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Reef Fish Guide designation and why
Take it home
Clownfish are the most successfully bred fish in captivity, making a captive-bred choice fairly common at most retailers. Clownfish are easily and gently caught but many suffer or die from the processes of handling, transport, and difficulties in acclimation (in particular, P. biaculeatus)—yet another reason to seek out captive-red specimens.
Clownfish (also called anemonefish) are known for their bold and bright color patterns, comical behavior, and ability to thrive in captivity. Due to their various virtues, these fish are great for beginning aquarists but are also seen in the tanks of some of the most developed and advanced aquariums. The most defining characteristic of clownfish is their symbiotic relationship with certain species of anemones; in the wild they are never found far from their home anemone. However, please do not purchase a sea anemone for your clownfish unless you have the appropriate lighting, filtration and experience to properly care for it. Clownfish do not require a sea anemone to do well in the home aquarium. As a matter of fact, a captive-raised specimen has likely never even been near a sea anemone.
Distribution
Found throughout the Indo Pacific and Western Pacific, and many of the ones captured for trade are from the Philippines.
Maximum Size
Some clownfish can grow up to 6 inches in the wild, but they generally range from 3.1 – 5.5 inches (8 – 14 cm). When you are choosing from the captive-bred species for your aquarium, the optimum minimum size is about 3/4 inch; younger and smaller individuals adapt better to tank conditions.
Care Requirements
Minimum tank size is from 20 to 30 gallons depending on size of fish. In the wild, clownfish use their host sea anemone for protection and will lay their eggs at the base of the anemone. Providing the clownfish with good hiding spaces to retreat to (rock, artificial coral, artificial anemone, etc.) will act as an excellent substitute.
Food: In the wild clownfish eat zooplankton and some algal matter. In captivity they readily consume dry, prepared, freeze-dried, frozen, live, and fresh foods about twice a day.
Compatibility: Most of these clownfish are non-aggressive and ideal for reef aquariums and compatible with nearly all other species of fish. Because clownfish are territorial with their host anemone, only one, or one mated pair, should be kept in an aquarium set up with an anemone. For the most part clownfish are non-predatory but an occasional specimen may wallow in the polyps of large-polyped stony corals, which could irritate the polyps and cause them to close. Sometimes they may eat small, ornamental shrimps.
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