Amphiprion tricinctus is a unique large clownfish that naturally occurs in the Marshall Islands and neighboring central Pacific regions. Also known as the three striped clownfish, since it belongs in the clarki complex of clownfish, juveniles may closely resemble related fish like the clarkii, bluestripe, and akyndinos clownfishes. However, unlike these species which may show a stripe at the base of the tail when young, the tricinctus clownfish retains this third stripe into adulthood. The three stripe clownfish is not that rare but due to it’s similarity with other clarki complex species, it is rarely sought out except by some of the more discerning rare clownfish enthusiasts. This large adult pair was filmed at Atlantis Marine World and you can clearly see what makes this species unique with a broad yellow ventral coloration and the three neatly formed stripes. You might also notice that fully matured clownfish pairs lose the size difference between the sexes as they reach old age.
Amphiprion tricinctus, mature adult three striped clownfish pair featured in video
Jake Adams
Jake Adams has been an avid marine aquarist since the mid 90s and has worked in the retail side of the marine aquarium trade for more than ten years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and has been the managing editor of ReefBuilders.com since 2008. Jake is interested in every facet of the marine aquarium hobby from the concepts to the technology, rare fish to exotic corals, and his interests are well documented through a very prolific career of speaking to reef clubs and marine aquarium events, and writing articles for aquarium publications across the globe. His primary interest is in corals which Jake pursues in the aquarium hobby as well as diving the coral reefs of the world.
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