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Unread 08/22/2019, 10:38 PM   #1
CoralsAddiction
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Amphiprion Milii

The only time I had heard of A Milii before was from Lil Wayne a decade ago.
Yesterday, while browsing the net, I came across a pair of fish that looked like black Clarkii from Australia. They were described as A. Milii clowns by the seller (PIA). I really like the colors and more importantly they were Australian import. So I ordered the clowns and they were shipped the same day for today's delivery (talk about great customer service!)
I know some people will have opinions regarding the correct ID, taxonomy, etc. and those are welcome. But please realize I invested in the animal and not the scientific or common name. It's one of those instances where I will defer to the knowledge and reputation of the seller rather than speculation.
Picture from seller's site (photo credit Pacific Island Aquatics)


In my reef tank (female)

Somewhat shy male



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Unread 08/23/2019, 12:49 AM   #2
ThRoewer
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Nice catch!
If they are from Western Australia then they are certainly A. milii. There are quite possibly up to 16 district species lumped together under "A. clarkii" and for conservation reasons it is very important that genetic analysis clarifies this.
BTW, do they have more or was that the only pair?

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Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio
3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki

Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...
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Unread 08/23/2019, 12:55 AM   #3
CoralsAddiction
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThRoewer View Post
Nice catch!
BTW, do they have more or was that the only pair?

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Thanks, that was the only pair


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Unread 08/23/2019, 06:52 PM   #4
tonysi
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Now those are beautiful fish! Congrats on the acquisition. Good luck with them.


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Unread 08/23/2019, 07:57 PM   #5
CoralsAddiction
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Now those are beautiful fish! Congrats on the acquisition. Good luck with them.
Thanks 🙏


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Unread 08/23/2019, 08:16 PM   #6
CoralsAddiction
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My initial observations so far are as follows:
A.
They have shown clear interest in H. Magnifica anemone but are not too eager to accept it as a host. My suspicion is the flow might be a little strong for them. If I were to guess, they were most likely hosted by S. Haddoni in the wild based on their melanistic traits; S. Gigantea or S. Mertensi to lesser degree of probability due to their preference of higher flow. The ones that are found in BTAs in the wild have more brownish color.
B.
They are not as bold as Clarkii or even Percula clowns. This particular pair is still a little shy when I come closer to the tank to feed them. However, they eat both frozen and dry foods (LRS and TDO). With that said, the smaller male is already chasing away a Fridmani dottyback and a Blue Devil Damsel when they come close to "his" cave but he does not harm them.


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Unread 08/23/2019, 10:10 PM   #7
CoralsAddiction
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When using a google images search for A. Milii one result shows them in what appears to be S. Mertensi. It’s not 100% clear but I’m positive it’s Mertensi.


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Unread 08/23/2019, 11:53 PM   #8
ThRoewer
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This kind of fits a suspicion I have: the individual species that have been lumped together under "A. clarkii" are not as accepting of all host anemones as it may appear when seeing them all together as A. clarkii.
Once examined individually it is more than likely that a somewhat different picture emerges and certain "local varieties" turn out to have more restricted host preferences depending on the local competition.

Based on videos from the wild, A. milii should definitely accept S. haddoni.

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Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio
3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki

Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...
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Unread 08/24/2019, 04:14 AM   #9
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Those are beautiful, congrats!


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reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31

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Unread 08/24/2019, 08:13 AM   #10
CoralsAddiction
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Quote:
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Those are beautiful, congrats!
Thank you!


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Unread 08/24/2019, 09:15 AM   #11
CoralsAddiction
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Quote:
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Once examined individually it is more than likely that a somewhat different picture emerges and certain "local varieties" turn out to have more restricted host preferences depending on the local competition.
Very possible


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Unread 08/24/2019, 12:28 PM   #12
CoralsAddiction
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More pictures:

Male aka The Chaser


Female aka Boss Lady



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Unread 08/24/2019, 12:51 PM   #13
ThRoewer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoralsAddiction View Post
More pictures:

Male aka The Chaser


Female aka Boss Lady
It's like with my Darwin "ocellaris", the female is the captain and the male the X.O. who keeps the crew in line...

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Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio
3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki

Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...
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Unread 08/24/2019, 01:02 PM   #14
CoralsAddiction
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They both have a little bit of blue hues on the first white band behind the head. It’s more pronounced on the male.
The sellers picture show a little bit of it


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Unread 08/25/2019, 01:06 AM   #15
CoralsAddiction
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThRoewer View Post
It's like with my Darwin "ocellaris", the female is the captain and the male the X.O. who keeps the crew in line...

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
He has calmed down a bit. Everyone probably figured out the hierarchy.


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Unread 08/25/2019, 05:06 PM   #16
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Kos kesh clowns


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Unread 08/25/2019, 05:47 PM   #17
CoralsAddiction
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Kos kesh clowns
Buffalo Gold clowns


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Unread 08/30/2019, 01:07 AM   #18
CoralsAddiction
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Midnight snuggles. I'm hoping to get them a Haddoni in the near future.



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Unread 08/30/2019, 01:59 AM   #19
ThRoewer
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The Petco in Hayward had 2 haddoni last week. California Reef also had a few the last time I was there.


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Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio
3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki

Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...
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Unread 08/30/2019, 11:47 AM   #20
CoralsAddiction
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThRoewer View Post
The Petco in Hayward had 2 haddoni last week. California Reef also had a few the last time I was there.
It’s just a matter of making space or upgrading the tank but thanks for the leads.


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Unread 08/30/2019, 11:49 AM   #21
CoralsAddiction
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There might soon be no Milii left in the wild. Australian Academy of Science has a grim outlook for its reefs

https://mobile.twitter.com/science_a...b02bc6bb372c4a


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Unread 08/30/2019, 01:58 PM   #22
ThRoewer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoralsAddiction View Post
There might soon be no Milii left in the wild. Australian Academy of Science has a grim outlook for its reefs

https://mobile.twitter.com/science_a...b02bc6bb372c4a
Well, looks like they have better chances in captivity than in the wild. It's pretty sad actually. In 10 to 20 years the reefs as we know them may be gone.

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Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio
3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki

Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...
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Unread 08/30/2019, 02:45 PM   #23
CoralsAddiction
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Unread 08/31/2019, 08:03 AM   #24
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Beautiful fish


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Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip
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Unread 09/03/2019, 09:21 PM   #25
CoralsAddiction
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Based on some photos taken in Exmouth and Ningaloo in Western Australia, it appears that A. Milii is hosted by one of the Heteractis anemones in the wild. I am having a bit of a hard time identifying whether it is H. Crispa or H. Malu. I am leaning towards the latter due to shorter tentacles. My first impression was they were both BTA but upon closer look I became convinced they were Heteractis anemones.




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