So, you’re interested in getting a clownfish. Excellent! Clownfish are one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby. Colorful, easy to care for, and fairly inexpensive, these fish surely deserve the reputation they have.
As a responsible hobbyist, you probably want to learn as much as possible in order to provide the best living conditions for your clownfish. That brings us to the question. What do clownfish eat?
Feeding a clownfish is an easy task to do. But finding the best food for clownfish is a tricky one. In this article, we’ll deep dive into the subject and find out what is the right diet for your clownfish. But before we do that, let’s answer the question.
What do clownfish eat? Clownfish are omnivores which means their diet consists of zooplankton from the water column, small crustaceans, and small portions of algae.
What Do Clownfish Eat in the Wild
Clownfish are opportunistic feeders in the wild. They don’t have constant access to food like those kept in home aquariums, so whenever they get the chance to eat, they eat as much as they can.
Often, even tank raised clownfish imitate this type of behavior. It’s quite interesting to observe those little pals eating almost everything you throw in front of them.
The diet of the wild clownfish primarily consists of zooplankton and seaweeds.
What do Clownfish eat in Aquarium
In aquariums, it is a different scenario.
They don’t have such problems compared to the wild ones. They get plenty of food on a daily basis.
Clownfish should be fed with a variety of foods in order to get all the necessary nutrients. In the next section, we’ll closely look at all the types of foods clownfish can eat.
What to Feed a Clownfish
The food you are giving to your clownfish can be divided into three categories :
- Pellets
- Frozen Foods
- Live Foods
Pellets for Clownfish
Pellets are the most common food given to clownfish. And probably the easiest food to be found in fish stores. Here are some brands that make good clownfish food:
- New Life Spectrum
- Soft Clownfish Pellets by Faunamarin
- Omega One Marine Pellets
Frozen Foods for Clownfish
Frozen foods are also a great choice to enrich your clownfish diet. Here are some of the best frozen foods for clownfish on the market :
- San Francisco Bay Frozen Brine Shrimp
- Rod’s Food Fish Eggs
- LRS Fish Frenzy
Live Foods for Clownfish
Feeding your clownfish with live food is an excellent way to wake up their natural instinct.
Especially for breeding purposes. Some of the most common live foods given to clownfish are Mysis and Brine shrimp.
How often to feed Clownfish
You’ve probably heard different opinions on this matter. While most of them are good, quite often they don’t see the big picture. How often to feed your clowns? It depends. Actually, it depends on many factors.
Yes, you can feed them once and call it a day. There is nothing wrong with that. But if you want to raise a healthy and big clownfish that will live a long life you should be aware of some things. Not every clownfish will need the same amount of food. Some need more food, others don’t.
The amount of food will be based on the size of the clownfish, age of the clownfish, and the size of the tank. And of course, based on the other inhabitants in the tank.
Juvenile clownfish need frequent feedings. In general, a couple of times in a day should be sufficient. In fact, a lack of food in the early stages may stunt their growth. On the other hand, older clownfish can be fed every other day.
The tank size is also an important factor that determines the frequency of the feedings. Smaller tanks can’t support a heavy feeding schedule. Beginners are prone to making these types of mistakes.
They buy a clownfish, set up a small tank, and start feeding their fish whenever they can. I know the urge to feed your fish every time you pass by your tank. I am guilty of doing that, too. And with fish always begging for food, it’s hard to resist feeding them.
The best way to bypass this problem is to set up an exact amount of food per day according to the size of the clownfish and the size of the tank. Split that food into several feedings per day. That way, your clownfish will be well-fed, at the same time, you will avoid polluting your tank with food.
Tips for Feeding a Clownfish
Your clownfish should be always interested in the food you are giving it. If it’s not begging for food, it’s probably not hungry. It’s a sign you should not ignore. Uneaten food can quickly pollute your tank. It’s the last thing you want to do. It can have a big impact on your clownfish overall health.
Most clownfish are vigorous eaters which means they’ll hunt down food all over the tank. However, some types are shier than others, and they will require manual assistance. Often, new additions to the tank or juvenile clownfish will have a spot in the tank where they feel safe. Feed them at those spots until they get familiar with the tank.
Clownfish can get picky after eating the same food for a prolonged time. Try to mix it up once in a while to avoid such problems.
Turn your pumps off. Clownfish are slow swimmers, and sometimes it’s difficult for them to get to the food if the water flow is strong. By turning the pumps off you can monitor the amount of food that has been eaten and how much you should feed them. Of course, you can experiment with this and see what happens if the pumps are on.
Best food for clownfish?
So, what’s the conclusion? If you have to choose what would be the best food to feed your clownfish?
While I can’t say that one type of food is better than the others, I suspect it’s a little bit of everything. Clownfish are omnivores which means their diet should consist of foods from animal and plant origin.
A diverse diet is necessary if you want your clownfish to reach its maximum potential. The best food is the food that will help your clownfish grow and stay healthy.
All of the foods mentioned above are great. Pick your favorite, experiment according to your clownfish, and once in a while mix it up. That way, your clownfish will always be interested in the food you are giving to it.
Final Thoughts
Feeding your clownfish is one of the most interesting aspects of the hobby. It’s always fun watching those little pals begging for food. Despite the fact that you’ve just fed them a moment ago. I know, for sure, I enjoy feeding all of my fish. I bet, you do, as well.
I know, as well, that you are aware of the importance of a good diet for your clownfish. And, that has a great impact on the overall health of fish. So, I’m sure you’ll make your clownfish happy by giving them the best possible foods.
