The largest and most aggressive of the clownfish, the maroon is a striking deep-red fish crossed by three white or gold bars and named for the bony spine on its cheek. It is hardy and long-lived but bold and territorial, making it a poor choice for timid tankmates or for keeping with other clownfish.
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Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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Largest clownfish: females to about 15-17 cm (6-6.5 in); males much smaller, ~6-8 cm.
Lifespan
8–18 years
Social needs
pair
Native region
Indo-West Pacific: from India and Southeast Asia to northern Australia and the western Pacific
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
🌊 Marine
Family
Pomacentridae
Genus
Amphiprion
Part of the Clownfish & Anemonefish
Clownfish (anemonefish) are small, hardy, brightly banded reef fish of the genus Amphiprion in the family Pomacentridae, famous for sheltering among the tentacles of sea anemones. Peaceful, largely reef-safe, and widely captive-bred, they are the most popular beginner marine fish and the easiest saltwater species to breed at home.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Pair-sized reef
30 gal / 110 L reef
Premnas biaculeatus is the largest, most aggressive clownfish (females to 15 cm). Pairs need a defined territory; a bubble-tip anemone is preferred but not required for captive-bred specimens.
Recommended
Mature pair territory
55–75 gal / 200–280 L
More rock and length lets the pair settle without harassing other fish to death. Avoid mixing maroons with other clownfish species — they will kill them.
Jenny / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Large hosting reef
90 gal+ / 340 L+ reef
Spacious reef with a long-established BTA, strong flow zones, and carefully chosen non-clownfish tankmates. Pair forms a stable hierarchy and breeds reliably.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Because of its size and temperament, give a single maroon at least 110 litres (30 gallons) and a bonded pair 150-200 litres (40-55 gallons) or more. Keep temperature 24-27 C (75-80 F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.023-1.026 (salinity ~33-35 ppt), with ammonia and nitrite at zero and nitrate low.
Use plenty of live rock to break the line of sight and create defensible caves; this helps diffuse aggression in a community. Moderate flow and standard reef lighting are fine. A bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) is the natural host and is readily accepted, but is not required in captivity.
Substrate
A fine aragonite sand bed over heavy live rock works best, giving the fish the caves and territory it defends. Provide a stable, well-aquascaped rockwork so the dominant female can establish a clear home base.
Equipment & setup
Use a cycled marine system with ample live rock, a protein skimmer, a reliable heater, and powerheads for moderate flow. Standard reef LED lighting suffices unless a host anemone is kept, which needs stronger reef lighting.
Diet
A hardy omnivore that eagerly takes marine pellet and flake, frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp, chopped meaty seafood, and some marine algae or nori. Feed once or twice daily in modest amounts. Large females have hearty appetites, so vary the diet to keep color and condition strong.
Behavior & temperament
Maroon clownfish are the most pugnacious anemonefish; a settled female can bully or kill smaller fish and other clownfish and may nip at hands during maintenance. Keep only one maroon clownfish (or one bonded pair) per tank and never mix with other clownfish species. Choose robust tankmates such as tangs, larger wrasses, or hardy damsels rather than shy gobies or dartfish. They are reef-safe with corals and most invertebrates. Like all clownfish they are protandrous hermaphrodites; pair by adding a much smaller male to a large established female, as the size gap reduces fighting.
Health
Hardy overall but susceptible to marine ich and the lethal marine velvet, plus Brooklynella and bacterial infections when stressed, so quarantine all new fish. Aggression-related stress and fin or jaw injuries can occur during pairing attempts, so monitor introductions closely and be ready to separate fish. Maintain stable salinity and temperature to support immunity. (Health information is educational only and not a substitute for advice from an aquatic veterinarian.)
Tips, DIY & hacks
Buy captive-bred maroons to get hardier, better-adjusted fish, and pair them by adding a small male to an established large female to minimize fatal aggression. Drip-acclimate and quarantine for 2-4 weeks, and add the maroon last so existing tankmates have established territories. Wear caution during maintenance, as protective females will bite.
