Overview:

Longfin Dalmation Clownfish B35 is a designer ocellaris-type clownfish with a peaceful, hardy temperament and flowing fins that need clean, stable water and low-stress conditions. Despite the “invertebrate” wording, this is a marine fish that does best in a mature saltwater aquarium with stable salinity, temperature, and pH. Ideal conditions are 77–80°F, salinity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, and low ammonia/nitrite with minimal nitrate. A tank of at least 20 gallons is recommended for a pair, with more room preferred if housed with other fish. Because the longfin trait can make fins more delicate, avoid sharp rockwork, strong turbulent flow, and aggressive tankmates. Plenty of open swimming space, a few secure hiding areas, and a host anemone only if the system is well-established and the keeper is prepared to meet the anemone’s stricter needs.

Diet and Feeding:

This species should be fed a varied omnivorous marine diet to support color, immunity, and fin health. Offer a staple of quality marine pellets or flakes formulated for clownfish, supplemented with frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and occasional algae-based foods. Feed small portions 1–2 times daily, only what is consumed in a minute or two. Longfin Dalmation Clownfish B35 benefits from consistency and moderate feeding rather than heavy meals. Soaking foods in a marine vitamin supplement several times weekly can help reduce nutritional stress, especially in newly imported or recovering fish. Overfeeding should be avoided because it quickly degrades water quality and increases disease risk.

Compatibility:

Longfin Dalmation Clownfish B35 is usually semi-aggressive only when defending territory, but it is generally far more compatible than many marine species. Best tankmates are peaceful to moderately active fish such as gobies, blennies, firefish, small tangs in larger systems, and other non-aggressive reef-safe species. It can be kept singly or as a bonded pair; two juveniles often pair up, with one becoming dominant. Avoid housing with overly aggressive clownfish, large wrasses, triggers, puffers, or anything likely to nip fins, as the longfin form is especially vulnerable to damage. If an anemone is added, note that the clownfish may become more territorial around it. In reef aquariums, it is generally compatible with corals and most clean-up crew invertebrates.

Health and Quarantine:

Preventive care is essential because long fins can tear more easily, creating openings for bacterial infection and stress-related issues. Quarantine all new arrivals for at least 2–4 weeks in a separate marine system to observe for ich, velvet, brooklynella, flukes, and fin damage. During quarantine, provide calm water, stable parameters, and simple hiding places. Watch for rapid breathing, clamped fins, white dusting, excess mucus, reduced appetite, or torn fin edges. Regular water changes, excellent filtration, and low stress are the best long-term health tools. Maintain consistent salinity and temperature, and avoid sudden moves or aggressive netting. A healthy Longfin Dalmation Clownfish B35 should eat eagerly, swim steadily, and keep its fins fully extended without fraying.

mysis shrimp brine shrimp marine flakes pellets
Longfin Dalmation Clownfish are active, midwater swimmers that spend much of their time patrolling a small home range and benefit from a tank with ample rockwork and sheltered areas rather than open, featureless space. They are generally peaceful to moderately semi-aggressive, but can become distinctly territorial around their chosen host area, especially toward conspecifics and similarly shaped clownfish. A minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended for a pair, with visual barriers, caves, and branching rockwork helping reduce stress and limiting line-of-sight conflicts. They coexist well with most reef-safe species and are usually suitable for community reef aquariums, though careful matching is advised with highly assertive or nippy tank mates. As omnivores, they accept a varied diet of quality marine pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp, and finely chopped meaty foods, with frequent small feedings supporting their energetic grazing and opportunistic hunting behavior.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Longfin Dalmation Clownfish B35

  • How do I tell a Longfin Dalmatian Clownfish from a regular Dalmatian Clownfish, and does the longfin trait affect care?
    The longfin form has visibly extended dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, while the Dalmatian pattern is the white body with black spotting. Care is essentially the same as a standard ocellaris-type clownfish: warm, stable saltwater, good filtration, and a peaceful tank. The long fins do make them slightly more prone to fin damage from sharp rockwork, aggressive tankmates, and powerhead intakes, so smoother aquascaping and covered pumps matter more.
  • Why does my Longfin Dalmatian Clownfish’s spotting keep changing as it grows?
    That’s normal. Dalmatian clownfish are known for variable black spotting that often increases with age, and the pattern can continue developing for many months. Some fish start with only a few dots and end up heavily speckled, while others stay more lightly spotted. The change is genetic and growth-related, not usually a sign of stress or disease.
  • Will a Longfin Dalmatian Clownfish host an anemone, and if so which ones are safest?
    It may host an anemone, but it does not need one to be healthy. If you want to provide a host, the safer commonly kept options are bubble tip anemones, assuming the tank is mature and stable. Avoid forcing the pairing; many clownfish will choose a leather coral, frogspawn, or even a corner of the tank instead. If you add an anemone, make sure lighting, flow, and water quality are appropriate first.
  • What tank size and tankmates are best for a Longfin Dalmatian Clownfish pair?
    A single fish can live in a smaller aquarium, but a pair does best in 20 gallons or more, especially if you want stable water and enough territory. Choose peaceful to semi-peaceful tankmates like gobies, blennies, small wrasses, and chromis. Avoid highly aggressive clownfish, large boisterous fish, and fin-nippers, because longfin specimens can get torn fins more easily than standard clowns.
  • Why is my Longfin Dalmatian Clownfish refusing food or hovering in one spot after introduction?
    Newly added clownfish often hide, hover in one area, or ignore food for a short adjustment period. This is especially common if they are the smaller fish in a pair or if the tank has strong flow or active tankmates. Offer small, varied foods such as pellet, frozen mysis, and finely chopped marine foods; feed near their chosen area and reduce stress from lighting and movement. If refusal lasts more than a few days or you see rapid breathing, clamped fins, or white spots, check water quality and illness signs immediately.