

Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Most species in the aquarium trade are Ocellaris clownfish, but there are some other species you can find. Types of ClownfishĬlownfish come in a huge range of color morphs, all of which can look phenomenal in a reef tank. The True Percula Anemonefish, on the other hand, is the smallest species and reaches around 2.8 to 3.1 inches in length. The largest species of anemonefish is the Gold Stripe Maroon Anemonefish, which can grow up to 6 inches. Gold Stripe Maroon Anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus)Ĭlownfish are a relatively small reef fish, with most reaching lengths of roughly 4.3 inches.Gold Nugget Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus).True Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion percula).Misbar Percula Anemone Fish (Amphiprion percula).Platinum Percula Anemonefish (Amphiprion percula).Picasso Percula Fish Clown (Amphiprion percula).Frostbite Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Misbar Black and White Anemone Fish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Black Ice Anemone Fish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Black Snowflake Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Snowflake Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Misbar Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris).Caramel Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris).There are many color morphs of the anemonefish, but below are some of the most popular ones you’ll come across in the aquarium pet trade. My pair of clownfish are both orange clownfish with white bands, but I personally love black clown anemonefish with white stripes as they look stunning among live plants and sea anemones. The majority of clownfish are a bright orange color with white stripes and thick black bands, but some varieties can be grey, black, red, or yellow. If the female clownfish dies, the breeding male will begin to gain weight and turn into a female. The other fish in the community are sexually immature males. One dominant female clownfish mate only with the breeding male in a group, which is normally the most aggressive and second largest male. This is known as sequential hermaphroditism. If the female of the group dies, the dominant reproductive male will turn permanently into a female, and the largest fish among the smaller males will become the next dominant male. They are all born male but are able to change sex to become the dominant female in a group. How Do You Tell If They Are Male or Female?Ĭlownfish can be a little difficult to sex, but female anemonefish are normally larger than males.ĭid you know that clownfish carry both male and female sex organs? This makes them easily overpowered by strong currents or powerful filters. False Percula Clownfishįalse Percula or false clownfish have 11 spines on their dorsal fins, while True Percula clownfish have 10 spines.Ĭlownfish have a rounded caudal fin, which restricts their swimming ability. They have long bodies and a small dip in their dorsal fin, which makes them look like they have two fins. However, their base coloration can also be black, grey, red, or yellow. Here are traits to look out for… Physical AppearanceĬlownfish are normally bright orange in color with 3 white bands or stripes: one on the middle of their body, one behind their gills, and one at the bottom of their caudal fin. You might be already familiar with the usual bright orange and white coloration.īut some types might have different features than the usual. It provides them with shelter and protection. What benefit does the sea anemone offer to clownfish? The clownfish’s bright coloration also attracts other fish to the sea anemone so it can feed. The clownfish helps clean its sea anemone by eating algae from its tentacles, protects it from polyp-eating fish like the butterfly fish, and provides nutrients in the form of waste. They are normally seen in pairs and live in host anemones, with which they have a unique relationship with. Natural Habitat – Where Do Clownfish Live?Ĭlown anemonefish are found in shallow lagoons or sheltered reefs at the bottom of the ocean.

This has caused the clownfish population to rapidly decline in coral reef systems, and even localized extinction in certain areas, including the Philippines, parts of Sri Lanka, and parts of Thailand. It’s estimated that over 1 million clownfish are harvested from coral reef systems each year – 400,000 of these fish are sent to the United States alone. In fact, following the success of Finding Nemo, the demand for clownfish almost tripled.Ĭlownfish make up 43% of the global marine ornamental trade and the conservation status of this species is currently unknown. Their blue friend Dory, on the other hand, is a surgeonfish.

Pixar films Finding Nemo and Finding Dory both feature Ocellaris clownfish called Nemo and Marlin.
