Pink Skunk Clownfish

Facts about Pink Skunk Clownfish or pink anemonefish is an anemonefish species from the skunk complex. The Pink Skunk Clownfish was first described by Bleeker in 1855 as the Amphiprion perideraion. The Pink Skunk Clownfish are commonly found in Cocos Keeling, Christmas Island, southern part of Thailand, east to Samoa, and Ryukus Island. Its common name was derived mainly from its coloring and white stripping. The Pink Skunk Clownfish has several other names such as Pink Anomonefish, Salmon Clownfish, Pink Skunk Clown, White-maned Anemonefish, False Skunk-striped Clown, and among others. The Skunk Complex where it belongs currently consists of six species such as A. akallopisis, A. sandaracinos, A. pacificus and among others.

The Skunk Complex members are known to be the smallest anemonefish with a streamlined body shape which is similar to the Ocellaris and Percula Clowns. Pink Skunk Clownfish has a body length of about 2 to 2 times longer than its body height. Their bodies are normally pale pink, pink, or sometimes pinkish yellow. The female fins are translucent, while the males have pink or orange along the borders of their soft dorsal and tailfin fins. Both male and female Pink Skunk Clownfish have a white skunk-looking line that goes along the back and it starts at the mouth and extends towards the base of the tailfin. The Pink Skunk Clownfish have a thin white band on the head, just behind the eyes and it is a distinctive feature that differentiates them from other Skunk Complex species. Though are known to be hardy, there are actually more delicate than other types of anemonefish. The Pink Skunk Clownfish are poor in shipping and sensitive to poor quality water or sudden changes in parameter. They normally tend to be nervous and edgy.

Wildly, Pink Skunk Clownfish are usually found in lagoons and shallow reef areas especially on the fore reef slopes or reef faces. The Pink Skunk Clownfish like calmer waters and stays below the surge zones at a depth of about 3 t0 30m. The Pink Skunk Clownfish can only associate with fewer species of sea anemone and different from other clownfish, Pink Skunk Clownfish is known through studies not to be innately protected from the sting of other host anemones. This kind of Pink Skunk Clownfish species is found in a variety of groupings such as a group of juveniles or mixed group of juveniles and sub adults.

Pink Skunk Clownfish feeds on algae, tunicate, worms and crustacean larvae. The Pink Skunk Clownfish also like very small crabs, isopods, spoiled eggs from their clutch, appendages and gastropod fragments. Algae are their most favorite diet but it also depends on the availability of suitable prey foods. To some extent, the Pink Skunk Clownfish can nip at the tentacles of their anemone for waste products and for any planktonic food items. Ideally, Pink Skunk Clownfish is the least aggressive member of anemonefish group and it tends to be dominated by most of its relatives. The Pink Skunk Clownfish can be kept in an aquarium of about 10 gallons and they can also shelter in live rock and faux corals if in case a sea anemone is not present. They readily spawns in captivity and the female usually lay eggs near her anemone. The male and female engage side by side while swimming and belly-touching prior to spawning.