This is one of the most popular fish, also known as Nemo. He got his nickname after starring in the famous animated film and has become even more popular since then! If you want to have one at home, you first need to know how to care for a clownfish.
As its name suggests, this fish is full of grace and very friendly. Many aquarium enthusiasts are interested in this species, which requires a lot of care. So, check out how to raise clownfish in an aquarium so you can be ready to adopt this pet!
How does the clownfish live?
In the wild, this swimmer is found in the warm, shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The first step to knowing how to care for clownfish at home is to keep them in saltwater, as is their natural environment.
Another very striking characteristic of the clownfish is that it lives surrounded by anemones, invertebrates that look like plants. Although they are poisonous, they do not cause any harm to the fish. In fact, they serve as a shelter or hiding place so that the animal is not visible to predators.
For the clownfish , it is very advantageous to be among the anemones because it feeds on parasites. Therefore, in addition to serving as protection, they are an easy environment for finding food. It helps to clean the surroundings by eating the parasites that remain on the invertebrate animal.
Anemones are also important for fish reproduction. Contrary to what is more common, in clownfish reproduction, there is no encounter between male and female. She lays her eggs hidden in the invertebrate animal, and the female fertilizes them directly.
Clownfish Characteristics
Want to learn how to care for fish ? Regardless of the species, you need to know their physical and behavioral characteristics. This way, you can prepare your aquarium in the best way possible to receive the small clownfish, which is only 11 cm long. A good way to identify whether your pet is male or female is to look at its size: females are usually larger.
In fact, an interesting fact about this species is that all the fish are born male. As they grow, they can transform into females to continue procreation.
In its natural habitat, clownfish ingest, in addition to anemone parasites, small crustaceans, larvae and algae. It also takes the opportunity to eat some leftovers from the invertebrate’s diet.
Types of Clownfish
Although the Nemo fish has gained fame, marking the orange color with white stripes as the most popular of the species, there are other fish of this type. The large family Pomacentridae has 29 subdivisions and 5 subgenera, but all are called clownfish.
Within the subgenera, there are blue, black and yellow colored fish. In addition, the stripes come in different sizes and shapes, decorating different areas of the body. Now that you know a little more about this charming species, it’s time to learn how to care for clownfish.
Clownfish life expectancy
In nature, the species lives, on average, 10 years. However, how long does a clownfish live in an aquarium? From 4 to 6 years. So, for your pet to have a long life, you need to know everything it needs.
Clownfish aquarium
The first tips on how to care for clownfish start with choosing the aquarium. It should have at least 75 L of water. The more animals living in the tank, the larger it should be.
To properly care for the fish , it is essential to place anemones in the aquarium. With them, the fish feel safe and can lay eggs when the time comes. Mutual help between the two species is extremely beneficial for the clownfish.
It is worth remembering, once again, that anemones are animals, not plants. Therefore, they also need care. You can also enhance the aquarium with corals, gravel, stones and sand, for example.
Aquarium water care
Another crucial point in caring for clownfish is the salinity of the water, which should remain around 30%. The salt used should be purchased from specialized aquarium stores — never use table salt.
The water should also be monitored: keep the temperature between 24 and 270C and the pH between 8 and 8.4. It is also important to clean and oxygenate frequently. To do this, it is ideal to invest in a thermometer, lighting and a good filtration and pumping system.
Food for aquarium clownfish
To learn how to care for clownfish correctly, you need to consider your pet’s eating habits. In addition to the anemone parasites, your pet should eat food that is specific to the species, which provides all the necessary nutrients.
If your vet gives you the go-ahead, you can offer small pieces of squid, shrimp, mussels or other mollusks. Leave the aquarium pump running so that the water movement makes it appear as if the food is still alive, since clownfish are predators.