learning about ocellaris clownfish
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 3:09 pm
Common name(s): Ocellaris Clownfish, False Percula Clownfish, False Clown Anemontideflow
Scientific name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Family: Pomacentridae
Origin: Indo-Pacific region, specifically warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Maximum size: Approximately 4 inches in the wild, but rarely exceeds 2.5 inches in captivity.
Care: The Ocellaris Clownfish is relatively low-maintenance and hardy. A 20-gallon tank is the minimum recommended for a pair, but a 30-gallon tank is preferable. Filtration doesn't need to be top-notch, but keeping nitrates low is essential. They're not too fussy about water parameter fluctuations, but minimal changes are always best. These fish are as hardy as most marine fish come. Optimal specific gravity is between 1.020 and 1.026, with pH levels ranging from 8 to 8.5 and hardness of dKH 8-12. They thrive in temperatures between 72F-78F (22C-26C). They can get along with most marine fish species, such as dwarf angels, basslets, blennies, cardinalfish, gobies, and fish that won't see them as a snack or bully them.
Feeding: The Ocellaris Clownfish isn't picky and will eat most marine fish foods, including flakes, spirulina, brine shrimp, and mysid shrimp.
Sexing and Breeding: You can't determine a clownfish's sex from the outside, but breeding in an aquarium is possible. Start with a group of 4-8 clownfish and let them pair off. Not all will pair, and some might become aggressive. When a pair forms and lays eggs (around 100-1000), they can get aggressive towards other fish. Clownfish usually lay eggs near an anemone for protection, but an anemone isn't necessary for breeding. If your tank is too small, it's best to remove other clownfish, as they can still be aggressive towards unpaired clowns.
Comments: The Ocellaris clown is an active and temperate fish, making it perfect for beginners in the marine hobby. When introducing clownfish, do it simultaneously, as they can be aggressive towards their own kind. They have a relationship with anemones, but an anemone isn't necessary in the aquarium. Anemones have higher requirements than clownfish and aren't recommended for beginners. Many clownfish will host in other corals that simulate an anemone, like frogspawn, torch, or plerogyra corals.
Note: Don't confuse the Ocellaris Clownfish with the Percula Clownfish. While they look similar, the Percula is slightly less hardy. This link can help you identify your species.
True Vs. False Percula Clownfish
Photo: A Pair of Ocellaris Clownfish.
Scientific name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Family: Pomacentridae
Origin: Indo-Pacific region, specifically warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Maximum size: Approximately 4 inches in the wild, but rarely exceeds 2.5 inches in captivity.
Care: The Ocellaris Clownfish is relatively low-maintenance and hardy. A 20-gallon tank is the minimum recommended for a pair, but a 30-gallon tank is preferable. Filtration doesn't need to be top-notch, but keeping nitrates low is essential. They're not too fussy about water parameter fluctuations, but minimal changes are always best. These fish are as hardy as most marine fish come. Optimal specific gravity is between 1.020 and 1.026, with pH levels ranging from 8 to 8.5 and hardness of dKH 8-12. They thrive in temperatures between 72F-78F (22C-26C). They can get along with most marine fish species, such as dwarf angels, basslets, blennies, cardinalfish, gobies, and fish that won't see them as a snack or bully them.
Feeding: The Ocellaris Clownfish isn't picky and will eat most marine fish foods, including flakes, spirulina, brine shrimp, and mysid shrimp.
Sexing and Breeding: You can't determine a clownfish's sex from the outside, but breeding in an aquarium is possible. Start with a group of 4-8 clownfish and let them pair off. Not all will pair, and some might become aggressive. When a pair forms and lays eggs (around 100-1000), they can get aggressive towards other fish. Clownfish usually lay eggs near an anemone for protection, but an anemone isn't necessary for breeding. If your tank is too small, it's best to remove other clownfish, as they can still be aggressive towards unpaired clowns.
Comments: The Ocellaris clown is an active and temperate fish, making it perfect for beginners in the marine hobby. When introducing clownfish, do it simultaneously, as they can be aggressive towards their own kind. They have a relationship with anemones, but an anemone isn't necessary in the aquarium. Anemones have higher requirements than clownfish and aren't recommended for beginners. Many clownfish will host in other corals that simulate an anemone, like frogspawn, torch, or plerogyra corals.
Note: Don't confuse the Ocellaris Clownfish with the Percula Clownfish. While they look similar, the Percula is slightly less hardy. This link can help you identify your species.
True Vs. False Percula Clownfish
Photo: A Pair of Ocellaris Clownfish.