What the Clownfish Needs in Captivity

Clownfish are endowed with striking color and an intriguing demeanor, making them among the most popular and visually appealing of all marine aquarium fish. Meeting the basic needs of a pet clownfish is not difficult and will help ensure that it lives a long and healthy life within your aquarium. By carefully following a few clownfish-specific considerations in regard to diet and habitat, you can will provide a safe and inviting environment for your aquarium pet.

  1. Habitat

    • Small and medium varieties of clownfish require at least a 20-gallon saltwater aquarium. For larger species, you'll need at least a 30-gallon tank. Maintain salinity at a specific gravity -- or relative density -- of 1.020 to 1.026 (in other words, 1.02 times as dense as water). Temperature should range from 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Employ a good filtration system in your aquarium, but replace 15 percent of the water twice a month to to boost beneficial elements the clownfish requires, such as minerals. Place rock or coral structures in the in the tank to provide hiding places for your clownfish, but also ensure that the tank has unobstructed areas where the fish can swim freely.

    Food

    • Clownfish aren't picky eaters. Any type of vegetable or meaty food is suitable for clownfish consumption. Provide a variety of frozen, live and flake foods for best results. Some finely chopped meaty foods that clownfish enjoy are shrimp, bloodworms, krill and spirulina flakes. In gauging how much to feed your clownfish, observe him during feedings. If you feed your clownfish once per day, he should finish the food in about five minutes. Feeding your clownfish two or three times daily is also acceptable, but reduce the amount of food to what he will consume in three minutes.

    Social Considerations

    • Clownfish can be extremely territorial and aggressive toward others, including other clownfish. If you're new to the world of tropical fish, or if you have a small tank, it's best to keep a single clownfish or a mated pair. Species like the Ocellaris Clown and the Skunk Clownfish are relatively docile and will adapt easily to their environments. Unless you're experienced as an aquarium hobbyist, avoid species like the Percula Clown, Wide-Band Anemonefish, Sebae Clownfish and Saddleback Anemonefish. These fish are easily stressed and not easily acclimated to a new aquarium.

    Anemones

    • In the wild, clownfish have a symbiotic relationship with anemones; each of these sea creatures provides benefits to the other. Life is different within an aquarium. A captive clownfish will readily adapt to an environment without an anemone, so long as he has access to another structure. Although anemones can add visual appeal to your tank, they are difficult to care for and potentially dangerous to your fish. A dying anemone releases toxins into the water that can destroy the life in your tank. Unless you have extensive experience as an aquarium hobbyist, it's best to stay away.