đ Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
The Ocellaris Clownfish, often called the "False Percula" or simply "Nemo," is the quintessential beginner marine fish. Hardy, colorful, captive-bred in huge numbers, and famous from film, this species is perfect for new saltwater aquarists. They're reef-safe, disease-resistant, and full of personality.
đ Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Amphiprion ocellaris |
|---|---|
| Adult Size | 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) |
| Minimum Tank | 20 gallons (75 liters) |
| Temperament | Peaceful (territorial near host) |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific (most are captive-bred) |
â Why They're Perfect for Beginners
- Captive-bred availability - Hardy, disease-resistant
- Small tank suitable - Don't need huge systems
- Disease resistant - Among hardiest marine fish
- Easy to feed - Accept all foods readily
- Long-lived - Decade+ lifespans common
- Interesting behavior - Host anemones, form pairs
đ Tank Requirements
- Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum for a pair
- Aquascape: Provide hosting options (anemone, coral, or even fake)
- Water Flow: Low to moderate
- Lighting: Any; if keeping host anemone, appropriate for that species
Water Parameters
| Temperature | 74-82°F (23-28°C) |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.0-8.4 |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.026 |
| Ammonia/Nitrite | 0 ppm |
| Nitrate | <30 ppm |
đŊī¸ Diet & Feeding
Ocellaris are omnivores that will eat virtually anything offered.
Staple Foods
- Quality pellets - NLS, TDO, Hikari
- Flake food - Marine/reef formulas
- Frozen mysis shrimp
- Frozen brine shrimp
Variety Foods
- Frozen preparations - LRS, Rod's Food
- Chopped seafood - Shrimp, fish, squid
- Nori - Will nibble on seaweed
- Spirulina foods
Feeding Schedule
- Feed 2-3 times daily
- Small amounts they consume in 2-3 minutes
- Very food-motivated - easy to train
đ Hosting Behavior
Clownfish naturally host in anemones, but captive-bred fish will host in many things:
Natural Hosts
- Bubble Tip Anemone - Most commonly accepted
- Magnificent Anemone - Natural host
- Sebae Anemone
Alternative Hosts
- Torch coral - Very commonly adopted
- Hammer coral
- Frogspawn
- Toadstool leather
- Even powerheads or corners!
Note: Anemones are NOT required. Many clownfish thrive without hosts.
đ Compatibility
Excellent Tankmates
- Tangs (in larger tanks)
- Wrasses
- Gobies and blennies
- Anthias
- Cardinalfish
- Most peaceful community fish
Use Caution
- Other clownfish - Can be territorial
- Aggressive fish - May bully them
- Dottybacks - Can be aggressive toward clowns
đĢ Pairing & Social Behavior
- All clownfish are born male
- Dominant fish becomes female
- Keep singly, in pairs, or buy established pairs
- Adding two similar-sized juveniles usually results in pair
- Don't add third clownfish to established pair
đ¨ Color Varieties
Captive breeding has produced many designer varieties:
- Standard orange with white bars
- Black Ocellaris
- Snowflake (extra white)
- Naked (reduced bars)
- Platinum (all white)
- Mocha (brown tones)
- Many more designer morphs
â ī¸ Health Considerations
- Brooklynella: "Clownfish disease" - rare in captive-bred
- Ich: Less susceptible than most fish
- Quarantine: Still recommended, especially wild-caught
đĄ Tips for Success
- Buy captive-bred - healthier and more sustainable
- Don't need an anemone to thrive
- Perfect first fish for cycling new tank
- Will become very tame and interactive
- May become aggressive when hosting - normal behavior
đ Summary
The Ocellaris Clownfish is the perfect beginner marine fish - hardy, beautiful, readily available captive-bred, and full of personality. They don't require large tanks, eat anything, and can live for over a decade with basic care. While they'll happily host in an anemone, they don't need one to thrive. For anyone starting in saltwater, a pair of captive-bred Ocellaris is the ideal first fish.