Sebae Clownfish

The Sebae Clownfish is an elegant and somewhat demanding anemonefish native to the northern Indian Ocean, from the Arabian Sea through the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the coastal waters of India. Its body displays a rich dark brown to black coloration accented by two bold white vertical bars, one behind the eye and another at mid-body. The belly and ventral area often show a bright yellow hue, and the tail fin is typically vivid yellow, creating a striking contrast against the darker body. The overall effect is of a handsome, well-proportioned clownfish with clean, distinct markings.

In the wild, the Sebae Clownfish is notable for its strong preference for a single host anemone species: the Sebae Anemone (Heteractis crispa). While it occasionally associates with other anemone species, it shows a marked preference for H. crispa that exceeds the host specificity of most other clownfish. This strong host preference can present challenges in captivity, as the Sebae Anemone is itself considered one of the more difficult host anemones to maintain long-term in aquariums. The species inhabits reef slopes and lagoons at moderate depths.

The Sebae Clownfish is rated as intermediate in care level due to its somewhat specific host preferences and the fact that wild-caught specimens can be sensitive during the initial acclimation period. Captive-bred specimens, when available, tend to be hardier and less dependent on a specific host anemone. Once established, the Sebae Clownfish is a long-lived and rewarding aquarium resident. It is semi-aggressive, with territorial behavior typical of mid-sized clownfish, and is completely reef-safe.