Ocellaris (Common) Clownfish
Ocellaris (Common) Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris - Also know as a false percula clown, or Nemo! These make an almost perfect beginner's fish for the community FO (fish only) marine tank, or the reef tank, large or small. Unlike the maroon clown, this is a small species that will stay small (they don't get much bigger than 3-4") and can be kept in a tank as small as 10 gallons in size (these are considered "nano"). They also have other good qualities. Unlike other clowns, they are not too quarrelsome, either with their own species or each other. They can be kept in small groups if they grow up together and will not try to kill other clowns, unlike more aggressive species (such as the tomato clown, which would attack a peaceful clown such as the false perc and try to kill it). They are hardy and will tolerate a wide range of marine conditions, within reason of course. And they are brightly colored and lastly, not hard to feed. Clowns can host in an anemone in a reef tank, but one is not required to keep an ocellaris clown alive and happy for a long time.