Name: Black Ocellaris Clownfish — Amphiprion ocellaris
Brand: TSA Fish
SKU: CLOWNxBlack
Price: 39.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Black Ocellaris Clownfish — Amphiprion ocellaris

$39.99

Black Ocellaris Clownfish — Amphiprion ocellaris

Captive-Bred Clownfish Nano Fish Reef Safe

$39.99

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Goes well with:

Diet

Pellets Mysis Finely Chopped Seafood

Min Tank Size 30 gallons

Temperament Peaceful

Reef Safe Yes

Care & Diet Feeding, nutrition, and best practices.

Diet Type: Omnivore

Black Ocellaris Clownfish are omnivores and benefit from a varied diet. Feed them a mix of high-quality marine pellets or flakes, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily to prevent overfeeding and maintain water quality. Ensure food is appropriately sized for easy consumption.

Pellets Mysis Finely Chopped Seafood

Behavior Temperament, activity level, and interactions.

Temperament: Peaceful

Black Ocellaris Clownfish exhibit peaceful swimming patterns, often staying close to anemones for protection. They display strong social behaviors, forming monogamous pairs or small groups. Territoriality is moderate, as they defend their host anemone but are generally non-aggressive. They are compatible with other peaceful species and can coexist with different clownfish types if sufficient space is provided.

Tank & Aquascape Tank requirements and aquascaping tips.

Min Tank Size: 30 gallons
Max Size: 4.3 inches
Care Level: Easy
Origin: Australia

Compatibility Tank mates, aggression, and introduction order.

Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: Yes

Clownfish Reef Safe Omnivore

Reef & Health Reef safety, common issues, and prevention.

Reef Safe: Yes
Care Level: Easy

FAQs Answers to the most common questions.

How can I tell if my Black Ocellaris Clownfish is a true black variety or just a dark morph of a regular Ocellaris that will change color with age?

True Black Ocellaris (Amphiprion ocellaris “Darwin”) are usually jet black in the body with crisp white bars and typically come from captive-bred lines labeled “Black Ocellaris” or “Darwin Ocellaris.” Juveniles may show some brown or orange near the face that fills in black as they mature, usually by 12–18 months. Regular Ocellaris that are just dark orange still show clearly orange areas on the body even as adults and do not turn fully black. If the fish is from a reputable source labeled as Black Ocellaris and you see the black slowly spreading over months (especially from the dorsal area downward), it is almost certainly the black variety and not a standard Ocellaris.

My Black Ocellaris Clownfish is turning brownish around the head and chest. Is its color fading due to stress, lighting, or diet, and how can I keep it deep black?

Mild brownish shading around the face and chest can be natural in young or newly imported fish and often darkens over time, especially in captive-bred lines. However, washed-out or patchy color can be linked to poor diet, low-quality flake as the main food, or chronic low-level stress (bullying, poor water quality, unstable salinity). To help keep a deep black color, maintain stable parameters (SG 1.024–1.026, temp 24–26°C/75–79°F, nitrate ideally under ~20 ppm), and feed a varied, carotenoid-rich diet: quality marine pellets, frozen mysis, enriched brine, and occasional foods with spirulina or krill. Strong but not overly harsh lighting is fine; they do well under reef LEDs and do not require dim light for dark color.

Can I keep Black Ocellaris Clownfish with standard orange Ocellaris in the same tank, and will they hybridize or fight?

Black Ocellaris are the same species as standard orange Ocellaris, so they can form pairs and hybridize easily. If you keep more than two, they will sort out a dominance hierarchy and usually bully extra clownfish, especially in smaller tanks under ~40 gallons. The safest approach is one pair total. If you mix a black and an orange Ocellaris, they can form a bonded pair and will produce mixed-colored offspring if they spawn. To reduce aggression, introduce them as juveniles at the same time, with the slightly larger one becoming female over time. Avoid mixing multiple established pairs or adding a smaller clown later to a tank with a long-established female, as that often leads to serious aggression.

My Black Ocellaris Clownfish ignores the anemone I bought for it and instead hosts in my powerhead or torch coral. Is this normal, and should I try a specific anemone species for them?

This is normal behavior. Captive-bred Black Ocellaris often have no instinctive preference for anemones and may “host” in powerheads, corners, or random corals. If you want a natural host relationship, the most suitable anemone species are Entacmaea quadricolor (Bubble Tip Anemone) and Heteractis magnifica, though the former is much easier to keep. Even with the “right” anemone, they might take weeks to months to move in, and some never do. Do not force them or confine them with the anemone. Always protect powerhead intakes with guards or foam covers so the clownfish cannot be injured while “hosting” equipment.

My paired Black Ocellaris Clownfish started laying eggs on the rock near their territory. What specific conditions do they need to continue breeding successfully and for the eggs to hatch on schedule?

Consistent breeding depends on stable, warm, and clean water and regular feeding. Aim for 26–27°C (78–80°F), SG 1.024–1.026, and low nitrate (ideally under 10–15 ppm). Feed the pair at least 2–3 times daily with a mix of quality pellets, frozen mysis, and finely chopped seafood to keep them in condition. They usually lay eggs every 10–14 days. The eggs will darken from bright orange to gray/silver as they near hatching, typically on night 7–10 depending on temperature. Keep strong flow from a nearby powerhead or the return gently directed over the nest to oxygenate the eggs. Avoid sudden light changes or major maintenance on expected hatch nights. If you plan to raise larvae, you’ll need a separate larval tank, gentle aeration, and live foods (rotifers first, then baby brine shrimp), as almost no larvae survive in the display tank.

You will receive a fish SIMILAR in design and size to the fish in the photo. This is NOT a WYSIWYG fish.

Black Ocellaris Clownfish – Amphiprion ocellaris

The Black Ocellaris Clownfish is a striking dark color form of the familiar Ocellaris Clownfish. Mature specimens display a rich brown-black to jet-black body crossed by three crisp white bands, often with warm orange remaining around the face or mouth. Younger fish may show more orange coloration before gradually darkening as they develop.

Sometimes called the Darwin Ocellaris or Darwin False Percula, this naturally occurring color variation originated around Darwin in northern Australia. Nearly all Black Ocellaris Clownfish available to marine aquarists are captive-bred, making them well adapted to aquarium life and prepared foods. The underlying species reaches approximately 4.3 inches, with mature females growing larger than males.

Its dramatic black-and-white coloration, manageable adult size, and dependable coral compatibility make this saltwater fish an excellent choice for reef aquariums and peaceful fish-only aquariums. An anemone is not required, and captive-bred specimens may instead establish a territory around rockwork, a cave, or another sheltered part of the aquarium.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Captive-bred; ancestral black form from the Darwin region of northern Australia
Scientific Name: Amphiprion ocellaris

Tank Requirements

Provide a stable marine aquarium with live rock, caves, overhangs, and at least one protected area the clownfish can claim as its territory. Although this species does not require extensive open-water swimming space, the aquascape should allow easy movement around its chosen shelter and provide room for tankmates to avoid the defended area.

A sand or fine-gravel substrate is suitable, but no specialized substrate is necessary. Moderate, varied water movement is appropriate, provided a calmer resting area is available. Protect exposed pump intakes and use a securely fitted lid or mesh cover, especially during introduction or territorial disputes.

A host anemone is optional. Black Ocellaris Clownfish can thrive without one and may adopt a rock cave, coral colony, powerhead area, or aquarium corner instead. Any anemone should be selected and maintained according to its own lighting, feeding, maturity, and water-quality requirements.

Diet and Feeding

The Black Ocellaris Clownfish is an adaptable omnivore that readily accepts a wide variety of aquarium foods. Offer mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped shrimp or clam, frozen marine blends, and appropriately sized marine pellets or flakes. Include spirulina-enriched foods and other algae-containing preparations for dietary balance.

Feed one or two small meals daily. Juveniles and newly introduced specimens may benefit from two smaller feedings while they acclimate. Avoid offering more food than the fish can consume within a few minutes.

Captive-bred Ocellaris Clownfish are generally dependable feeders and adapt readily to frozen and prepared diets.

Temperament and Tankmates

Black Ocellaris Clownfish are among the more manageable clownfish, but established adults may become territorial around a preferred cave, substitute host, anemone, or spawning site. A mature female is normally the largest and most dominant member of a pair.

Suitable tankmates include gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, firefish, peaceful wrasses, dwarf angelfish, and other community marine fish that will not attempt to eat or continually harass the clownfish. Introduce very timid fish before an established pair whenever possible.

Keep one specimen or a compatible pair in most aquariums. When pairing unfamiliar fish, selecting individuals of noticeably different sizes can help establish the normal hierarchy. Avoid combining two mature females or maintaining several clownfish pairs in a modest aquarium, as aggression can become severe once territories are established.

Reef Compatibility

The Black Ocellaris Clownfish is reef safe. It does not normally consume healthy stony corals, soft corals, zoanthids, clams, ornamental shrimp, crabs, or snails.

Some individuals may adopt a large-polyp stony coral, soft coral, mushroom, or other sessile animal as a substitute host. Repeated rubbing and vigorous movement may irritate a sensitive coral even though the clownfish is not feeding on it. Monitor any adopted coral that remains closed or shows signs of persistent stress.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Maintain dependable biological filtration, consistent salinity, and good oxygenation. Stable water conditions are more important than repeatedly adjusting the aquarium to achieve one exact reading.

Common Considerations

Color develops with maturity: Young fish may retain orange or brown areas that become progressively darker.
An anemone is not required: Captive-bred specimens can live normally without a host anemone.
Expect territorial behavior: An established individual or pair may defend its chosen shelter.
Keep one compatible pair: Multiple pairs or two mature females may fight in confined aquariums.
Allow for individual variation: The depth of black coloration and amount of orange remaining on the face can vary between specimens.