Does anybody own Clown Fish, like "Finding Nemo" fish? Or know what they are like to take of?

Question

....are they expensive? Do i need salt water? Give me what ya got? Thanks

Answer 1

Keeping Clown Fish is a tough job, because they are salt water fishes, completely different from maintaining a sweetwater tank..read on:

Clown fish are colourful, cute and sometimes amusing inhabitants of tropical reefs from several places around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef. They are a hardy fish, and with the proper aquarium and care, can be safely kept in the home for many years. THEY ARE SALTWATER FISH.

Clown fish like "Nemo" are usually 2-8cm long. They have an unusual symbiotic relationship with sea anemone in the wild. While other fish may be stung and killed by the anemone's tentacles, Clown fish are immune, living amongst the tentacles. They feed on the anemone's leftovers, and can even bring it food. They are social fish, and as such it is recommended that at least two are kept in aquariums.

In the past, Clown fish for aquariums have always been caught in the wild from the reef. Today there are several Clown fish farms around Australia. It is strongly recommended that anyone wishing to keep Clown fish in a home aquarium insist upon aquacultured, or captive bred Clown fish. Captive bred fish do not create an impact on the natural environment, they are healthier and hardier, there is little chance you will buy them diseased or sick, and they are not fussy eaters.

Introduction to keeping:
In the wild, Clown fish have a small territory, and therefore can survive in smaller home aquariums, but for a number of various reasons, bigger aquariums are better. As a minimum, a Clown aquarium should be approximately 40 litres.

Setting up a marine aquarium is far more complex than freshwater, and mistakes can be deadly to everything in the tank. It is therefore very important that a marine aquarist is well informed, and committed to spending the time, effort and money to do it right.

Below is a list of equipment that you will need as a minimum to keep Clown fish:

• tank - at least 30 litres
• water - specialised artificial sea salt mix with a water ager
• sand - small grained sea sand
• 1kg of live rock per 20 litres of water at least
• filter - almost any kind of mechanical filter will do (optional)
• circulation - a small (100 litre per hour) internal pump to keep the water moving
• ammonia test kit - to test the level of ammonia in the water
• heating - 100 watts of heating per 50 litres of water
• lighting - one or more fluorescent lights
• thermometer - to test the temperature
• hydrometer - to test the water salinity
• nitrite test kit - to test the level of nitrites in the water
• pH test - to test the pH of the water

Clown fish require the salinity to be 1.026.

Answer 2

If kept in a basic FO (fish only) marine set up, keeping a clown fish or two wouldn't be that hard or expensive. Standard lighting and filtration would work in this scenario.

They are saltwater fish, so you would need to acquire a SOLID understanding of what maintaining marine tanks and the livestock is all about (this takes LOTS of research, you don't just add water, salt and fish). PATIENCE is key with marine set-ups. Also, there are many types of clownfish (some get bigger and more aggressive than others).

You will need a constantly supply of marine salt, a refractometer, marine water test kits, and tons of patience. You won't be able to stock the tank with has many fish (for example maybe a 45-55gal and 1 or 2 clown fish). Constant diligence on your water parameters is pretty much a must.

There are more advanced set up options as well (FOWLR, fish only with live rock), or a reef set up. In these set ups, things get more complex and expensive (read Zoe's post).

Answer 3

They are clown fish. Lots of people have them in saltwater tanks.

Do you have experience with freshwater? Saltwater is infitely more complicated, more delicate and above all, most expensive.

Actually, saltwater tanks can be easier to maintain, IF you did everything right from the start.
Fresh water fish are, for the most part, more forgiving of mistakes and neglect. For example, if you forget to turn on the fish light one morning, it's no big deal. If you forget to clean your water one week, no big deal.

Saltwater is not so forgiving.
To be succesful with saltwater, you need a large tank. No 10 gallons or anything; at LEAST 50 gallons. Bigger is better - because of things like evaporation, salinity, temperature, etc, salt water needs to be constantly monitored. If you get a small tank, you are very likely to fail. It is an attractive idea, to have a little 10 gallon tank with a "nemo" fish - people have tried, and they have almost all FAILED. Please do not attempt this. Most of these clown fish are taken right out of the ocean, and the oceans are rapidly being depleted of life. Please do no waste it.

You also need a lot of (expensive) equipment for a salt water tank.
For fresh, you need: a tank, a lid, lights, a heater, a filter.
For salt you need:
A tank and a lid
You will need actinic or metal halide lights, perhaps some moon lights, to keep your corals alive. These fixtures can cost upwards for 300-500$+
You may need a large, canister filter, 100$+
You need a protein skimmer (this cleans the gunk that accumulates at the top of the water) 50-200$
You need power heads (oceans have a lot more current than lakes do, and so your water needs to have more current. that's what water pumps do) 2 or 3 @ 10-50$ each
You need at least 2 reliable heaters @ 50$ each
A sump or refugium is highly recommended. This is like a smaller tank or rubbermaid that is placed, usually under the tank, and where more water can be (which constantly cycles into the tank and back into the sump). A sump is just more water (so, if you have a 50gal tank and 20gal sump, that's 70gallons of water). A refugium (fuge) is like another tank, with a light and live rock.

Then you will need live rock. That's rock from the ocean that has lots of organisms growing on it. 1 pound per gallon is recommended, and it costs 5-15$ per pound.


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Oh, someone else said to get two oscars and a pleco and a 28 gallon tank. DO NOT do this!!! There are many small, bright, colour freshwater fish. Oscars get to be one foot long or more! They require EIGHTY gallons of water, EACH. Plecos are 18-24" long and also require huge tanks.

Please research anything before you buy it, regardless of what a petstore clerk tells you. Petstore clerks are there to sell fish, and often do not know how to care for them. Research, research...

Answer 4

Oh gosh, haha good enough, even though it is extremely sweet your girl wishes a clown fish, this could be an absolutely ridiculous option to aim retaining a saltwater tank for a beginner. (im assuming you might be) it is very pricey establishing marine tanks, the sand, coral, filters, retaining the salt water...You might must do ALOT of study on establishing the tank, caring for the fish and its wants. I might now not advocate this to any person with out a skills on fish maintaining You must on the very least are attempting caring for tropical freshwater fish as a starter...In case you have success with those, perhaps move onto a marine tank in a few years (via then Im definite your daughter won't desire a nemo anymore) *once more, I are not able to stress adequate (this is out of concept for you AND the fish), don't try and preserve a marine tank as a newbie, there may be a lot extra to it than you understand. Check out a freshwater tropical tank, even these arent affordable to established and study have got to be done. There are alot of matters to take into account, akin to pH, right water changes, the chlorines in the water, feeding proper amounts, what fish are suitable, water temp, filtering...

Answer 5

Oh gosh, haha ok, besides the shown fact that it relatively is somewhat candy your female needs a clown fish, this could be a thoroughly ridiculous option to objective protecting a saltwater tank for a beginner. (im assuming you're) it relatively is somewhat high priced installation marine tanks, the sand, coral, filters, protecting the salt water...you will possibly decide for to do ALOT of analyze on installation the tank, taking good care of the fish and its needs. i does not propose this to all and sundry without expertise on fish protecting you will possibly desire to a minimum of attempt taking good care of tropical freshwater fish as a starter...in case you have success with those, possibly pass onto a marine tank in a pair of years (with the help of then Im particular your daughter won't choose a nemo anymore) *back, i won't rigidity sufficient (that's out of thought for you AND the fish), do no longer attempt to maintain a marine tank as a beginner, there is a lot extra to it than you already know. attempt out a freshwater tropical tank, even those arent low-value to establish and analyze might desire to be achieved. There are alot of issues to think approximately, which includes pH, the terrific option water adjustments, the chlorines interior the water, feeding the terrific option quantities, what fish in high quality condition, water temp, filtering...

Answer 6

Clown Fish in an aquarium need to live in an anenome, which needs to live on live rock. As everybody has said, Marine tanks require alot more attention than freshwater and alot of $$$ needs to be spent initially to ensure evrything runs right all the time.
When you think the ocean is such a huge body of water where the conditions of water temp & chemistry never change, imagine what a small marine tank will be like on a hot 40 degree celcius day and your temp must be maintained at 25 degrees....

Answer 7

Unless you are expirienced with fish, I am telling you right now dont even attempt to buy one!! Yes, they are saltwater and no, they arent very expensive. Saltwater tanks require expensive maintence unless you live by the ocean of course and are difficult to keep going. IF you are interested in somthing besides goldfish, I would suggest getting a 29 gallon starter kit for around $100 and gettin one or two Oscars and a plecosomis.

Answer 8

clown fish are saltwater fish. having one could get a bit expensive.. if you're interested go to www.nano-reef.com great site

Answer 9

you need a few years practice with tropical freshwater fish before jumping to saltwater. once you get practice, saltwater isn't hard, but NEVER get saltwater as a beginner aquarist (is that a word!).