Tangerine Storm Clownfish

Tangerine Storm Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris The Tangerine Storm Clownfish is a distinctive captive-bred designer variety of Ocellaris Clownfish developed through selective breeding by Sea & Reef Aquaculture. It combines the irregular white-and-orange patterning associated with the Storm lineage with Sea & Reef's Tangerine hypomelanistic mutation, producing a fish with dramatically reduced black pigmentation and a striking orange-and-white appearance. Sea & Reef describes the Tangerine mutation as hypomelanistic, meaning the fish produces substantially less melanin than a typical clownfish. This is especially apparent around the borders between the orange and white areas and in the fins, which can have a characteristic smoky appearance. Some pigment remains in the eyes and fins, indicating that melanin production is reduced rather than completely absent. Sea & Reef consequently classifies its Tangerine fish as albino clownfish. What makes the Tangerine Storm unique? Unlike a standard Orange Storm, the Tangerine Storm has: Dramatically reduced black pigmentation Bright orange to tangerine coloration A clean transition between the orange facial coloration and white body Smoky-looking fins caused by reduced pigmentation Irregular Storm-style patterning Individual pattern variations from fish to fish The result is an unusually clean, high-contrast clownfish that can look almost completely orange, white and translucent in certain areas. Captive-Bred Origin Original breeder/developer: Sea & Reef Aquaculture Sea & Reef Aquaculture identifies the Tangerine Orange Storm as another Sea & Reef first designer clownfish and states that the fish was released in December 2023. Their breeding program introduced the Tangerine hypomelanistic mutation into their Orange Storm lineage through selective breeding. Breeder credit: Developed and first produced by Sea & Reef Aquaculture, Franklin, Maine, USA. Sea & Reef was founded in 2003 by marine biologist Soren Hansen and specializes in captive-bred marine ornamental fish. Sea & Reef Aquaculture — Official Tangerine Orange Storm information Care Requirements Because the Tangerine Storm is an Ocellaris Clownfish, its basic husbandry is essentially the same as other captive-bred Amphiprion ocellaris. Sea & Reef specifically describes its temperament and captive-care requirements as very similar to regular Ocellaris Clownfish. Care Recommendation Scientific name Amphiprion ocellaris Common name Tangerine Storm / Tangerine Orange Storm Clownfish Origin Captive bred Maximum size Approximately 4 in (10 cm) Temperament Generally peaceful; may become territorial Minimum aquarium 20 gallons recommended Reef safe Yes Difficulty Easy / Beginner-friendly Temperature ~75–80°F Specific gravity ~1.024–1.026 pH ~8.0–8.4 Diet Omnivorous Anemone required? No Lifespan Potentially 10+ years with proper care A 20-gallon aquarium or larger is a sensible long-term recommendation for an adult Ocellaris, with larger aquariums offering greater stability and more room for tank mates. Published Ocellaris care references commonly recommend approximately 20 gallons for long-term adult husbandry. Feeding Tangerine Storms are omnivores and generally very easy to feed. Sea & Reef conditions its captive-bred clownfish to accept a variety of aquarium foods, including: High-quality marine pellets Flake food Frozen Mysis shrimp Frozen brine shrimp A varied diet is recommended rather than relying on a single food. Anemones An anemone is not required. Tangerine Storm Clownfish can thrive perfectly well without an anemone. When an anemone is desired, Sea & Reef notes that these clownfish readily accept a variety of potential hosts, with the Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) being a popular aquarium choice. In the wild, Ocellaris Clownfish associate with several host anemones, including Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea and Stichodactyla mertensii. Tankmates Tangerine Storms can generally be kept with other peaceful reef-community fish. As with other Ocellaris Clownfish, an individual or established pair may become territorial around its chosen area of the aquarium. Avoid housing them with substantially more aggressive clownfish species or other fish that may harass them. Reef Aquarium Compatibility Excellent reef aquarium candidate. They are compatible with typical reef aquarium environments and do not require special lighting or feeding simply because they are a designer morph. Their unusual coloration is genetic and does not represent a special nutritional requirement. A particularly interesting feature of the Tangerine Storm The black pigment reduction is actually part of what makes this morph genetically interesting, rather than simply being a color variation. Sea & Reef explains that the Tangerine mutation affects melanin production, producing the reduction in black pigment and the lighter orange coloration. The remaining pigment in the eyes and fins indicates that the underlying melanin pathway has not been completely eliminated. Sea & Reef has subsequently produced numerous other Tangerine clownfish variations, including Tangerine Ocellaris, Tangerine Snowflake, Tangerine Solar Storm and Tangerine DaVinci varieties. Breeder Attribution Tangerine Storm Clownfish — developed and first produced by Sea & Reef Aquaculture. Released December 2023. Sea & Reef Aquaculture, Franklin, Maine, USA.