Allard's Clownfish

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
      The Allard's Clownfish, also known as the Twobar Anemonefish, was first described by Klausewitz in 1970. They are found on the east coast of Africa between Kenya and Durban. They inhabit outer reefs and lagoons and are usually found at depths between 10 - 82 feet (3 - 25 meters).

Status:
   These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Allard's Clownfish is very similar to the Clark's Clownfish. As an adult it can range in color from yellow to nearly black with yellow fins, and never showing any black coloring in either the pelvic or anal fins. They have two bold vertical white stripes across the body. The stripes are wide at the top, becoming narrower and pointed at the bottom. Just like in the Clark's Clown, the frontal stripe is broad, but the mid-body stripe differs, it is narrower.
   Another clownfish that is also very similar to the Allard's Clownfish is the Orangefin Anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus. This fish is also called the Blue-stripe Clownfish because its white stripes can sometimes have a blue cast to them. If it is lacking the bluish color in its stripes, then it can best be distinguished from the Allard's by the form of its stripes. The Orangefin's stripes are not wide at the very top like the Clark's, but rather widen part way down, and they point forward on the bottom.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Allard's Clownfish adults can grow to 12 cm ( 4.7 inches)

Maintenance difficulty:
   The Allard's Clownfish is generally easy to keep and can be recommended for beginners. No special care is needed to feed this fish as it will take a variety of foods. It does need some crevices to retreat into, and also lots of open space to swim freely. It can be bred and the fry raised in captivity.

Foods:
   The Allard's Clownfish are omnivores, in the wild they eat plankton, and will also pick at the dead tentacles of their host anemone. This fish will readily eat all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods and algae. Finely chopped meaty foods (like brine shrimp) can be fed regularly. Feed at least once a day, though it is best to feed small amounts two or three times a day, whatever they will consume in about 3 minutes.

Maintenance:
   Clownfish can be kept in either a saltwater aquarium or a mini reef. In the wild they are associated with anemones, but they don't need an anemone host in the aquarium. They will readily adapt to a salt water tank without one. Often they will use a coral or other invertebrate, or even a rock structure, as a substitute.
   In a reef setting you can provide a host anemone to provide a rich naturalistic environment for your clown fish. While other fish avoid the anemones stinging tentacles least they become its food, your clown fish will spend most of its time nestled down in it. Though sea anemones are a striking addition to any reef aquarium, they are more challenging to keep. If you decide to keep an anemone you must make sure its special needs are met.
   The relationship a clown fish and a sea anemone have is known as symbiosis. Clown fish stay with certain anemones in the wild. In these symbiotic relationships, clown fish and sea anemones live together, each benefiting from the others company. Immune to the sting of the anemone's tentacles, the clown fish is protected from predatory fish and gets to snack on the remnants of any meal the anemone has captured. In return the clownfish will defend its host by tenaciously chasing off any intruders. It will also feed the host anemone and clean it, removing pieces of detritus picked up from the substrate.

Host Anemones the Allard's Clownfish is associated with in the wild:

• Bulb-tipped or Purple Base Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor
• Beaded Sea Anemone Heteractus aurora
• Merten's Sea Anemone  Stichtodactyla mertensii

   For a saltwater tank a normal water change of 10% biweekly or 20% monthly is necessary. For more information on maintaining a saltwater aquarium see: Saltwater Aquarium Basics: Maintenance. A reef tank will require specialized filtration and lighting equipment. Regular water changes of 15% bi-weekly will help replace the trace elements that the fish and corals use up. Learn more about reef keeping see: Mini Reef Aquarium Basics.

Aquarium Parameters:
   These fish needs open space for free swimming, but it also needs nooks and crannies to retreat into. It will appreciate a host anemone or an other invertebrate or rock structure to adopt as a substitute host. A saltwater aquarium well decorated with rocks/ corals will providing it with many places for retreat.
Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 20 gallon (189 liters), or larger.
Light: Recommended light levels
   It has no special lighting requirements though if kept with a host, the anemone will need strong lighting.
Temperature:
   This species lives in tropical areas and their natural habitat is generally about 80° F (26.7° C). In an aquarium, water temperatures between 75 - 82° F (24 - 28° C) works best. Optimum spawning occurs between 77 - 85° F ( 25 - 28° C). Temperatures higher than 90° F (32° C) or below 64° F (18° C) would be beyond their tolerance.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements, though anemone will need a rather strong flow.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   They will spend the majority of time with a host, but will also swim in all parts of the aquarium,

Social Behaviors:
   The Allard's Clownfish is moderately assertive. Like all anemone fish they can be territorial and aggressive, especially as they get older. They can get along together with a variety of fish that are assertive but not so aggressive, providing the aquarium is large enough to provide them with a place of their own to defend.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   The female is usually much larger than the male.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Allard's Clownfish have been bred in captivity. See general breeding techniques in the Breeding Marine Fish page.

Availability:
   This fish is frequently available and moderately priced, usually ranging from $18.00 - $ 35.00 USD.