9 Popular Types of Clownfish For Your Reef Tank

Thinking about adding a pair of clownfish to your (reef) tank? Good choice! These ultra-popular fish are reef-safe, easy enough to care for, and fascinating to watch. And did you know there are loads of different types of clownfish to choose from?

Yep, there’s more to the world of clowns than just Nemo. Below, let’s have a look at 9 popular types of clownfish you can consider for your aquarium! All belong to the genus Amphiprion, but as you’ll see, each species is unique in its own way.

Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

Found him! The most common clownfish to be kept in aquariums is Amphiprion ocellaris, also known as the ocellaris clownfish—or Nemo. It’s not difficult to see why they’re so beloved among aquarists, what with their bright colors and wiggly swimming styles.

This small clownfish species grows to a maximum size of around 4″ and is naturally found in reefs from the Eastern Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific.

Ocellaris clownfish are often recommended for nano tanks due to their size and tendency to stay in one place, but we prefer keeping ours in tanks of 20 gallons or up here at FantaSEA. They’re considered less territorial than other clownfish, and a pair should get along well with other small fish such as firefish gobies, wrasses, cardinalfish, and more.

There are a bunch of selectively bred “designer” ocellaris clownfish varieties out there. If you don’t mind paying a little more, the beautiful DaVinci, Snowflake, or Darwin (black) clownfish may be up your alley.

Percula clownfish (Amphiprion percula)

The percula clownfish is so similar in looks to the aforementioned ocellaris clownfish that the latter is sometimes referred to as the “false percula”. The difference between ocellaris and percula is in the stripes: perculas sport much thicker black banding.

Percula clownfish are the smallest species of clown, reaching a maximum length of up to 3.5″ but usually staying smaller. They’re naturally found in the Western Pacific, such as around northeastern Australia (Barrier Reef), Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Although perculas are considered a little feistier than their ocellaris cousins, they’ll still tolerate most peaceful aquarium fish. Try royal grammas, gobies, blennies, and more. You can also add invertebrates like cleaner shrimp and snails.

Percula clownfish are extremely extensively selectively bred for color. The Picasso, probably the most well-known designer clownfish, is the best example.

Maroon clownfish (Amphiprion biaculeatus)

If you’re a long-time aquarist, you may think we made a mistake with the scientific name here. But no! Although it used to be the sole species in a genus called Premnas, the maroon clownfish was moved to Amphiprion in 2021, keeping the other clownfish on this list company.

This clownfish is naturally found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific; its range is basically that of the aforementioned ocellaris and percula clownfish combined.

In the aquarium, the maroon clownfish is technically easy enough to keep. It’s hardy and accepts food easily, but the problem is its disposition: these fish have a very short fuse. They’re among the most aggressive and territorial types of clownfish, with females occasionally even killing their own (smaller) mate for no obvious reason.

If you want to keep a pair of maroons, it’s often recommended to go for a single-species set-up. You can get away with adding some cleaner shrimp and snails, but unless the aquarium is very large, other fish will get harassed.

Loads of color morphs are to be found for this species as well. There are variations with wider or thinner white bars, and the base color can vary widely from light orange to very dark maroon. There’s even a white version with red fins.

Clarkii clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)

Say hello to Nemo’s dark and broody cousin! Usually brown to black in color with white vertical stripes and yellow fins, the clarkii clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) has one of the widest natural ranges of all anemonefish. It’s found all the way from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean.

Wild clarkiis are not picky about their anemones. According to research, they will host any of the 10 anemone species that maintain relationships with anemonefish. This comes in handy for us aquarists, as they’ll easily pair up with pretty much anything. You can consider trying soft leather corals or hard torch corals if you don’t want to deal with fussy anemones.

Although they’re not the crankiest of clownfish, clarkiis can still be pretty territorial. We’ve received nips when getting too close to what they consider their part of the aquarium! Don’t keep them with other clowns and avoid timid tankmates.

Tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus)

Given its color and body shape, we probably don’t have to explain where the tomato clownfish got its name! This pretty species can range from bright orangeish-red to a more brownish red, always with a vertical white stripe on the cheek, and has a round body.

Naturally found in the Western Pacific, the tomato clownfish is popular in the aquarium hobby thanks to its sturdy nature. It’s suitable as a beginner fish, although it’s important to keep in mind that it is considered moderately aggressive.

A solo pair of tomato clownfish can be kept in a 30-gallon aquarium, but we’d recommend at least a 40 if you’re thinking of adding tankmates. Timid fish are likely to be bullied, so go for nimble species that aren’t to easily intimidated. Six line wrasses are a common choice.

Wild tomato clownfish are associated with bubble-tip anemones, one of the easier anemone species to keep in the aquarium. However, as always, you don’t strictly have to keep these clowns with an anemone.

Saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus)

The saddleback clownfish, appropriately named for the saddle-shaped vertical white bar running across the middle of its body, is a black, white, and yellow anemonefish scientifically known as Amphiprion polymnus.

This unusual clown, one of the only to sport a black tail, is among the species that exhibit different colors based on the anemone they live with. They like both Heteractis crispa and Stichodactyla haddoni anemones, but fish that pair up with the former will be much darker (melanistic).

Saddleback clowns are naturally found in the part of the Indo-Pacific Ocean known as the Coral Triangle, which offers the ideal habitat for a reef dweller like this. You can keep this species in an aquarium of 30 gallons or up; it’s considered relatively peaceful as far as anemonefish go.

The saddleback clownfish makes up the “saddleback” sub-complex within the genus Amphiprion along with the highly similar sebae clownfish (discussed below) and a few other species less commonly kept in the aquarium.

Pink Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion)

The pink skunk clownfish is the most popular species in a sub-complex within the genus Amphiprion known as the skunk complex. All skunk clowns sport evenly colored, pinkish-to-orange bodies with white stripes, but there are subtle differences. The pink skunk can be told apart by the vertical white bar on its gill covers.

Naturally found mostly in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Melanesia, this is another typical reef dweller. In the wild, this small species can sometimes be seen sharing anemones with the previously mentioned Clark’s clownfish, though we’d be wary of trying this in the aquarium unless there’s plenty of space available.

As far as anemonefish go, pink skunks aren’t considered overly “spicy”. They’ll defend their territories and can nip at tankmates that come too close, but can be kept with peaceful tankmates like gobies and firefish just fine.

Wild pink skunk clownfish can mostly be found on the spectacular Heteractis magnifica anemone, which is unfortunately very challenging to maintain in our tanks. Luckily, they’ll also host easier anemone species, like bubble tips.

Cinnamon Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus)

How beautiful and unusual is this one?! Scientifically known as Amphiprion melanopus, the cinnamon clownfish is perfect for aquarists who don’t want a “standard”-looking fish.

As you might have guessed from its similar body shape, this species belongs to the “tomato complex” within the genus Amphiprion along with the aforementioned tomato clown and a few other species. It sports a bright orange-red body with brown flanks and a stark white vertical gill stripe.

Naturally found in the Western Pacific, the cinnamon clownfish usually inhabits bubble-tip anemones, although it also sometimes pairs up with Heteractis crispa or H. magnifica. You can keep a pair in an aquarium of 30 gallons or up.

Probably one of the reasons this species has never reached the popularity level of something like A. ocellaris, despite being hardy and easy to keep alive, is that it’s one of the more aggressive types of anemonefish for the aquarium (all species in the tomato complex have short fuses).

Don’t keep cinnamon clownfish with timid species and don’t overstock your tank, or your other fish might end up getting bullied!

Sebae clownfish (Amphiprion sebae)

Better known as the sebae clownfish, Amphiprion sebae is a black, white, and yellow anemonefish naturally found in the northern Indian Ocean (from the Arab Peninsula to Indonesia).

Although they have never quite attained the popularity levels of a species like A. ocellaris, sebae clowns have nevertheless long been a fixture in the saltwater aquarium hobby. Plenty of research has been done into the best ways to raise them, ensuring a steady production of captive-bred fish despite them being relatively challenging to pair up.

If you’re looking to buy a sebae clownfish, keep in mind that they’re commonly mislabeled. As you may have concluded by now, some of the fish on this list do look very similar to one another. Clarkiis are the most obvious suspect; saddleback clowns can be told apart by their black tail fins.

Although they’re not the crankiest members of their genus, sebae clowns do have that typical anemonefish feistiness. Take care to combine them with tankmates that can hold their own and be sure to provide plenty of space.

Fun fact: As the anemone Heteractis crispa is also referred to as the sebae anemone, it’s easy to assume a relationship. But no! The sebae clownfish exclusively pairs up with Stichodactyla haddoni.

Sebae clownfish are named after 17-18th century Dutch zoologist Albertus Seba. Although we couldn’t confirm this, the same probably goes for the anemone, which explains the identical names.

Need help?

Dreaming of a beautiful reef aquarium full of colorful, wiggly clownfish? Lack the time or expertise to set up and maintain it? No worries! That’s what FantaSEA Aquariums is for.

Contact us with your aquarium ideas and we’ll make it happen. FantaSEA designs, sets up, and maintains your tank(s) for you—we get our hands wet so you don’t have to!