Fish o’ the day | Saddleback Clownfish

Posted by gerard on February 25, 2009 under Saltwater Fish | Be the First to Comment

The saddleback clownfish can be found in the eastern parts of the Indian and the Western parts of the Pacific oceans. Like most clownfish, they are most often observed living in a symbiotic relationship with a host anemone for protection and in the wild are most often seen in association with Stichodactyla haddoni (Saddle carpet anemone) or Heteractis crispa (Sebae anemone).

Appearance
Color ranges from dark brown to yellow orange with a thick white bar located just behind the eyes. A large white abbreviated saddle shape or slanted white bar across the middle of the fish’s body makes it quite obvious to see how it got the name Saddleback [1]. In some varieties, typically those specimens initially associated with H. crispa anemone[1], the saddle shape may extend up onto the fish’s Dorsal fin with a third white bar or margin located across the caudal peduncle (pictured in taxobox).

Melanistic variation has also been partially correlated with the fish’s host anemone. Specimens associated with H. crispa tend to be darker than those associated with S. haddoni. Aquarium specimens have been observed becoming lighter or darker after accepting a new host anemone species, sometimes within a few hours. read more....