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    Clownfish

    Ocellaris clownfish

    Amphiprion ocellaris

    Also sold as False percula clownfish, Common clownfish

    Good first fish

    Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
    Photo: Ritiks, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Care level
    Beginner
    Adult size
    10.8 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    76 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    With corals
    Reef safe
    Captive-bred
    Widely sold captive-bred
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
    Show volumes in

    How do you care for the ocellaris clownfish?

    Peaceful (LiveAquaria); some designer morph pages say semi-aggressive. Pairs guard a territory and eggs. typical, check

    Feeding

    Omnivore; takes pellets, flake, frozen meaty and plant-based foods readily.

    Eager feeder; one of the few species that reliably takes dry food from day one when captive-bred (I from retailer notes).

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 76 litres of water (the care sheet says 20 US gallons).

    No anemone needed. Will often adopt a coral, powerhead corner or rock instead.

    Corals and invertebrates

    Nothing significant; may host in and irritate corals such as LPS when no anemone is present.

    Which tankmates suit the ocellaris clownfish?

    Keep a pair or a single fish. Add two juveniles together and the larger becomes female. Do not mix clownfish species in most home tanks (consensus of retailer notes). Fine with most peaceful community fish.

    Suggested order in a mixed tank: add early, with the first peaceful fish.

    More than one ocellaris clownfish

    Only as a mated pair, or two juveniles added together. A third ocellaris clownfish is usually driven out.

    Other fish

    Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

    Avoid together (4)

    • Percula clownfishBoth are Amphiprion; close relatives defend the same space and food.
    • Clark's anemonefishBoth are Amphiprion; close relatives defend the same space and food.
    • Tomato clownfishBoth are Amphiprion; close relatives defend the same space and food.
    • Maroon clownfishDo not mix clownfish species in a home tank; they fight over territory. Maroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the ocellaris clownfish, especially if the bully is added first.

    Take care (2)

    • Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the ocellaris clownfish, especially if the bully is added first.
    • Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the ocellaris clownfish, especially if the bully is added first.
    Usually fine together (53)

    Invertebrates

    Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (2)

    • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
    • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

    Corals and anemones

    Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (1)

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Quarantine and health

    Wild clownfish are commonly reported with Brooklynella (clownfish disease), which can kill within days; formalin baths are the usual hobby treatment (forum consensus, anecdotal). Captive-bred fish carry less risk but still quarantine. Clownfish tolerate copper reasonably well per one retailer guide. typical, check

    New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

    Captive-bred or wild?

    Widely available captive-bred (ORA, TMC, Biota and many European farms); many designer strains. Buy captive-bred.

    Designer strains

    Trade names (Snowflake, Platinum, Black Storm, Picasso, Misbar, Mocha, Black and White) are breeder labels, not taxa; names change as new crosses appear. A 2022 Frontiers in Marine Science study found Picasso and Platinum fish matched A. percula by morphology and COI sequence, so some strains sold as ocellaris lineage may be percula: check the breeder. Platinum came from selective breeding of Picasso; Picasso also occurs rarely in the wild (ORA via BRS). typical, check

    Where sources disagree

    Where sources disagree
    TopicWhat sources sayOur reading
    Copper treatment
    • A retailer guide says clownfish tolerate copper.
    • Forum reports describe clownfish losses on copper.
    		Copper works but is risky; dose with a test kit and watch the fish.

    Other minimum tank sizes we found:

    What does it cost in the UK?

    £18 to £54 single; pairs £52 to £100. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day. Single UK retailer snapshot, all items shown sold out; pages 1 to 6 checked.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats, breeding.
    2. Frontiers in Marine Science paperRead 21 October 2026, search summary only. Used for: designer strain genetics.
    3. Bulk Reef Supply (US retailer) articleRead 21 October 2026, search summary only. Used for: ORA strain lineage.
    4. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.
    5. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.

    Last checked . How we check

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    Percula clownfish

    Amphiprion percula

    Good first fish

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    8 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Mostly peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo CrisisRose, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Clark's anemonefish

    Amphiprion clarkii

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    15 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Semi-aggressive
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Tomato clownfish

    Amphiprion frenatus

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    13 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Semi-aggressive
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Maroon clownfish

    Premnas biaculeatus

    Care
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    15 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Aggressive
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Bernard Dupont, CC BY-SA 2.0