Thanks to the movie Finding Nemo, the Ocellaris Clownfish is the most recognizable fish on the planet.
Every child wants one. Every parent tries to buy one.
And sadly, many of them end up in a freshwater bowl, where they die in minutes.
If you have read my previous post about the cost of saltwater and you are still determined to keep one, this guide is for you. Yes, you can keep Clownfish in a smaller tank (Nano Reef), but there are three rules you must follow.
1. The “Bowl” Myth
Let’s get this out of the way: Clownfish are Saltwater fish.
They cannot live in tap water. They cannot live in a bowl.
While they are small (3 inches), they produce a lot of waste.
- Minimum Size: You need at least a 1.5-foot or 2-foot cube tank (15-20 gallons).
- Why? In a tiny tank, the salinity (salt level) swings too fast when water evaporates. This kills the fish.
2. You Do NOT Need an Anemone
In the ocean, Clownfish live inside stinging Anemones for protection.
In an aquarium, Anemones are harder to keep than the fish.
- The Problem: Anemones need insanely bright lights (RM500+), perfect water, and will move around the tank stinging your other corals. If an Anemone dies, it “melts” and nukes the whole tank with toxins.
- The Solution: Clownfish don’t care. They will host anything. They will live in a clay pot, a corner of the glass, or a flowy coral like a “Hammer Coral” or “Torch Coral.”
- My Advice: Skip the anemone. Just keep the fish.
3. The Weird “Sex Change” Fact
Clownfish are biologically fascinating.
All Clownfish are born Male.
When you buy a pair of small Clownfish, the dominant one will turn into a Female and grow much larger. The smaller, submissive one stays Male.
- The Warning: If you buy two large females, they will fight until one dies.
- The Fix: Buy two small ones, or one big and one small. Let nature decide the gender.
4. Diet: They Are Not Picky
Unlike picky eaters (like Mandarin fish), Clownfish are pigs.
They will eat anything.
- Pellets: High-quality marine pellets (like Hikari Marine S).
- Frozen: Mysis shrimp or Brine shrimp.
- Algae: They will even pick at algae on the rocks.
5. The “Tank Bred” Advantage
In Malaysia, we have access to both “Wild Caught” and “Tank Bred” Clownfish.
Always buy Tank Bred.
- Hardier: They are used to aquarium life and eating pellets.
- Disease Free: Wild Clownfish often carry “Brooklynella” (Clownfish Disease), a parasite that wipes out tanks in days.
- Ethical: It doesn’t deplete the ocean reefs.
Keeping a pair of Clownfish in a 2-foot tank is very doable for a beginner if you have the budget for the salt and the equipment.
They are goofy, they have distinct personalities (they wiggle when they swim), and they are hardy. Just promise me one thing: No Bowls.
