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. They will also devour live foods, such as copepods and amphipods, that can be cultivated in attached refugium. Over time they will accept high-quality pellet and flake. We adapt all our Lightning Maroon Clownfish to aquarium life before they leave us. We focus on their health, and most are eating a good quality flake food and/or pellet, before being offered for sale. We enrich all our frozen food with garlic  and vitamins. These are imperative for keeping fish healthy by providing them with the nutrition otherwise lost in frozen food. In doing so, these additives support their immune system and increase longevity.