CLOWN FISH Care Sheet
(Amphiprion ocellaris)
SIZE: Can grow up to 8cm.
RANGE: Indo-Pacific.
TEMPERATURE: 25oC.
WATER: Clown fish require good quality water, ensure their aquarium has a filter and airstone, both operating vigorously.
• This is a tropical marine species requiring seawater
• pH 8.2 (use KH-up if there is a need to increase pH)
• Specific Gravity: 1.020
• Change approximately 25% fortnightly
FOOD: Staple diet should be dry foods, supplemented with live and frozen.
COLOUR: A.ocellaris is usually bright orange with white bands. The black and white colour form occurs naturally around Darwin and is currently thought to be a geographical race. Juvenile black and white clowns retain the orange/brown colour until they reach adulthood, at about 5cm. Caramel clowns are orange and white as juveniles, gradually developing a rich orange/caramel top half as they mature.
LIFESPAN: Lives up to 10 years or more.
SEXING: In the absence of females, male clown fish will change sex by growing larger and becoming female. As a general rule, the largest adults are female and the smallest are males.
COMMON NAMES: Clown fish in nature live in close association with sea anemones and are therefore also refereed to as Anemone fish.
WHAT YOU NEED WHEN STARTING UP A CLOWN FISH TANK:
• Tank (Best in 50 litres or more)
• Air pump
• Hydrometer & Thermometer
• Decorations or hiding places
• Aquarium heater
• Biological filter & airstone
• Aquarium light
• Artificial sea salt or natural sea water
• An anti-chlorine agent (to ensure water is chlorine free)
• Shell grit or other marine substrate
• Test Kits
NITROGEN CYCLE/BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION
We recommend waiting at least 2 days after establishing the tank before introducing any Clown Fish. Keep stocking densities low during the conditioning period, which can take between 3-6 weeks. During this time, monitor the progress of your system by measuring pH, ammonia and nitrite levels. When filters are biologically active test for nitrates, and perform regular partial water changes to keep nitrate levels to a minimum.
COMPATIBILITY
Ocellaris clowns become territorial at about 5cm. Once they reach this size, it’s best to keep no more than one pair per tank and only pack one per bag when moving them. Juveniles are very compatible with each other, swimming and feeding together in compact schools.
AQUARIUM BRED
All our Ocellaris clowns are aquarium bred in Australia, resulting in parasite free fish that are easy to acclimatize and feed. At 4cm they are approximately 6 months old. They make ideal marine aquarium inhabitants, are easy to keep and are very long lived.
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