Breeding guide

How to breed Ocellaris Clownfish

Intermediate9 steps$300 setup

What you'll need

Bonded pair of clownfish
20+ gallon breeding tank
Flat tile or anemone for spawning
Separate rearing tank (5-10g)
Live rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis)
Baby brine shrimp
Selcon enrichment
Black background (reduces stress)

Step-by-step

Step 1: Pair the clownfishBuy a smaller juvenile + a larger adult. Add to tank simultaneously. Allow 6-12 months for the larger to become female + smaller to remain male. Aggression normal during pairing - have backup tank ready.

Step 2: Condition the pairFeed varied diet 2-3x daily: frozen mysis, brine shrimp, pellets, with Selcon vitamin soak. Stable parameters (78-80°F, 1.025 SG). Reduce stress.

Step 3: Provide spawning surfacePlace a flat tile or inverted ceramic pot near a host (anemone or rockwork). Pair will clean a spot and lay 100-1,000 orange eggs. Male tends and fans them for 7-10 days.

Step 4: Time the egg removalWatch for "silver eyes" in eggs (visible 1 day before hatch). Move the tile to a separate rearing tank that evening. Hatching happens at lights-off.

Step 5: Set up rearing tank5-10g tank with sponge filter (NO mechanical impeller), small heater, dark walls. Add green water (live phytoplankton) for rotifer culture.

Step 6: Feed rotifers days 1-10Larvae are tiny pelagic floaters. Feed Brachionus plicatilis rotifers 4-6x daily. Maintain rotifer culture continuously - they crash if undermaintained.

Step 7: Transition to baby brine days 10-20Days 10-12: larvae metamorphose into mini-clownfish. Switch from rotifers to Artemia nauplii (baby brine shrimp). Continue 4-6x daily feeding.

Step 8: Add crushed pellet days 20-30Days 20+: introduce Otohime A1 or crushed flake. Wean off live food gradually over 7 days. By day 30, fry should accept dry food.

Step 9: Grow to sale size 6-8 weeksBy 6-8 weeks post-hatch, juveniles reach 0.5-0.75 inches and are sale-ready. Quarantine before adding to display tanks.

FAQ

How long do clownfish eggs take to hatch?

7-10 days from laying. Eggs change color (orange to silver) just before hatch. Hatching always at lights-off.

Can I breed clownfish without a host anemone?

Yes. Many breeders use a flat tile or PVC pipe instead. The pair will clean and use it for laying.

What's the survival rate of clownfish fry?

First-time breeders: 5-20% survival to juvenile size. Experienced breeders with stable rotifer cultures hit 60-80%.

More breeding guides

Browse all aquarium breeding guides. Pair with the Ocellaris Clownfish care guide for full husbandry context.

Aquarium-keeping fundamentals

Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.

Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.

Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.

Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.

Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.

What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.

How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.

Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.