Fire Clowns

[pudge_cat]

:?:
I saw some of these guys (or some fish called a Fire Clown) in the LFS. They were red over the entire body including the fins and were darker (almost black) dorsally. They had NO stripe on any part of their body. What exact type of Clown is this? Is this Amphiprion ephippium (AKA Red Saddleback Anemonefish) or Amphiprion Melanopus (AKA Red and Black Anemonefish, AKA Cinnamon Clownfish)?

Either one seems like a pretty good aquarium fish, but can anyone sort this out, or share any personal experience with this fish?

Thanks

[Pineapple House]

I couldn't really tell you any personal experience with this fish, but I think it would be quite helpful to identifye the exact species first.

I went and searched a couple places, take a look at these links:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=27
http://www.inlandreef.com/f_clown.html
I have a feeling it is a Red Saddleback Clownfish (Amphiprion ephippium) which sounds just like you discribed. Most clownfish have a couple white, yellow, or brownish stripes down their body, very few don't. The Cinnamon Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) doesn't seem to fit the discription very well.

HTH

PH =)

[steve1s]

As a juvenile the Amphiprion ephippium starts out with a completely red body and one white stripe. As it matures it darkens towards the anterior and loses the stripe. If you look carefully, you may be able to see some sign of the stripe left just behind the gill plate.

Cheers
Steve

[killroysrevenge]

These fish are basically just like the Tomato Clown. Very hardy and as with most clown alot of personality. The one that I had would take flakes out from between my fingers.

[pudge_cat]

Is it a good fish for a 75 gal FOWLR tank that will likely house semi-aggressive fish?
Would it hold its own against the following :
Yellow tang
More aggressive pseudochromis (like a neon)
A larger Dwarf angel (Bicolor angel probably)
And maybe even a smaller Triggerfish or Hawkfish.

I'm just try to develope a long range plan for livestock and I wanted to start with a pair of hardy, more aggressive clowns. 8)