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Home > Amphiprion ocellaris
Cairns Marine

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Amphiprion ocellaris


Diet: omnivore
Light Requirements: Medium
Habitat Type:
Tank Size: 100 litres
Behaviour:

Clownfish

Intro

The False Clown Anemonefish is probably one of the most well known marine fish worldwide due to its similarity to A. percula the true "Nemo". More False Clowns are sold as Nemo than the true species found on the GBR.
Popular around the world this is possibly the most commonly kept clown species worldwide.

Across the majority of its range its colour is the standard orange and white stripes with fine black lines but in the vicinity of Darwin , Australia a rare Black and White only form can be found.
Whilst the Black form is not common in the wild, nor commonly collected due to the dangers of collecting in crocodile country, captive bred specimens are readily available and make an excellent choice for the home aquarium
Juveniles of this form often show some orange colouration but with age and maturity all orange gradually fades with the last remnants to go being on the nose.

With a maximum size of about 9cm for females and slightly less for males this is one of the smallest clown species.In the wild False Clowns can be found from ankle deep water at the reef top
down to a depth of about 15 metres.Depth distribution is determined by how deep its hosts will live.
In the aquarium it is an ideal centre piece for the intermediate aquarists pride and joy.
For many people it symbolises what they find amazing about coral reefs -symbiosis. Here is a creature that eats fish and is also a home to one. Of the many examples of symbiosis on corals reefs around the world this is the most visual of them
and one that can be enjoyed in the home aquarium.

Care and husbandry

Suitable for most tank types these are a reef safe choice. Only tanks with fish that would consider them as food are not suitable as are tanks housing other species of clownfish.
As with most clowns although a group structure is often present in the wild only pairs should be kept in all but the largest aquaria.
For a list of anemonefish and their prefered host anemone species -see our compatability list here -(insert link)

Tips

Don't try and introduce your anemone and clownfish at the same time. Purchase your anemone first and allow a couple of weeks for it to settle in and find a home before adding your clowns.
Don't be surprised if your anemone fish doesn't race straight into the waiting arms of your anemone.Anemones CAN sting clownfish if they are forced to settle in too quickly.
Always consider the mix of fish in aquaria that house anemones as some such as Butterflys (Family Chaetodontidae) actually eat anemones as part of their diet.

It is not uncommon for this species to shun anemones in the home aquarium choosing insteda to swim in midwater...usually in the spot they know the food is dropped in. Just as often they will choose a coral species to associate with more often than not one of the strongly stinging species.
One apparent side effect of hosting in these non typical hosts is they tendency for colouration to darken exhibiting far more black on the body.