The Ocellaris clownfish is a small tropical fish famous for its bright orange-and-white color and its affinity for hiding in clusters of sea anemones.Whether you're an experienced marine life enthusiast or just a fan of Finding Nemo, caring for a clown fish can be a somewhat serious commitment, so it's important to understand exactly what the job entails before you make your purchase.Clown fish are relatively easy to care for compared to other tropical fish.
Step 1: You should buy a 20–30 gallon tank.
A good clown fish tank is important.When it comes to tank recommendations for clown fish, online pet-care resources can differ greatly.Some sources suggest a minimum tank size of eight to ten gallons, while others suggest no less than 20 or 30 gallons.As a general rule, it's better to have a large tank than a small one, as small tanks require extra maintenance and can be more susceptible to sanitary problems.For the clown fish's health and safety, most new owners should aim for at least a 20 gallon (75.7–113.6 L) tank.There are dangers to having a tank that's too small.The health of the fish can be at risk if the filters in the tank are insufficient.Territorial competition can lead to stress, injury, or even death if multiple fish share the tank.
Step 2: There is a secluded spot where you can place your tank.
Many first-time aquarium owners underestimate how easy it is to maintain an aquarium.The health and happiness of the fish inside the tank can be affected by the physical location.Aquariums should be out of direct sunlight and away from heating, air conditioning, and windows.Changes in water temperature can be harmful to fish.Aquariums shouldn't be up against a wall as this makes it difficult to perform maintenance and change filters, and they should be within range of an electrical outlet.Aquariums usually weigh about 10 pounds for every gallon of water.A 30 gallon tank will weigh about 300 pounds.When choosing a table or stand to support it, keep this in mind.Aquariums should be level with the ground.
Step 3: The tank should be tested for defects.
When it's completely full of water, you don't want to discover that your tank has a leak or is poorly constructed.A tank needs to be completely water-tight and level.To test for leaks, fill the tank to 1/3 of the way full in a water-safe location, like a shower or yard.Wait about an hour to dry the outside of the tank.If you see beads of water along the corners or pooling at the base, return your tank for a refund.Measure levelness with a carpenter's level.If the two lines differ, add a few inches of water and mark the water line on either side.This may reflect a problem in the surface beneath it, rather than the tank itself.
Step 4: You should add your filtration system.
It's important for any aquarium to have a good filtration system.It's necessary to remove the biological waste from the aquarium so that they don't build up and harm the fish.Below are some general instructions for setting up a typical undergravel filter for a saltwater aquarium, you can consult your product's packaging or the personnel at a local pet store for more information.Attach the tubes, valves, and air pumps to the lower filters.The check valve is marked with an arrow and should be three to four inches from the main air pump.Attach the lift tubes to the filters.When the tank is full, the powerheads should be below the water.A separate type of filter called a protein skimmer is not always required.
Step 5: Add the airstones.
The gravel-like substance you see at the bottom of home aquariums should be washed in a kitchen strainer before being added to the tank.Don't use ordinary gravel from the outdoors, it's not recommended by your local pet store.If you're using an undergravel system, the filter plates should be completely covered in a thin layer.If you're using airstones, rinse them and put them at the bottom of the tank now.
Step 6: There are lots of hiding places in the aquarium.
Clownfish spend most of their time in coral reefs hiding in sea anemones and rocky crevices.Add a lot of rocks, plants, artificial reef formations, and decorations for your clown fish to hide in to make it a happy home.Before adding any new additions to the tank, you should rinse them.Clown fish have a good relationship with sea anemones in the wild, so you don't need to add them to your tank.Sea anemones can be more difficult to care for than clownfish as they require a high-quality filtration system, good light, and frequent feeding.Aquacon.com has an anemone care information.Clown fish can be found in the following sea anemone species.
Step 7: Add marine salt to the tank.
If your tank appears to be in good working order, fill it to the top with water.The ideal salinity level for clown fish is produced by adding enough marine salt.Depending on the size of your tank, the amount you need will be different.For exact usage instructions, consult your marine salt's packaging.Most pet care resources recommend using a device called a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of your tank, commercial-grade varieties are usually available at pet stores for cheap.Many pet stores offer free water testing.If you are willing to let your tank sit for up to 24 hours after adding salt, you will be able to achieve a uniform salinity.Don't use table salt in place of marine salt.Special chemical Additives are found in marine salt.
Step 8: The clown fish can be added.
Your tank is ready to go.If you follow the directions in the section below, you will be able to care for your clown fish.
Step 9: Feed your fish a few times a day.
Compared to other fish, clown fish have easy to meet nutrition needs.Clownfish will eat most commercial fish.Try to add a pinch of fish flakes to the tank once a day.You want to give the fish enough food to eat in about two or three minutes.Clown fish will survive if they are fed every other day.Their rate of growth will be slowed down by this.Clown fish can eat both vegetable and animal matter, so consider adding small chunks of algae, shrimp, cut-up worms, and so on to the tank for a greater range of nutrition.Your fish should be happy.
Step 10: Your tank should be kept at a tropical temperature.
The warmer parts of the eastern Indian ocean and the western Pacific ocean are where clown fish are native.If you don't live in the tropics, you can keep your aquarium at a temperature of 75 to 85 F.It's a good idea to buy a heaters that is rated for your tank size.
Step 11: A normal day/night cycle can be recreated.
If you have a lighting system for your tank, it should be able to provide solar energy for plants.This light should be turned off at night as part of your daily maintenance.The normal cycle of day and night that your tank's inhabitants would experience in the wild is mimicked by this.Most aquarium lights have timers that allow you to set them on an automatic cycle.
Step 12: The system needs to be checked daily.
Over time, a toxic environment can be created for your fish by the breakdown in your tank's filtration system.If not daily, it's important to check every part of your system.All you need to do is make sure that everything is functioning correctly, and this shouldn't take more than a few seconds.Water should be flowing through the filter without any problems if the pumps are running smoothly.There should be no obstructions in the lines.A small stream of bubbles should be floating out of the aerator.The water should be easy to pass through the skimmer.If the waste collector is empty, it should not be full.
Step 13: Keep an eye on your water quality.
To ensure your clown fish has optimal conditions to thrive in, it's important to test the water itself.After you set up your tank, you'll want to check the water quality about once per day, but once a week as your measurement improves.All of the tools you'll need to measure water quality should be available at your pet store.
Step 14: Water quality issues should be addressed immediately.
If you find that your aquarium doesn't meet one of the important quality metrics, immediately address the problem to keep your clown fish healthy.If the temperature is too high, reduce the settings on the heaters; if it's too low, increase them; or buy a heater that is rated for your tank size.If the tank water is too high, replace it with fresh water and add marine salt.There are many causes for incorrect pHs; consult a fish care resource for specific strategies.Rapid changes in the pH can harm fish.If you detect ammonia, make sure your levels are not too high.Replacing your filters is a good idea.It may be too small for your tank or the number of fish you have if your system is malfunctioning.See ammonia.
Step 15: A quarter of the water is changed every few weeks.
Aquariums are often described as closed systems, but they still need the addition of outside water to stay clean.If you want to do it gradually and continuously, you can remove a quarter of the water every two to three weeks and replace it with new water.Unless you want to cause a potentially dangerous dip in salt levels, keep in mind that your new water must be the correct salinity for your ank.
Step 16: Slowly introduce any new fish.
Adding more fish to your tank will make your clown fish's life more interesting.It's best to add new fish one by one over a period of time, rather than adding many at once.The clown fish is known for being territorial and this gives them time to adjust to a new visitor.It will take at least six months to get your tank to maximum capacity.Taking a gradual approach can prevent sudden ammonia spikes which can be fatal to fish.The sudden addition of many fish to the same tank will cause ammonia levels from the fish's waste to soar quicker than thebacteria in the tank have a chance to grow.As you add new fish, keep in mind the maximum capacity of your tank.You should have a maximum of one inch of fish per 2.5 gallons of water in the tank.A maximum of 12 1-inch fish can be held in a 30 gallon tank.
Step 17: Clown fish and docile fish can be combined to reduce fighting.
Clown fish can be great neighbors if you match them with a peaceful, non- aggressive species.If you match them with aggressive species, they can get into fights, leading to injuries or even death for both fish.Clown fish are likely to fight if you pair them with other clown fish of the same species.
Step 18: Adding scavengers to deal with waste is a good idea.
One of the biggest threats to an aquarium fish's health is the build up of biological waste.Adding a few scavengers can be a great way to deal with danger.These animals are great for cleaning up leftover waste and easing the burden on your filter system because they feed on decaying plant and animal matter.They're not likely to fight with clown fish for territory or resources.There are some good choices.
Step 19: Improve water quality.
A common aquarium ailment called fin rot is a decaying, dirty-looking fins that seem to be falling apart and sometimes swelling at the base of the fin.This is almost always a water quality issue, so if you see it, take the following steps: Check the filtration system for errors and, if necessary, clean or replace the filter.Add scavengers and consider getting aquarium antibiotics from a vet or pet store.
Step 20: Anti-parasite techniques can be used.
A common problem in saltwater aquariums is Marine Ich, which is caused by a parasites that burrows into the fish's skin and gills.Small white "dots" on the skin and gills, clouded eyes, excessive skin mucus, and difficulty breathing are some of the symptoms of this illness.Adding copper-based anti-parasite Additives to the water is the most direct fix in this case.It's a good idea to keep all of your fish in a separate tank.The parasites natural life cycle is disrupted by this.There is a saltwater aquarium resource.
Step 21: Take an aggressive stance.
A creeping green "slime" or "moss"-like organisms will build up in an aquarium over time.Clown fish and other marine life can benefit from a little bit of algae.If allowed to grow out of control, algae can eventually spread throughout the tank and start competing with the other organisms for light and nutrition, smothering them.To prevent this, it's best to deal with it early on.Don't crowd too many organisms into a single tank, keep the tank free of organic waste, and use the following steps to manage algae growth.Normal plant life will compete with algae for the same resources if you have other plants in your tank.You can use a scraper or scuplture to clean the walls of the tank.Don't leave your tank's lights on.You should stock your tank with a catfish that eats a lot of algae.