How to Take Care of Clownfish in an Aquarium

by George Mavrakis on May 06, 2021

Following the release of the iconic computer-animated film "Finding Nemo" in 2003, the clownfish became a well-known. Following this, a large number of children expressed an interest in owning the Nemo fish. The film, of course, is against keeping fish in captivity, which adds to the irony. The biggest reason for caution, though, is that clownfish are difficult to care for, and the decision to keep one should not be taken lightly. Let's take a deeper look into the clownfish to truly understand how difficult they are to care for. 

 

What's a ClownFish?

The clownfish is a type of marine fish, making them one of the most difficult to take care of. You need to be able to provide them the correct salt water composition as the ocean, as well as, keep the water a warm temperature. This makes them tough starter fish for beginners in the aquarium hobby. They require a tank that is no smaller than 30 gallons, great circulation, temperature should be between 24˚C - 27˚C, ph 8.0-8.4 and salinity at 1.020-1.024. 

Nemo may also not be as friendly with other clownfish in the same tank, which could result in some fighting. Our recommendation is to either introduce them at the same time or give them plenty of space so they're not as crowded in the tank. Two clownfish of different genders works best together and they may even mate.

 

What Aquarium Equipment Do You Need?

In order to upkeep clownfish you'll need a filtration system, a substrate of aragonite, salinity hydrometer and test kits for nitrate, nitrite, ammo, ia and pH. We have all of these products on our store so feel free to take a look here.

 

What Food Do ClownFish Eat?

Clownfish are omnivores which means they'll eat most foods you give them. If you really want to keep them happy, a varied diet is your best bet. Feed them marine flake food 3-4 times a day and you should be good.

 

Anemones

Anemones are a clownfish's best friend in the wild, as they help protect them from various things, yet they can be tricky to keep up in an aquarium. If you have farmed clownfish, you won't need any anemone, as long as your tank has plenty of cover. 

 

If you need any more help taking care of clownfish, George talks about this on his youtube channel. All the products needed to have your own clownfish are available here on our store