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    Clownfish

    Percula clownfish

    Amphiprion percula

    Also sold as True percula clownfish, Orange clownfish

    Good first fish

    Percula clownfish (Amphiprion percula), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
    Photo: CrisisRose, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Care level
    Beginner
    Adult size
    7.6 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Mostly peaceful
    With corals
    Reef safe
    Captive-bred
    Widely sold captive-bred
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
    Show volumes in

    How do you care for the percula clownfish?

    Semi-aggressive (LiveAquaria); females more so once paired.

    Feeding

    Omnivore; varied meaty and algae-based foods.

    Wild fish can be slow to settle and start eating; captive-bred fish feed readily (LiveAquaria).

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 114 litres of water (the care sheet says 30 US gallons). FishBase records wild fish up to 11 cm (total length); aquarium fish usually stay nearer 7.6 cm.

    Live rock with caves; no anemone needed.

    Why this care level

    LiveAquaria rates moderate and says it is less hardy than ocellaris; captive-bred percula is usually as easy as ocellaris.

    Corals and invertebrates

    None reported.

    Which tankmates suit the percula clownfish?

    As ocellaris. Often confused with ocellaris at sale; check the label.

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

    More than one percula clownfish

    Only as a mated pair, or two juveniles added together. A third percula 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)

    Usually fine together (55)

    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

    As ocellaris (Brooklynella risk in wild fish).

    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 captive-bred, including Picasso, Platinum and Black percula strains.

    Where sources disagree

    Other minimum tank sizes we found:

    • Ocellaris is listed at 20 gal by the same retailer; the difference reflects hardiness, not size.

    What does it cost in the UK?

    £19 single; £125 pair. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day. Pair price from page 4.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats, cautions.
    2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.
    3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.
    4. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK pair price.

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    Ocellaris clownfish

    Amphiprion ocellaris

    Good first fish

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    11 cm
    Tank from
    76 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Ritiks, 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