Ocellaris Clownfish

Amphiprion ocellaris

Clownfish wear a special mucus that protects them from anemone stings – give them an anemone and watch them snuggle in.

A semi-aggressive saltwater fish that grows to 9 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–28 °C, pH 7.9–8.5 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

7.9–8.5

Adult size

9 cm (3.5 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Indo-Pacific reefs

Good to know

• Anemone host. Much happier with an anemone to live in.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Harlequin Shrimp, Mandarin Dragonet, Neon Goby, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Yellow Watchman Goby.

Eaten by: Clown Triggerfish, Lantern Anglerfish, Lionfish, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Banggai Cardinalfish, Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Neon Goby, Royal Gramma, Seahorse, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Its fry are eaten by: Banggai Cardinalfish, Emperor Angelfish, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Leafy Seadragon, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Porcupine Puffer, Psychedelic Frogfish, Royal Gramma, Six-Line Wrasse and 2 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Ocellaris uncommon
• Black Ocellaris uncommon
• Snowflake rare
• Picasso rare
• Platinum epic

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Ocellaris × Snowflake can give Picasso
• Snowflake × Picasso can give Platinum

Now and then a rare mutation shows up: Platinum.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.