🐠 Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus)
White Juvenile Stripes That Deepen to Rich Gold • A Natural Colour Variety From Sumatra • The Largest, Boldest Clownfish Species
 
📋 The Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish is a natural colour variety, first identified in wild populations around Sumatra, Indonesia. Juveniles begin with the standard white stripes seen on typical Maroon Clownfish, but these gradually deepen into a rich gold colouration as the fish matures, usually starting around 9 to 12 months of age, beginning with the head stripe first.
It comes from reefs across the Indo-Pacific, and wild Maroon Clownfish readily host in Bubble Tip Anemones, though a host isn't required in captivity. Every Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish we ship is feeding well, and we favour captive-bred stock, which is calmer and better adapted to aquarium life than wild-caught individuals.
It's the boldest, most confident clownfish species in the hobby, so keep it as the only clownfish in the tank, away from other species; this variety has been observed to be somewhat calmer than the standard White Stripe form, though it remains assertive. It's also among the more difficult clownfish to pair up successfully, so keeping a single specimen is often the simpler choice unless you already have a confirmed compatible pair. It carries a pair of sharp cheek spines beneath each eye, literally what "biaculeatus" means, so handle it with care, and it's sensitive to copper-based medications. It's fully reef safe. It reaches up to 15cm for females, with males roughly half that size, so plan on at least 210L for a single specimen, and 285L or more for an established pair.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 White Stripes Deepening to Gold: A natural colour morph that develops with maturity
💛 Slightly Calmer Than White Stripe: Observed to be marginally less aggressive
📏 The Largest Clownfish Species: Females can reach up to 15cm
🩹 Sharp Cheek Spines: Handle with care
✨ Captive-Bred Favoured: Calmer than wild-caught Maroon Clownfish