Cinnamon anemonefish (Amphiprion melanopus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Fire clownfish, Red and black anemonefish, Black-backed anemonefish, Dusky anemonefish
Family
Pomacentridae (damselfishes and clownfishes)
Origin
Western and southern Pacific: Great Barrier Reef north to the Marshall Islands and Guam, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to eastern Indonesia.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
12 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
100 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
yes

Care

Tank: a reef aquarium with rockwork and room to set up a territory. Tank: an estimated minimum of about 100 litres (our estimate from the adult size and habits, not a figure from the sources), for a pair. A host anemone is not essential in the aquarium; many captive-bred fish never use one, and anemones need a mature, well-lit system of their own. Water: the sources give no species-specific figures, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and specific gravity 1.023–1.026. Keep conditions stable with good filtration and regular water changes. Behaviour: lives in a size-based hierarchy and can become territorial and aggressive in captivity, particularly around its chosen host or spawning site. It may move small items or cover corals with sand. Identification: a dark orange body that darkens to black towards the tail, a single bright white head bar from the front of the dorsal fin to the pectoral area, and golden fins. Females are the larger fish of a pair. Trade: clownfish are not CITES-listed. Captive-bred fish are widely available and are the better choice where possible. The article cites an IUCN assessment without giving the category. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprionmelanopus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Omnivorous: in the wild it takes zooplankton, small bottom-living crustaceans and algae. In aquaria it accepts flake, pellets, frozen brine and mysis shrimp, and algae-based foods. Feed small portions two or three times a day.

Breeding

A protandrous hermaphrodite: all fish start as males and the dominant fish becomes female. If the breeding female dies, the breeding male changes sex and the largest non-breeder becomes the new male. It has been bred in aquaria; pairs lay eggs on a hard surface near their host and the male tends them.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe with corals and invertebrates, although it may disturb sand or small corals near its territory. Keep one pair per tank and avoid mixing with other clownfish species. Fine with most semi-aggressive community fish of similar or larger size.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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