How to Raise & Breed Clown Fish

Saltwater tropical fish are more difficult to breed in an aquarium than freshwater fish. Clownfish, with their distinctive bright white stripes, are easier than most, but raising the fry is still a complex operation. Also known as clown anemone fish, clownfish have a symbiotic relationship with anemones. A layer of mucus on the clownfish's body makes it immune to the anemone's normally lethal sting. The clownfish reside and spawn on the anemones, which keep predators away. In return, the clownfish preen the anemone and keep parasites off. In captivity, clownfish will spawn on the rocks beneath an anemone.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding tank
  • Coral sand
  • Live rocks
  • Anemone
  • Heaters
  • Filters
  • Lights
  • Bubblers
  • Breeding stock
  • Hatching and rearing tank
  • Airstone
  • Rotifers and tank
  • Brine shrimp and tank
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare the tank. Clownfish are more likely to spawn in an atmosphere in which they feel at ease. The minimum size tank should be at least 26 gallons in capacity. Add a layer of coral sand and some natural marine rocks or live rock. The live rock, a protein skimmer, and a trickle filter will keep the water free from ammonia, and organics and the nitrites low. Place an anemone for spawning in the bottom of the tank. Set the lighting cycle to emulate day and night.

    • 2

      Obtain your breeding stock. A pair that is already mated will be the quickest to spawn. If you are unable to obtain a mated pair, the next best option is to purchase a group of clownfish and wait for them to pair off. All clownfish are born males and can change to female when they pair off to breed.

    • 3

      Feed your breeding pair. Clownfish do best on fresh raw seafood mixed with vegetables. Crush the food and feed the fish at regular intervals. Do not feed too much at once, as the fish will store the excess food in the anemone, which could contaminate the water. Well-fed clownfish will produce strong, healthy eggs.

    • 4

      Watch for spawning behavior. The male will parade up and down in front of the female and dance around. The fish will start to clean a place on a rock under the anemone and the genital tubes of both fish will appear. The female deposits a row of capsule-shaped eggs and the male follows and fertilizes them. The laying process can take a few hours and she may lay as many as 600 eggs.

    • 5

      Purchase rotifers and learn how to keep and breed them, These are micro-organisms and must be fed live to the clownfish larvae. Purchase brine shrimp. Brine shrimp hatchlings must also be kept to feed to the fry. The suppliers will give you directions on keeping them alive and hatching more.

    • 6

      Watch the eggs. When they become silver, they are about to hatch; this takes about seven to nine days. Transfer the eggs on the rock. Scoop some of the water with the eggs and transfer it to a larval rearing tank with more of the water from the original tank. Water that is different in any way, including temperature will kill the eggs. Place airstones in the bottom of the breeding tank to make air bubble through the eggs. Ideally, this tank should be round, with a capacity of 12 1/2 to 40 gallons.

    • 7

      Feed the clownfish larvae with rotifers. This is the most difficult and crucial phase of clownfish breeding. It is essential to keep a constant supply of live rotifers or micro-organisms in the water for the fry to eat without turning the water green. After a week, feed newly hatched brine shrimp to the clownfish fry. You must clean and replace the water regularly at this stage and you must remove dead fry from the tank every day.

    • 8

      Watch for metamorphosis. This will occur around 14 days after the fry hatch. Some of your hatchlings will not survive this process. Well-fed fry with a constant supply of clean water are more likely to survive. After this process, your clownfish will begin to take on the adult colors and will swim more like adults. At this stage, the juvenile clownfish are more likely to survive and grow to adulthood.