Clownfish

Ocellaris Clownfish

Amphiprion ocellaris

The Ocellaris clownfish comes from Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is best kept in a small school of 5-7 specimens in a large tank. A 50 gallons aquarium with lots of hiding spaces is recommended. Being omnivores they will accept a wide variety of prepared and frozen foods. They will also graze on any algae in the aquarium.

Ocellaris Clownfish make ideal companions in mixed fish and invertebrates systems. They are not so tolerant of each other and sometimes can be difficult to keep 2 members of the same or different species together, however if introduced to the aquarium at the same time, many varieties of tank raised clowns can be maintained together in the aquarium.

A 30 gallon or larger tank with lots of hiding places is desirable. Although other clownfish species do well without an anemone, when it comes to Ocellaris Clownfish we suggest introducing one of the following anemone species: Carpet, Ritteri, and Sebae. Keeping an anemone alive for your clownfish will involve substantially more light than standard aquarium fixtures offer. Feed the anemone a bite of shrimp at least weekly, when the lights first come on.

Ocellaris Clownfish will eat almost anything it is fed, but the diet should include meaty food items such as chopped shrimp and herbivore preparations. A high quality marine flake food, rich in spirulina algae, as well as freeze dried and frozen foods are readily accepted.

Unlike other fishes ocellaris clownfish are born with no determined sex, meaning they can change sex. In a group of clownfishes the largest individual will become a female, the second largest clownfish will become a male. If you remove the female from the school the the current male will change to female and the next larger individual will become a male.

A pair will lay eggs along the base of the host anemone, using it to protect the eggs. The eggs normally appear orange in color.

The eggs will normally hatch in 6-11 days depending on the temperature. Is extremely important to remove the fry the first day from the tank. Rear them separately on a diet of rotifers then baby brine shrimp.

Compatibility: Damsels, Dartfish, Dragonets, Filefish, Foxface, Gobies, Grunts, Jawfish, Hawkfish, Parrotfish, Pseudochromis, Puffers, Squirrelsfish, Tangs, Wrasse, Live Corals, Live Rocks and Invertebrates.

Avoid these tankmates: Groupers, Lionfish.

Clownfish Care:

Clownfish and Damselfish are the only species of fish which can avoid the stings of an anemone, which can be quite potent. The exact mechanism by which this is accomplished is the subject of debate

Clownfish in an aquarium environment can exist very well without an anemone (this may be advisable as most anemones are extremely difficult to keep alive even for experienced aquarists).

Clownfish Related Articles:

Breeding Clownfish: Breeding clowns is a very rewarding experience, and it's not nearly as hard as you might think. Obviously the first thing you need is a mated pair. There are several options to getting these. 

Sea Anemone: The long tentacles are equipped with stinging cells that paralyze prey. Anemones required excellent water conditions, moderate to strong current and intense lighting. A minimum light intensity of 10,000 lux is indispensable for them to survive and grow.

Coral Reef: Although corals are often mistaken for rocks or plants, they are actually composed of tiny, fragile animals called polyps. A polyp is a spineless animal. Polyps can be the size of a pinhead while others are larger, sometimes a foot in diameter. One coral branch is covered by thousands of these animals.

Maroon Clownfish. Do not move the Maroon Clownfish with a net as its cheekspines will become entangled. Use a specimen container if capture is necessary.