Sebae anemonefish (Amphiprion sebae) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Sebae clownfish
Family
Pomacentridae (damselfishes and clownfishes)
Origin
Northern Indian Ocean from Java to the Arabian Peninsula, including India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Andaman Islands.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
16 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
115 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
yes

Care

Tank: a reef aquarium with open sand and rockwork. Tank: an estimated minimum of about 115 litres (our estimate from the adult size and habits, not a figure from the sources), for a pair. In the wild it usually lives in the saddle anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni), a difficult species to keep. 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 small group with a strict hierarchy; only the largest fish is female. Identification: black or dark brown above the pectoral fin and yellow below, with two white bands, the second shaped like that of A. polymnus. A dark (melanistic) form exists. It is sometimes mislabelled as A. clarkii in the trade. The list gives up to 16 cm; the article about 14 cm. Trade: clownfish are not CITES-listed. Captive-bred fish are widely available and are the better choice where possible. The article cites a 2022 IUCN assessment without giving the category. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprionsebae). Checked October 2026.

Diet

The species article does not describe its diet. As with other clownfish, offer a varied mix of frozen mysis and brine shrimp, chopped seafood, flake, pellets and some algae-based food.

Breeding

A single pair in each group breeds. The male courts the female for about a week and prepares a nest; she lays roughly 300–600 eggs, which he guards until they hatch after 6–8 days. Larvae begin to change into juveniles at about 15–18 days. Captive breeding and larval rearing have been studied.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe. Keep one pair per tank, not with other clownfish. Suits peaceful to semi-aggressive community tanks.

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

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