When it comes to popular marine fish, the Ocellarish Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellaris) is the undisputed king. The Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula) shares its throne, since they look entirely alike to most people. They are the marine aquarium hobby's greatest ambassadors. Many people might correlate their popularity with the release of the hit animated film, Finding Nemo. What they wouldn't know is the fact that these clown fish were just as popular before the film was released.

These clownfish are a staple offering in the hobby. They are heavily collected from their natural habitats in South East Asia, they are the most abundant ornamental marine fish at the moment. You'll find at least one ocellaris clownfish for sale in any saltwater pet store you visit. They are also heavily bred in captivity with tank-raised ocellaris priced a little higher than wild caught specimens.

Ocellaris clownfish are entirely orange with three white bands (outlined with black) around their heads, body and near their tail. Percula and ocellaris are almost indistinguishable to the untrained eye. Yet they are both slightly different physically. Ocellaris clowns have 11 dorsal spines while percula's have 10. Thankfully there's an easier method to tell them apart. Ocellaris clownfish have thinner black outlines.

One of the cheapest marine fish you can buy, for as little as $10 you can have an ocellaris clownfish. A few dollars more can buy a tank-raised specimen. Given a choice, you should always go for tank-bred clownfish as they're generally better suited to captive life.

Their common names include the false percula clown and the false clown anemonefish. They are called anemonefish because of the symbiotic relationship they have with anemones. The anemone cannot sting clownfish, it is speculated that clownfish produce a mucus that renders them invisible to the anemone. In the wild ocellaris clownfish are always found nestled within their host anemones, however, these anemones are not needed in the aquarium.

Ocellaris clownfish are generally peaceful fish that get along well with tank mates. However, they can be hostile towards other clownfish from within or outside their species. There are three routes you can take when looking for pair :-

* Acquire a mated pair from the LFS * Put a large one in with a small one and hope they pair up * Purchase two small ones and put them together, eventually one will dominate the other and become a female, pairing up in the process

I cannot give a guarantee that options 2 or 3 will work 100% of the time.

Reaching a maximum of 3 inches in length, they are considered a small fish. Ocellaris are site attached, which means they are usually around their territory (a small area) most of the time. Their territory is anything from a pile of rubble to an anemone. They have also been known to host other corals like elegance or mushroom corals. Because of this behavior they can be kept in aquariums no larger than 20 gallons.

Getting them to eat in captivity is easy because they seem to able to eat anything you offer. While they are omnivores in the wild, they consume both meaty and algae based food in the aquarium. They should be fed a wide variety of foods. Prime reef, Formula One and Formula two are some good dry foods to offer. Formula two has an added amount of algae mixed in with seafood while Prime reef is mostly meaty.

New Life Spectrum produces in my opinion the best pellet food on the market. Add in some frozen food like krill or mysis shrimp and you're set.

Overall, with their hardy nature, good looks and endearing nature, they are a great choice for hobbyists from all experience levels.

Roman Veaila is a hobbyist that has kept numerous reef aquariums. In his spare time he writes guides on saltwater fish. Visit his hubpage for a more detailed guide on the Ocellaris Clownfish as well as other popular Clownfish.

• The Purple Tang : A Guide On The Rare And Aggressive Zebrasoma Xanthurum by Roman Veaila The Purple Tang (Zebrasoma Xanthurum) is another surgeonfish that enjoys some popularity among those looking for uncommon surgeonfish. They are exact copies of the yellow tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) except for two differences, they are purple and they are aggressive. Their bodies are a deep purple while their......
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• Blue Tang : An In-Depth Guide On Paracanthurus Hepatus by Roman Veaila The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus Hepatus) enjoys the distinction of being one of the five most recognizable maine fishes along with the percula clownfish (Percula, Ocellaris), flame angelfish (Centropyge Loriculus), yellow tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) and the royal gramma (Gramma Loreto). It remains the sole species under the genus......
• Queen Angelfish : Care And Requirements Of Holacanthus Ciliaris by Gabriela Desouyez Holacanthus Ciliaris, the queen angelfish, is among the three most recognizable angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby. The other two being the French Angelfish (Pomacanthus Paru) and the emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus Imperator). As with the flame angelfish it is the most popular species in the genus Holacanthus.......

• How To Change A Fish Only Aquarium Into A Reef Aquarium caniThe aquarist running a fish only aquarium has gained a great deal of valuable knowledge about husbandry. He/she has also been able to keep fish that the reef aquarist cannot. These fish are considered as not 'reef friendly.' This is the first consideration before any move is made towards a......
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• Remember To Vary The Food When Feeding A fish only aquarium or reef aquarium offers several pleasures. One of them is obvious, and that is just sitting and admiring. After a while, all seems at peace in the world. Maybe that’s why some doctors and dentists have aquariums in their surgeries. Another very pleasurable experience for the......
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Written by Henry Logan using tags: amphiprion ocellaris, amphiprion ocellaris care, clown fish, clownfish, marine aquarium fish, marine fish, ocellaris clownfish, ocellaris clownfish care guide, ocellaris clownfish guide, Pets, pomacentridae, saltwater aquarium fish, saltwater clownfish, saltwater fish

The Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellaris) reigns supreme in the most popular marine fish category. The Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula) shares its throne, since they look entirely alike to most people. They are the marine aquarium hobby's greatest ambassadors. Many people might correlate their popularity with the release of the hit animated film, Finding Nemo. They don't realize these clown fish were already popular before the film was released.

These clownfish are a staple offering in the hobby. They hail from South East Asia and are heavily collected for the trade, they are the most plentiful ornamental marine fish at the moment. Walk into any saltwater pet store and you'll find at least one ocellaris there for sale. They are also heavily bred in captivity with tank-raised ocellaris priced a little higher than wild caught specimens.

Ocellaris clownfish are entirely orange with three white bands (outlined with black) around their heads, body and near their tail. Ocellaris and Percula clowns look almost alike. But they are both physically different, only slightly. Ocellaris clowns have 11 dorsal spines while percula's have 10. Fortunately, there is an easier way. Percula clownfish have thicker, more pronounced black outlines while those on the ocelaris are always thin.

One of the cheapest marine fish you can buy, for as little as $10 you can have an ocellaris clownfish. Tank raised ocellaris usually cost a few dollars more. Given a choice, never go with wild caught specimens as tank-bred ones are generally hardier and better suited to the aquarium.

They are commonly known as the false percula clown and the false clown anemonefish. They are called anemonefish because of the symbiotic relationship they have with anemones. The anemone cannot sting clownfish, it is thought they have a layer of mucus on their bodies that fool the anemone into thinking there's nothing there. While ocellaris clownfish are always found hosting anemones in the wild, anemones are not required for survival in captivity.

Generally peaceful, these cownfish get along well with a wide variety of tank mates. However, they can be hostile towards other clownfish from within or outside their species. There are three routes you can take when looking for pair :-

* Purchase a mated pair * Put a large one in with a small one and hope they pair up * Put two small ones together and let them work it out, the winner will turn into a female

I cannot give a guarantee that options 2 or 3 will work 100% of the time.

Considered a small fish, ocellaris clownfish only reach 3 inches in length. They are a site attached fish, which means they do not leave their territory (a small area) all that often. Their territory can be anything from an anemone to some pieces of live rock. Mushroom and elegance corals have been hosted by the ocellaris when an anemone isn't available. Because of this behavior they can be kept in aquariums no larger than 20 gallons.

Feeding them prepared foods is an east task because they consume almost anything offered. While they are omnivores in the wild, they consume both meaty and algae based food in the aquarium. Offer them a wide variety of foods. Some good dry foods to feed are Formula One, Formula Two and Prime Reef. Formula two has an added amount of algae mixed in with seafood while Prime reef is mostly meaty.

The best pellet food on the market are those made by New Life Spectrum. Mix in some frozen foods like mysis shrimp or krill and they will be very happy.

Overall, the ocellaris clownfish is a hardy fish that is a great choice for both beginners and experienced aquarists alike.

Roman Veaila is a hobbyist that has kept numerous reef aquariums. In his spare time he writes guides on saltwater fishes. Visit his hubpage for a more detailed guide on the Ocellaris Clownfish as well as other popular Clown Fish.

• Tips in Selecting Tropical Fish Tanks by Darren Bradley Selecting a tropical fish tank is not just selecting the first one that comes along. You need to consider some factors to ensure that your tropical fish would have a good environment to live and thrive in. That said, listed here are some considerations in choosing among......
• Beginners Guide To Setting Up A Fish Tank So you want to set up a fish tank, well the first thing that I will tell you is that you have to be patient and should not jump right into putting fish in your tank. In this article I will be explaining all of the steps to setting......
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• Basic Fish Tank Maintenance for a Healthier Aquarium Ecosystem A beautiful tank and healthy fish are your top priorities when you have an aquarium in your room. Fish tank maintenance is the requirement for both. Fish need a clean haven where the oxygen flows freely. Fish tank owners want to showcase a clean and beautiful aquarium to their......

• The Copperband Butterfly There are quite a few fish that could be said to fly the flag for the marine hobby. One of them is a member of the clownfish club, the so called common clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris, with its gaudy ‘painted on’ colours. The fish that for me anyway is the......
• How Often Should You Feed The Fish As with all animals food is required for energy - energy which is used for a lot things. Fish are no exception. But how often should fish be fed - daily, weekly, fortnightly etc. Before we move on to how often feeding should occur it is important to ensure that......
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Written by Roman Veaila using tags: amphiprion ocellaris, amphiprion ocellaris care, clown fish, clownfish, marine aquarium fish, marine fish, ocellaris clownfish, ocellaris clownfish care guide, ocellaris clownfish guide, Pets, pomacentridae, saltwater aquarium fish, saltwater clownfish, saltwater fish

The Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula) is the most heavily collected marine fish in the hobby along with the Ocellaris clownfish. Many people might correlate their popularity with the release of the hit animated film, Finding Nemo. But these clown fish were just as popular before Finding Nemo was released.

Percula clownfish are staple offerings in the hobby. Heavily collected from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Northern Queensland. A common fish that is only outdone by their twin, the ocellaris.They are also heavily bred in captivity with tank-raised specimens costing slightly more than wild percula's.

These fishes are all orange with a thick white band (outlined with black) running down their bodies, heads and right before their tails. To the casual onlooker both the ocellaris and percula look the same. But they are both physically different, only slightly. The difference is in the number of dorsal spines they both have, 11 for the ocellaris and 10 for the percula. Fortunately, there is an easier way. Percula clownfish have thicker, more pronounced black outlines while those on the ocelaris are always thin.

They usually cost twice what ocellaris clownfish go for, with juveniles fetching up to $20 per specimen. Tank raised percula's usually cost a few dollars more. Given a choice, you should always go for tank-bred clownfish as they're generally better suited to captive life.

Their common names include the true percula clown and the true clown anemonefish. They are called anemonefish because of the symbiotic relationship they have with anemones. The anemone cannot sting clownfish, it is thought they have a layer of mucus on their bodies that fool the anemone into thinking there's nothing there. While percula clownfish are always found hosting anemones (H.Crispa, H.Magnifica) in the wild, anemones are not required for survival in captivity.

Percula clownfish are generally peaceful fish that get along well with tank mates. However, they are aggressive towards other clownfish outside or within their species. There are three routes you can take when looking for pair :-

* Buy a pair from the pet store * Put a large one in with a small one and hope they pair up * Buy two small ones and put them together, they'll fight, with the winner turning into a female

There are no guarantees that options 2 and 3 will work.

Considered a small fish, percula clownfish only reach 3 inches in length. All clownfish are site attached, which means they rarely stray from their territory (a small area). Their territory can be anything from an anemone to some pieces of live rock. When an anemone isn't available, they can even host other corals such as mushroom or elegance corals. They can be housed aquariums as small as 20 gallons due to this behaviour.

Captive percula clownfishes are very easy to feed because they consume almost anything offered. While they are omnivores in the wild, they will eat both algae and meaty foods in an aquarium. A wide variety of foods should be given. Prime reef, Formula One and Formula two are some good dry foods to offer. Formula two has an added amount of algae mixed in with seafood while Prime reef is mostly made up of seafood.

The best pellet food on the market are those made by New Life Spectrum. Add in some frozen food like krill or mysis shrimp and you're set.

Overall, the ocellaris is great choice for both beginners and experienced hobbyists.

• A Tropical Fish Guide With Some Easy To Follow Tips So you're ready to discover the very exciting and rewarding world of owning tropical fish? You have made an excellent choice! Exotic pet ownership is fun and challenging. You have a lot of responsibilities at the beginning but once you've learned about how to care of your tropical fish,......
• The Mandarin Goby : A Guide On This Difficult Dragonet The Mandarin Goby (Synchiropus Splendidus) is quite simply one of the most breathtaking marine fishes ever to hit the hobby. Blue, green and orange lines and patches are intricately painted onto this spectacular fish. They commonly go by the name, mandarin goby, despite not being a true goby at......
• Ocellaris Clownfish : Care And Requirements Of The Nemo Clownfish When it comes to popular marine fish, the Ocellarish Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellaris) is the undisputed king. The Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula) shares its throne, since they look entirely alike to most people. They are the marine aquarium hobby's greatest ambassadors. Many people might correlate their popularity with the release......
• Zebrasoma Flavescens : The Popular Yellow Tang The Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) is one of the most recognizable fishes in the marine aquarium industry along with the blue tang (Paracanthurus Hepatus), percula clownfish (percula, Ocellaris) and the Flame Angelfish (Centropyge Loriculus). It is the most popular member of the tang family and it isn't hard to......

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Written by Roman Veaila using tags: amphiprion percula, clown fish, clownfish, marine aquarium fish, marine clownfish, percula clownfish, percula clownfish care, percula clownfish care guide, percula clownfish guide, Pets, pomacentridae, saltwater aquarium fish, saltwater clownfish, saltwater fish

Another popular clown fish in the Pomacanthidae family besides Percula Clownfish (amphiprion percula) and Ocellaris Clownfish(amphiprion ocellaris), the [Maroon Clownfish. They are found throughout South East Asia and Australia to a lesser extent. To many, Maroon clownfish are the most beautiful among all clownfish.

They possess 3 white stripes like Nemo, except their bodies are entirely red. However, their white stripes are thinner than Percula's. Also common is a gold striped variety.

Their most common name besides the maroon clownfish is the spine cheek anemonefish, so called because of a small spine found on their cheeks. They are called anemonefish because of the symbiotic relationship they have with anemones. They have figured out how to escape the anemones powerful sting, it is speculated that clownfish produce a mucus that renders them invisible to the anemone. In the wild Maroon clownfish are always found nestled within their host anemones, however, these anemones are not needed in the aquarium.

Despite heavy collection, their prices are usually higher than that of ocellaris or percula clownfish. Juveniles retail for about $25 while large adults can fetch up to $40. Tank-Bred maroon clownfish usually fetch a few dollars more. Never go with wild caught specimens as tank-bred ones are generally hardier and better suited to the aquarium.

The maroon clownfish is considered by many to be the most aggressive clownfish in the hobby. They are aggressive towards their cousins, the clownfish and damselfish. They can even show aggression to humans as they are also a very territorial clownfish.

And it doesn't end with their aggression, they are the largest species within the clownfish family. They can reach a length of 6 inches in captivity.

Captive maroon clownfishes are very easy to feed because they will eat just about anything. While they are omnivores in the wild, they will eat both algae and meaty foods in an aquarium. They should be fed a wide variety of foods. Prime reef, Formula One and Formula two are some good dry foods to offer. Formula two is a seafood mix with an added amount of algae thrown into it while Prime reef is mostly meaty.

The best pellet food on the market are those made by New Life Spectrum. Feed them some frozen mysis shrimp and krill occasionally.

• Ocellaris Clownfish : Care And Requirements Of The Nemo Clownfish The Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellaris) reigns supreme in the most popular marine fish category. The Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula) shares its throne, since they look entirely alike to most people. They are the marine aquarium hobby's greatest ambassadors. Many people might correlate their popularity with the release of the......
• French Angelfish : Care And requirements Of Pomacanthus Paru by Gabriela Desouyez The french angelfish (Pomacanthus Paru) is among the three most popular angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby. The Emperor Angelfish and the Queen Angelfish make up the other two. Its closets relative is the gray angel, as such, they look completely alike to the untrained eye. Differentiating......
• Blue Tang : An In-Depth Guide On Paracanthurus Hepatus by Roman Veaila The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus Hepatus) enjoys the distinction of being one of the five most recognizable maine fishes along with the percula clownfish (Percula, Ocellaris), flame angelfish (Centropyge Loriculus), yellow tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) and the royal gramma (Gramma Loreto). It remains the sole species under the genus......
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Written by Roman Veaila using tags: clown fish, marine aquarium, marine aquarium fish, marine fish, maroon clownfish, maroon clownfish care, maroon clownfish care guide, maroon clownfish guide, Pets, pomacentridae, premnas biaculeatus, saltwater aquarium fish, saltwater clownfish, saltwater fish