People’s interest in clownfish increased a lot more than before after the movie Finding Nemo came out. This beautiful fish is calm, peaceful, and easy to maintain. However, they are among the high-priced saltwater fish. That naturally makes you wonder how much does a clownfish cost?
The average price of a clownfish is around $10-$25. However, if the fish is rare or bigger, it can cost $15-$100 or more. A clownfish’s price is determined by its type, size, and color.
You can always look for a clownfish that meets your budget. And if you need detailed answers to your questions regarding clownfish cost and care, you will find them in today’s article.
Price At Top Clownfish Selling Shops: [Where To Buy Clownfish]
To make purchasing clownfish easier for you, I have listed some of the top clownfish selling shops.
| Shop | Price Range |
| LiveAquaria | $14-$110 |
| PetCo Store | $17-$189 |
| Vivid Aquariums | $20-$50 |
| Saltwater Fish | $20-$293 |
| That Pet Place | $15-$60 |
How Much Does A Clownfish Cost?
The clownfish price range starts relatively low and then goes a lot higher than typical freshwater fish. Generally, you can purchase a tiny and commonly found clownfish for $10-$25. These are usually the ones with orange and white stripes.
And if you go for a slightly different type and color of clownfish, the price will range between $60-$70. And if you purchase the rare ones, you have to be ready to spend more than $100 per fish.
Then comes the additional costs, such as tank expenses, food, fish care, etc. The more unique species you go for, the more expensive it becomes.
Clownfish Cost By Type: [Price Of Different Species]
A clownfish’s price depends mainly on its species. And as I mentioned already, there are various types for the 30 clownfish species, and each kind has a different price range.
1. Percula Clown (Price: $15-$30)
This is the most commonly found clownfish type that you will spot in every fish store. It is popular among hobbyists and new fish tank owners. They have white color but have black spots around the back and tail. Some parts of them are orange.
2. Ocellaris/False Percula (Price: $10-$25)
These clownfish look like the Percula species. However, they are not Percula. These are Ocellaris, and the Nemo fish we were talking about resembles this one.
Sometimes they are called false Percula for their resemblance. The only way to distinguish between these two types is to learn that a false Percula has a thin black outline to its white stripes.
3. Naked Ocellaris (Price: $46-$80)
This is another type of Ocellaris. But they have a plain orange body without any black or white stripes.
Naked Ocellaris are among the unique-looking clownfish. That’s why they cost more than the previous types.
4. Tomato Clownfish (Price: $15-$50)
Tomato clownfish are among the large ones in clownfish types. Similar to the naked Ocellaris, they have a dark orange body. The only difference is that they have white stripes with a black outline right behind the eyes.
5. Maroon Clownfish (Price: $20-$30)
Maroon clownfish are the largest of the types and among the most beautiful ones. They have a magnificent maroon color body with three white stripes. The white stripes turn golden after 9-12 months.
6. Clarkii Clownfish (Price: $15-$40)
This type of clownfish is not as aggressive as the other ones in the species. They grow up to six inches and are very easy to care for.
7. Skunk Clownfish (Price: $15-$30)
Compared to other clownfish, Skunk clownfish has a unique pattern. They have white stripes along their back, which is why they have the name Skunk. And another white line along the cheek that doesn’t meet the one on the back.
8. Saddleback (Price: $35-$56)
Be careful with this one! Saddleback clownfish are not suitable for beginners as they are a bit complex to maintain. They have a white stripe around their back that does not meet their belly. The stripe looks like the fish has a saddle on its back.
Factors That Affect Clownfish Cost
Clownfish’s price or overall cost depends on a few factors. Here is what affects the initial price of a clownfish.
Clownfish Species
There are at least 30 different species of clownfish. All of them are separated into six complexes. And each complex has different price ranges.
Two of the most common clownfish types are Percula and the Ocellaris. These are comparatively low-priced as they are commonly available in stores.
These clownfish may look the same, but the Percula is slightly different from the orange clownfish. So it is not unusual for people to mistake one of them for another.
Size
Clownfish size is an important factor that affects its price. The smaller one usually costs a bit less than the large ones. If you purchase nano clownfish or the fry (babies), you can spend a lot less as they are the least expensive ones.
However, be careful with your aquarium. You never know how much these Nanos will grow. Though most clownfish grow about 3-4 inches, some of them can grow a little longer. So, the price of the fish will depend on how long the fish is or will be.
Color
We all are familiar with one particular color: the orange one with black stripes. But there is a variety of colors in clownfish.
You will find the “naked” clownfish that do not have any stripes. They only have solid body color and contrast colors on their fin tips.
And then there are clownfish with black, white, cinnamon, maroon, yellow colors. So the more color variety you look for, the more high-priced the fish will be.
Additional Costs
Clownfish love exploring their territory. They are peaceful fish but can go into an aggressive mode when they feel threatened. That’s why you need to rethink your aquarium plan. Keeping and caring for a clownfish comes with the following additional costs.
Tank
Some people believe that a 10-gallon tank is suitable for a clownfish. But if you are keeping a pair, it is best to get a 20-gallon tank and give the clownfish more area to explore. And if you have a maroon clownfish, which grows around 6-inch, a 30-gallon tank will be suitable.
The price of a 10-20 gallons fish tank can range between $59-$150. A 30-gallon aquarium can cost up to $300.
Read about the best nano reef tanks.
Filter
You will need a suitable filter for your saltwater aquarium. Depending on the tank size and filtration capacity, a filter can cost $28-$72.
Protein Skimmer
You can add a protein skimmer to remove organic wastes from the tank. A protein skimmer’s price starts from $38. Protein skimmer will save you from frequent water changes as a result you can save the cost of reef salt.
Water Heater
Clownfish prefer living in warmer parts of the ocean. So, when keeping such a fish inside a tank, make sure the tank environment is warm enough for the fish, generally 75-degree Fahrenheit.
Temperature Tester
A suitable clownfish tank temperature keeps the fish healthy and stress-free. You need to keep a check on the light, ammonia, pH, and water level. You will find a saltwater test kit between $30-$100.
Food
Clownfish are not picky eaters. So, when it comes to food, you won’t have to worry about anything costly. They usually eat plants and animal matter. And you can get 50-100 grams of clownfish food, such as pallet food or ghost shrimps, for $6-$7.
Related Post: Feeding Clownfish
Reef Crystal Salt
Clownfish are saltwater fish and need a saltwater fish tank to live. That’s why you need to add crystal salt to balance the salinity. A box of crystal salt costs around $15-$30.
Parting Words
So, how much does a clownfish cost? Well, you now know that the price of some clownfish is pretty affordable, while the other ones are very costly. But the clownfish owners believe that their money’s worth spending as the fish are friendly and peaceful.
And don’t worry too much about owning a clownfish for the first time. Most of them are beginner-friendly and easy to get along with.
