Last updated on June 11th, 2023 at 08:55 pm
The main colors of a gold stripe maroon clownfish are red, orange, and black. The different colors on the fish create an attractive pattern that is not seen in other species of clownfish. They have 12 dorsal spines; their anal fin has 14 to 16 rays; they can grow up to eight inches long as adults.
Gold stripe maroon clownfish are found throughout the Western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. They live at depths of up to 25 meters but usually settle on reefs or among rocks in shallow water amongst seagrass meadows. The fish get their name from a two-tone color pattern that is most visible when they’re stressed or aggressive.
Origin and description
The gold stripe maroon clownfish is a species of fish found in the Indian Ocean. It has been seen at depths between 20 and 30 meters, where it feeds on small shrimps. The body coloration consists predominantly blue with two white stripes or patches that may be incomplete, as well as some dark black spots near its head region; they have a maximum length of about 20cm and are considered to be an uncommon species.
Species profile
The gold stripe maroon clownfish is a member of the subgenus Amphiprion and was first described by Ulrich Libben in 1983. It has been collected from several localities, including Indonesia and Guam.
This species reaches an adult size of 11 cm or more, with females generally being larger than males. The body is overall orange with a white stripe running vertically through the eye, and two black spots below this on each side of the fish’s head.
This species has been seen living in association with other clownfish such as Amphiprion ocellaris and Amphiprion percula, but it also inhabits rubble slopes and the undersides of large rocks.
The gold stripe maroon clownfish is a social species that form tightly knit groups, usually with one female to every three males. A group typically has only one breeding pair which occupies a central position in the hierarchy; this fish contributes greatly to reproduction but may be displaced by another dominant individual if it stops breeding.
Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish Scientific Name
The scientific name for the gold stripe maroon clownfish is Amphiprion chrysopterus.
Color and appearance
The gold stripe maroon clownfish are typically red or brown, with white and black striping. They have a predominantly vertical stripe pattern on their dorsal side which extends to the tail fin. The stripes can be thin near the head but get progressively thicker as they extend down toward the caudal peduncle (the area just before the tail). Maroon clownfish are often mistaken for other species of clownfish because the red and white coloration can be misleading.
The most common misconception is that they’re a different type of anemone fish due to their appearance, but it’s more likely that they lack some natural predators in these habitats which may lead them to have less protective coloring than other types of clownfish.
They have a small white spot on their front dorsal fin which is typically found at the edge or near the center, as well as two black stripes that run vertically down either side from head to tail.
The gold stripe maroon clownfish coloration might be used by these fish for camouflage in certain habitats where they are camouflaged against the surroundings.
Life cycle
The gold stripe maroon clownfish starts out as an egg. The eggs are guarded by the female until they hatch and can swim on their own. Once hatched, it takes about two weeks for the baby to grow its first set of scales before it becomes a juvenile with external markings that resemble adults. At around three months old, males will develop a mature coloration and females will develop stripes.
Once the gold stripe maroon clownfish reaches adulthood, it has reached sexual maturity and can reproduce. The female lays her eggs on top of some algae or vegetation to protect them from being eaten by fish in the area. From there they hatch into larvae that are carried away by ocean currents.
After some time the larvae have been carried away and they settle on a surface to start growing into what we will see as an adult gold stripe maroon clownfish. The cycle continues until there is no more room for any new baby fish, or if their food sources are depleted in the area. When this happens, many of these fish will simply die off, while others will migrate to a new area.
The gold stripe maroon clownfish has the ability to live in both temperate and tropical climates, as well as territorial waters. These fish have been known to migrate into coastal areas when they are seeking food sources because their preferred habitat is depleted of these foods.
Are they peaceful or aggressive?
The gold stripe maroon clownfish is a very peaceful fish. They are nice to other clownfish, but they will not mix well with others of their own kind for any period of time. The problem can be solved by adding a few more types of fish in the tank and letting them interact together for a while before introducing your gold stripe maroon clownfish.
Size
The gold stripe maroon clownfish can grow to a size of four inches and weigh up to three ounces.
The size for the gold stripe maroon clownfish is small and they are best if you want a large community of fish. They require an experienced handler and need special care, so they are not suitable for beginners or young children. The problem can be solved by adding a few more types of fish in the tank before introducing your gold stripe maroon clownfish.
General Care Information
The gold stripe maroon clownfish is vulnerable to infection and will need salt added to the aquarium at a ratio of one teaspoon per five gallons. The water temperature should be maintained between 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit (22-26 Celsius). Feeding the fish depends on how they act with certain types of foods, but feeding those live brine shrimp or frozen Mysis shrimp is a good idea.
What they eat
The gold stripe maroon clownfish are carnivores and eat mostly crustaceans, worms, amphipods, and shrimp. They will scavenge what they can find on the seafloor or in the sand like dead animals or plants. Some individuals have been observed eating algae from rocks near shallow water areas where they live.
The diet of these fish is dependent on their geographical location. In some areas, their diet consists of crabs and shrimps, while in other locations they will prey primarily on worms and shrimp.
Gold stripe maroon clownfish are known to be opportunistic feeders that search for food near coral reefs where they live or use sensory structures called “lateral lines” which make them very sensitive to disturbances in the water.
Tank mates
One of the most important considerations when choosing a clownfish for your aquarium is to make sure you get one that will work with the rest of your fish. This includes making sure they have enough space, don’t compete with each other for food or territory, and won’t pick on any weaker ones in the tank.
Gold stripe maroon clownfish are very social animals and need to be in groups of at least three. In a tank with lots of hiding spots, you can even go up to six or seven without any problems. It’s important, though, that the fish will all have enough space for when they do show aggression towards one another; otherwise, it could end badly for the weaker ones.
A single clownfish is unlikely to be a good choice for any aquarium unless you are adding it as part of a large group and have plenty of space so they can avoid each other’s aggression. If you do decide on getting a lone one though, make sure that tank mates will provide enough hiding spots and that the clownfish will be comfortable in its new surroundings.
Clams, live rock, or other hard surfaces can act as hiding spots for your fish to avoid each other’s aggression.
Water condition
Gold stripe maroon clownfish are not too demanding when it comes to water conditions, but they will need a lot of salt. The higher the temperature in your tank is, the more salt you will want to add to maintain their natural state and for them to be happy.
They also prefer a pH between eight and ten with salinity at around one-third of the water volume.
Maroon clownfish are very sensitive to copper, so it’s best to keep that metal out of your aquarium as much as possible.
Aquariums with high nitrogen content should also be avoided because clownfish don’t do well when there is a lot of ammonia and nitrates.
Habitat maintenance
A clownfish has a varied diet and eats anything from sea urchins to other small fish. They will consume about 20% of their body weight per day, which is why it’s important to provide adequate food in the tank. The tank should be cleaned regularly, every couple of days or so depending on how many fish are in there with the clownfish.
A good rule of thumb is to clean the tank after a couple of days because it will get dirty and may start smelling bad if not cleaned regularly. This may be difficult for sensitive fish like clownfish that are prone to diseases from bacteria buildup in their environment, so cleaning more often might be preferable, depending on how many other fish are in the tank.
The clownfish habitat should be decorated with live plants or artificial ones, hiding places like rock formations and caves that they can retreat to if needed. The water must also stay clean so a filter is handy for this purpose; especially one that removes toxic chemicals from the water before it is released back into the tank.
Breeding
A clownfish is a type of fish that reproduces for the first time when it reaches sexual maturity, which usually occurs after two to three years. The female will typically lay eggs in an area where she feels safe and then fertilizes them with sperm from her partner. These areas can be on sea plants or rock formations near the surface of the water, and the eggs will then sink to the bottom of the tank where they are cared for by their parents.
The female is usually responsible for shaking off any bacteria or parasites that might endanger her young before she lays them in this area. Once a clownfish has reproduced, it cannot do so again until after its first cycle ends around three years later.
Does it make good pets?
Maroon clownfish are one of the most popular aquarium fish, but they can be difficult to care for. They need a lot of space in their tank and specific water conditions that have to be maintained at all times. If not cared for properly, maroon clownfish can die within days or weeks from something seemingly small like changes in temperature or pH.
Signs of a healthy fish
Healthy fish will have:
- a bright coloring in the body and fins
- no abnormal patches of discoloration, like redness or brown spotting. Healthy fish also won’t be hiding all day from other fish or people. They’ll swim around their tank throughout the day without stopping at any particular point for more than a few minutes.
- bright eyes that shine with a certain brightness and evenness of color, not showing any dry patches or red spots under the eye
- a bright sheen on their body.
Lifespan
Maroon clownfish have a lifespan of about two to five years.
What colors are these fishes?
They’re red with black stripes and white spots on the bottom of their body, which is what gives them the maroon name. They also have blue fins that extend up from around their eyes behind their head. Sometimes they have a yellow-gold stripe down their back and the sides of their body.
What makes them difficult to care for?
Maroon clownfish need a lot of space, constant water conditions that have to be maintained at all times with cleanings every two weeks or so, specific types of food like frozen cubes made from shrimp or fresh algae wafers, and they need to be kept away from other fish of the same type because they will fight each other.
Parasites
The clownfish is susceptible to parasites like “Heteropolaria shrimp” and “Amoeba”. They can also be infected with diseases. Clownfish in captivity are more likely to contract the parasite than those living in their natural habitats, as they tend to spend time near the surface where there is a higher concentration of seawater and less salt.
The vulnerability to predation
The vulnerability of a gold stripe maroon clownfish to predation comes from its lack of protection against predators in the open water. Clownfishes are plankton feeders that have no camouflage or defense mechanism, which means they have an increased risk of being spotted by potential predators and captured. They also don’t swim as fast as other fish species so their escape response is not as effective.
This vulnerability to predation varies based on the type of clownfish and the location they live in. Clownfishes that have a symbiotic relationship with branching coral are less vulnerable because their home provides protection from predators, while those who don’t have this partnership will be more susceptible to predation. In addition, some clownfish living in deep-sea habitats will be less vulnerable to predation because they live near the bottom of crevices or among sponges where their camouflage is more effective.
Some other factors that influence the vulnerability to predators are how far down a reef slope and what kind of substrate it’s on, as well as whether it’s near a reef crest where the water is typically upwelling or not.
Conclusion
The gold stripe maroon clownfish is an interesting species of fish that can make for a fun aquarium pet. They are relatively easy to care for and have eye-catching colors, but they require specific lighting conditions (specifically ultraviolet rays) so you will need to buy a special light fixture to make sure they thrive well.