Amphiprion ocellaris is perhaps the world's most famous saltwater aquarium fish. Many know it simply as "Nemo," but thanks to aquarium breeding, the classic orange-and-white wild type is now just one of numerous different Ocellaris color morphs.
The wild type has a bright orange base color and three white crossbands, which are usually bordered by a thin black line. The species very closely resembles Amphiprion percula, and the two are still often confused with each other.
The Amphiprion ocellaris clownfish sold at Korallifarmi are always captive-bred, not wild-caught. Ocellaris was also one of the first saltwater aquarium fish to be successfully bred commercially on a large scale. A long breeding history has also enabled a large number of different color and pattern varieties.
Pairing and behavior
Ocellaris should be kept individually or, preferably, in pairs. Clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites: the larger, dominant fish of the pair is the female and the smaller one is the male. If the female disappears, the male can change sex and develop into a female. The sex change works only in this direction; a female will not turn back into a male.
The Ocellaris is among the more peaceful clownfish, but it is not always completely docile. A pair will usually choose its own territory in the aquarium and may defend it against other fish, especially when sexually mature and during spawning. In a small aquarium, keeping more than one pair of Ocellaris can lead to the established pair harassing other individuals.
Does Nemo need a sea anemone?
No, it does not. A captive-bred Ocellaris thrives perfectly well without a sea anemone.
In the wild, A. ocellaris lives in symbiosis with sea anemones. Its natural hosts are Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, and Stichodactyla mertensii.
In an aquarium, the situation can be significantly more flexible. Captive-bred clownfish may take, for example, a bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) as their host, even though it is not among the natural host species for Ocellaris. Sometimes an LPS coral, soft coral, corallimorph, or even a specific crevice in the rocks or a corner of the aquarium will suffice as a host.
If an Ocellaris chooses a coral as its host, constant rubbing and dwelling within the coral can sometimes irritate it.
Feeding
The Ocellaris is omnivorous and usually very easy to feed. Captive-bred individuals are already accustomed to standard aquarium foods.
It is recommended to combine high-quality marine fish pellets or granules with various frozen foods, such as mysis and brine shrimp. Foods containing algae are also suitable as part of a varied diet.
Spawning in the aquarium
A well-acclimated, sexually mature pair may also begin to spawn in a standard reef aquarium. The female usually lays her eggs on a cleaned hard surface near the pair's territory or host. The male plays a large role in caring for the spawn: he guards the eggs and ensures their aeration with his fins. The eggs hatch after about a week, depending on the temperature.
Spawning, however, does not mean that small Nemos will suddenly appear in the aquarium. Newly hatched larvae are extremely small planktonic fry. In a standard reef aquarium, they easily end up as food for other animals or get pulled into the filtration system.
Raising the fry requires a separate rearing tank and suitable live starter food, usually rotifers. Later, the diet can be transitioned to, for example, newly hatched brine shrimp. Actual breeding is, therefore, a completely different matter than a pair successfully spawning.
Care instructions
Minimum aquarium size: approx. 75 liters for one or a pair
Temperature: approx. 24–27 °C
Salinity: approx. 34–35 ppt
Diet: omnivorous; high-quality dry foods and varied frozen foods
Behavior: generally peaceful, but can defend its own territory, especially as a pair and during spawning
Maximum size: approx. 11 cm
Reef safe: yes. Does not eat corals or common reef invertebrates, but a coral chosen as a host can sometimes become irritated by the fish's constant presence.
Difficulty level: easy
Natural distribution: Indo-West Pacific
Individuals sold at Korallifarmi: always captive-bred
Color morphs
All the different-looking "designer" Ocellaris are still the same Amphiprion ocellaris species. Advanced selective breeding has produced very different colorations and patterns, and new lines are still being developed. The names of color morphs can also be breeder-specific.
Examples of well-known color morphs include Ocellaris, Misbar, Extreme Misbar, Black Ocellaris, Misbar Black Ocellaris, Extreme Misbar Black Ocellaris, Caramel, Snowflake, Premium Snowflake, Black Snowflake, Premium Black Snowflake, Black Ice Snowflake, Gladiator, Premium Gladiator, Mocha Gladiator, Wyoming White, Naked Ocellaris, Midnight, Domino, Frostbite, Black Frostbite, Black Storm, Snow Storm, and Zombie. In addition, "Longfin" lines of the species are also bred.
