Animal-World > Marine - Saltwater Fish > Clownfish

Clownfish - Anemonefish

Family: Pomacentridae Pair of Black Percula Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris Photo courtesy: Martin

   Clownfish get their name because of their clown like markings and an adorable 'waddle-like' swimming motion, they are truly the 'clowns' of sea!

  Clown fish are some of the most popular fish in the saltwater aquarium hobby.

  Even before Nemo became a household name clown fish were extremely popular. They are very beautiful and fun to watch. They quickly catch the eye and many marine enthusiasts enter the hobby because of an attraction to these colorful beauties.

  You will often see clown fish nestled in an anemone. While other fish avoid its stinging tentacles, it will cause you to wonder what relation does a clown fish and a sea anemone have. In the wild, Clown fish live in symbiotic relationships with certain anemones. It means they live together and both the Clown fish and the anemone benefiting from each others company.

   In captivity anemones are not necessary to keep a clown fish. Though they are a striking addition to any reef aquarium, they are more challenging to keep. Clown fish will readily adapt without them and frequently find a substitute host in a coral, rock structure, or other invertebrate. If you decide to keep an anemone you should make sure its special needs are met.

   Clownfish are in the same family as damselfish, the family Pomacentridae. To scientists these fish are known as anemonefish, but in the aquarium hobby they are more popularly called Clownfish. The majority of the fish in this family are generally referred to as damsels, or damselfish. Most fish in this family can become territorial (aggressive) when they get older. Among the exceptions to this are the Green Chromis, the Blue Reef Chromis, and the Skunk Clownfish.

For more Information on keeping marine fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Click on the names or small images below
to access information on each type of Clownfish .

Allard's Clownfish	Banded Clownfish
Amphiprion allardi	Amphiprion clarkii
Cinnamon Clownfish	Common or False Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus	Amphiprion ocellaris
Maroon Clownfish	Oman Anemonefish
Premnas biaculeatus	Amphiprion omanensis
Pink Skunk Clownfish	Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion	Amphiprion polymnus
Sebae Clownfish	Three-band Clownfish
Amphiprion sebae	Amphiprion tricinctus
Tomato Clownfish	True Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus	Amphiprion percula

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Common Clownfish:
   There are many different types of clown fish species and a number of them are available in the hobby.

• Percula Complex:
  The two most common Clownfish seen in the aquarium hobby are the two from the Percula Complex; the Ocellaris Amphiprion ocellaris and the Percula clown fish Amphiprion percula. The Percula clown fish is known as the True Percula Clownfish. A unique variety of this fish, that sports an elongated horizontal white band in the center of its body, is known as the Picasso clown fish or Picasso Percula Clownfish.
  The Ocellaris clown fish is very similar in appearance, so is known as the False Percula Clownfish. It is often mistaken for an A. percula species as they both have the classic orangish coloring and contrasting white markings. There are some interesting varieties of False Percula Clownfish. The Snowflake Ocellaris Clownfish that has a large splotched white patterning across its body, a true 'clown' looking fish! Another is a solid orange clown fish, lacking the familiar white stripes, that is called the False Naked Percula.
  
• Maroon Complex:
  Some clown fish with prominent band patterns include those from the Maroon Complex. There are just two fish in this complex available to hobbyists and they are perhaps some of the most gorgeous. These are the Maroon Clownfish Premnas biaculeatus and a striking variety called the Gold Striped Maroon Clownfish. Also identified as the 'white-striped' Maroon or the 'Yellow-striped' Maroon because of the color of their stripes.
• Clarkii Complex:
  Another group with prominent band patterns. The Clarkii Complex comes the popular and hardy Clark's Anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii, also known as the Clarki Clownfish or Banded Clownfish. Another favorite that is occasionally available is the the Allard's Clownfish Amphiprion allardi along with the Two-Bar Anemonefish Amphiprion bicinctus, also known as the Two-Band Anemonefish or the Red Sea Clownfish. There is also the Oman Anemonefish Amphiprion omanensis, a handsome fish but a rare find in the hobby.
• Saddleback Complex:
  Some of the most distinguished looking clown fish are in the Saddleback Complex, which of course includes the Saddleback Anemonefish Amphiprion polymnus. It also includes the Wide Band Anemonefish Amphiprion latezonatus also known as the Lord Howe Clownfish, along with the popular Sebae Clownfish Amphiprion sebae. People often ask for the Sebae Clownfish for inclusion in a reef aquarium. This is because of its name, in people's minds it is associated with the Sebae Anemone.
• Tomato Complex:
  A few other regulars without much patterning include some of those from the Tomato Complex. The two most often seen are the Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus and its darker cousin the Cinnamon Clown Amphiprion melanopus. The Cinnamon Clown, also known as the Red and Black CLownfish, is sometimes also referred to as the Black Clownfish. These two clown fish have just one white band located behind the eye.
• Skunk Complex:
  Clownfish from the Skunk Complex are a bit more unique looking. The Pink Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion perideraion is another easily obtainable clown, and occasionally the Orange Skunk Clown Amphiprion sandarcinos can be had. The Skunk Clowns are easily identified. They have a white 'skunk' type stripe running along the entire length of their back.

Tips for Keeping ClownFish:
   Unless you have a very large tank it’s best to keep only one clownfish, or one mated pair per tank, as they can be very aggressive towards other clownfish species. However, clown fish vary not only in their personalities, but also in their level of care. Many species are very hardy and make great fish for a beginning aquarist, but there are a few that are somewhat more delicate.
  Clown fish species that are most suitable for a beginners are hardy and easy to obtain. These include the peaceful Skunk Clownfish and the mild-mannered Ocellaris Clowns. The Tomato and Cinnamon Clowns, along with the Clark's Anemonefish, are also very hardy and readily available but they are a bit more territorial. Though the Maroon Clownfish are hardy and commonly available, they are aggressive and have no tolerance for other Maroon clowns.
  Clownfish species that would not be ideal for beginners include the Percula Clowns. Though these are the smallest species of clown fish, they are another of the more costly species. They will also require more attention to water quality than the hardier varieties. There are a few varieties a new aquarist will want to avoid because they stress easily and acclimate slowly to the aquarium. These include the Sebae Clownfish, the Saddleback Anemonefish, and the Wide-Band Anemonefish.

Clown Fish Habitat:
   Clownfish are very hardy and will do well in most saltwater aquariums. A minimum 20 gallon aquarium is suggested for the small to medium species, the larger species will do better with a minimum of 30 gallons. Provide good filtration to maintain water quality and a stable environment. Salinity levels should provide a specific gravity range between 1.020 to 1.026, with water temperatures between 75 - 82° F (24 - 28° C). The clown fish have no special lighting requirements, though if kept in a reef environment the other inhabitants will need very strong light. Include rock structures and other decor for hiding along with plenty of open space for swimming.
   For more information see Saltwater Fish Tanks.
   In a reef environment you can provide a host anemene. But you must have a healthy system to keep up with the nutrient requirement of the corals and invertebrate inhabitants. Reef aquariums will do best with the addition of some specialized equipment to provide good water movement, strong lighting, and excellent filtration. A protein skimmer is a great thing to have, as well as lots of live rock and live sand. Beneficial bacteria will populate the sand and rock and help keep the water clean. Regular water changes are very important because they replace important trace elements that the fish and corals use up, like calcium, magnesium, strontium and iodine. Doing 15% water changes twice a month will go a long ways towards keeping your aquarium healthy and happy.
   For more information see Reef Tanks.

What Do Clownfish Eat?:
   There is very little concern in knowing what to feed a clown fish. Clownfish are opportunistic eaters. In captivity they will eat almost everything that it is offered. They will readily consume all types of meaty and vegetable foods. Ideally you should provide them with a good variety of live, frozen, and flake foods. These can include such foods as mysis and brine shrimp, spirulina flakes, bloodworms, krill and other finely chopped meaty foods.
   Feed your clown fish at least once a day. A rule of thumb when feeding once a day is to feed them what they will eat in about five minutes. It is okay to feed the fish more than once a day, with two or three feedings, but then only feed them only what they will consume in about three minutes. If you feed large pieces of meaty food, you can watch the clown fish grab the chunks, and then deposit them into the anemone

Social Behaviors:
   There are many different kinds of clown fish, and each type has a different personality.  Maroon Clownfish are notorious for their aggression toward tank mates, with Tomato and Cinnonmon Clownfish being moderately aggressive. Percula clown fish also tend to be somewhat aggressive. Most of the other clowns tending to be more moderate. The Ocellaris clown is notably mild-mannered and the Skunk clowns, which tend towards shyness and can actually be dominated by aggressive tank mates.
   Whether clown fish live with a host anemone or have a substitute host, they can become very territorial. They will vigorously protect the host against intruders. Luckily, their aggression is usually limited to the immediate area around the host, so they’re not a threat to other fish or invertebrates.

Clown Fish and Sea Anemone:
   Clown fish range in size, from the smallest Percula Clown at about 2.5" (6 cm) to the Maroon Clownfish reaching up to about 6.3" (16 cm) in length. Depending on species they can live five years or more with proper care. In nature, clown fish live in symbiosis with certain anemones. This is where they live together and each provides a benefit to the other.
   In the aquarium you may or may not provide an anemone for your clown fish. They will readily adapt either way and frequently use a coral, other invertebrate, or a rock structure as a substitute if there is no anemone available. Clownfish help their host by vigorously chasing off any intruders, cleaning it, and even feeding it. In return the host anemone will protect the clown fish with its stinging tentacles. Tentacles that only clown fish are immune to.
   Anemones need lots of light (2 to 5 watts per gallon) preferably with some blue spectrum provided by actinic light bulbs or higher temperature metal halide lighting. In nature many clown fish will live with the same anemone. Only one clown will be dominant, it will be a female and the rest will be male. Usually in the aquarium though, there will be only one pair per anemone.
   Host anemones are listed in the description of each clownfish. These are the anemones the fish are found with in nature, but many clownfish will readily adopt other types of anemones in the aquarium. For information on which anemones to purchase, please read the section on Anemones.

Saddleback Anemonefish with a Saddle Anemone Amphiprion polymnus, Stichodactyla haddoni Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

Breeding Clown fish:
   Mated clownfish pairs will reproduce in captivity. These fish are dimorphic, with the females of most species being larger than the males. A pair will need good water quality and stable conditions for several months to a year before they will spawn. Once they have started spawning they will often continue to lay eggs at regular intervals.

   A stable aquarium is the key. Baby clown fish will need to be raised in a separate aquarium, as corals and other fish will consume the new fry within just a few hours.
   See Breeding Marine Fish for information on reproductive habits and how to breed clownfish.

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