When it comes to popular marine fish, the Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellaris) is the undisputed king. It shares its title with the Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula), as to most people they are completely the same. Both ocellaris and percula clowns are the best ambassadors of the marine aquarium hobby. Most people would think that this is because of the hit animated movie, Finding Nemo. They don’t realize that these clownfish were already popular before the movie was released.
The ocellaris clownfish is a staple in the hobby. Largely collected from their natural habitats in Southeast Asia, they are the most abundant ornamental marine fish at the moment. Walk into any saltwater pet store and you’ll find at least one ocellaris for sale. They are also widely bred in captivity with tank-raised ocellaris at a slightly higher price than wild-caught specimens.
The Ocellaris clownfish is completely orange with three white bands (outlined with black) around the head, body, and near the tail. To the untrained eye, both ocellaris and percula look exactly the same. However, they are both slightly different physically. The Percula clownfish has 10 dorsal spines, while the ocellaris has 11. Fortunately, there is an easier method to tell them apart. The Percula clownfish has thicker and more pronounced black outlines, while those of the ocelaris are always thin.
One of the cheapest marine fish you can buy, with specimens costing as little as $10. A few dollars more can buy a specimen raised in a tank. If you have the option, never choose wild-caught specimens, as those raised in tanks are generally hardier and better suited to the aquarium.
Ocellaris clowns are also known as the false clown clownfish and the false clown percula. They are called clown fish because they share a symbiosis with anemones. They have figured out how to escape the powerful sting of anemones, it is believed that they have a layer of mucus on their bodies that tricks the anemone into thinking there is nothing there. Anemones are not required even though clownfish require one in the wild.
Generally peaceful, these Clownfish get along with a wide variety of tankmates. However, they do not get along with other species of clownfish, especially those outside of their species. There are three routes you can take when looking for a partner:
*Buy a pair of mate
* Get one big and one small, present them together and pray they pair up
* Buy two little ones and put them together, eventually one will dominate the other and become a female, mating in the process
I can’t guarantee that option 2 or 3 will work 100% of the time.
Reaching a maximum of 3 inches in length, they are considered a minnow. All clownfish are site-adherent, meaning they are generally around their territory (a small area) most of the time. Their territory can be anything from a pile of rocks to an anemone. Ocellaris harbor mushroom corals and elegance when an anemone is not available. They can be housed in aquariums as small as 20 gallons due to this behavior.
These fish are very easy to feed because they will eat almost anything. While they are omnivorous in nature, they do consume meat and algae-based foods in the aquarium. A wide variety of foods should be given. Prime Reef, Formula One, and Formula Two are good dry foods to offer. Formula Two has an additional amount of algea mixed with shellfish, while Prime Reef is made up primarily of shellfish.
The best pellet foods on the market are those made by New Life Spectrum. Throw in some frozen foods like mysis shrimp or krill and they’ll be very happy.
Overall, the ocellaris clownfish is a hardy fish that is an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned hobbyists.
