The orange and white fish, most commonly the False Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), belongs to the family Pomacentridae and is a small, reef-dwelling marine fish. Like all members of the anemonefish genus, the False Percula is an omnivore, meaning its diet in the wild consists of both animal and plant matter. This generalized feeding strategy allows the fish to adapt to the varied food sources available within its shallow, tropical coral reef habitat. Understanding exactly what these fish consume to survive is the starting point.
The Wild Diet of Clownfish
In their natural environment, Clownfish are opportunistic feeders, consuming a diverse array of small organisms and plant material found near their host anemone. Their diet is roughly balanced between animal and plant sources, classifying them as omnivores. The animal portion of their meals primarily consists of zooplankton.
Specific zooplankton items frequently consumed include small crustaceans like copepods and the larval stages of various marine invertebrates. Clownfish actively dart into the water just above the coral reef to snatch this microscopic prey. Their plant consumption is dominated by various forms of algae, which they graze from the nearby rocky substrate and the anemone itself. This surface-picking behavior also leads them to consume detritus, which is non-living organic matter.
The smaller individuals within a social group are often restricted to foraging closer to the safety of the anemone. The larger, dominant pair may venture further afield for food. They spend a significant portion of their day continuously seeking out food sources within their relatively small territory.
The Role of the Anemone in Foraging
The symbiotic relationship with their host sea anemone shapes the Clownfish’s foraging behavior. The anemone’s stinging tentacles offer a shield against most predators, allowing the Clownfish to feed safely near its host. This protection means the fish can concentrate its feeding efforts in the immediate vicinity of its host.
The Clownfish also benefits directly from the anemone’s feeding habits. They consume any scraps or leftover pieces of food that the anemone has captured and dropped. Additionally, they eat parasites and dead or cast-off parts of the anemone itself, effectively keeping their host clean. This constant proximity ensures a steady, supplemental source of easily accessible nutrients.
Feeding Clownfish in Aquariums
The diet of a Clownfish in a home aquarium should aim to mimic their wild, omnivorous diet. A captive diet needs to be diverse to ensure the fish receives all necessary vitamins and minerals. The foundation of their feeding regimen typically includes high-quality, prepared foods such as marine pellets and flakes.
These dry foods should be supplemented with a variety of frozen options to provide a richer source of protein and fats. Frozen mysis shrimp and frozen brine shrimp are commonly used supplements. While brine shrimp are less nutritionally dense, mysis shrimp offer a more complete profile.
Feeding should occur one to three times daily, offering only as much food as the fish can consume in a few minutes to prevent excess waste from polluting the tank water. Captive Clownfish often exhibit the same territorial behavior as their wild counterparts, refusing to leave their preferred corner or host object to eat. In these cases, the food must be delivered directly to their location, sometimes by turning off the tank’s water flow to allow the food to settle near them.