Clownfish Orange & White - Small

This is a saltwater fish. Ideal water conditions include a temperature between 24–26°C, a pH of 8.2, and a specific gravity of 1.020. It is recommended to perform a 25% water change every 2–4 weeks to help maintain stable water quality. A staple diet of quality dry foods should be provided, supplemented with live and frozen foods for variety and nutrition.

Ocellaris clownfish become territorial once they reach around 5cm in size. At this stage, it is best to keep only one pair per tank and to pack only one pair per bag when transporting them. Juveniles are generally very compatible with one another and will often swim and feed together in compact schools. In the absence of a female, a dominant male clownfish can change sex by growing larger and becoming female. As a general rule, the largest adult is the female, while the smaller fish are males.

This clownfish variety is usually bright orange with white bands. The black and white colour form occurs naturally around Darwin and is currently believed to be a geographical race. Juvenile black and white clownfish retain their orange-brown colouration until they mature at around 5cm. Caramel clownfish begin as orange and white juveniles and gradually develop a rich caramel-orange upper body as they mature.

If you are wanting to set up an aquarium for clownfish, especially as they have become extremely popular following the famous Finding Nemo movie, you will require the following equipment:

• Aquarium (best in 50 litres or larger)
• Air pump
• Hydrometer and thermometer
• Decorations or hiding places
• Aquarium heater
• Biological filter and airstone
• Aquarium light
• Artificial sea salt or natural seawater
• Anti-chlorine/water conditioner
• Shell grit or other marine substrate
• Test kits (ammonia, marine pH, hardness, etc.)

We recommend waiting at least 2 days after establishing the aquarium before introducing any clownfish. Always ensure your water parameters are stable and correct before adding fish. Keep stocking densities low during the conditioning period, which can take between 3–6 weeks. During this time, monitor the aquarium closely by testing pH, ammonia, and nitrite levels regularly. Once the biological filter becomes active, test for nitrates and continue performing regular partial water changes to maintain low nitrate levels.