Darwin Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

The Darwin Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is the jet-black Darwin form of the classic clown with one twist: its middle or rear white bar stops partway down the side instead of wrapping the body. That broken bar is the misbar, and it gives every fish its own look. Captive bred by QM Labs, Quality Marine's hatchery in Los Angeles, so it arrives eating prepared foods and settles in fast. Hardy, peaceful, beginner friendly, and fully reef safe. Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock and supplies to build out the tank.

Black Darwin, Broken Bar

Darwin ocellaris take their name from Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory, home to a naturally black population of ocellaris clowns. Young Darwins start out dark brown and turn jet black at around 1¼ to 1½ inches, so a smaller fish can still show some brown, especially on the face. The misbar is set from the start: look for a white bar that ends before it reaches the belly. If you would rather have a full three-bar fish, see our Black Darwin Ocellaris.

Each fish carries its own pattern, so the photo shows a representative Darwin Misbar rather than the exact fish you will take home. Ask us in store and we are happy to show you the fish in the tank.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 20 gallons for a single fish, 30 gallons or more for a pair. Clowns stay close to home, so they do not need a long tank, just stable water and a spot to claim.
• Water parameters: 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.026. Steady conditions matter more than hitting an exact number.
• Feeding: omnivore and an eager eater. Captive-bred clowns already take marine pellets, flake, and frozen PE Mysis or brine shrimp. Feed once or twice a day, an amount it finishes in a minute or two.
• Anemone not required. Captive-bred clowns live full, healthy lives without one, and many adopt a soft coral, a corner of the rockwork, or the flow from a powerhead instead.
• If you want a host: a Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) is the hardiest and most widely accepted choice. Add it to a mature tank, six months or older, with strong lighting.
• Pairing: clownfish start out without a fixed sex, and in a pair the larger, more dominant fish becomes the female. Add two young fish together, or a smaller fish to an established single. Any other ocellaris, including the black and designer forms, will pair with a Darwin Misbar.
• Reef safe: yes. It leaves corals and invertebrates alone, though a clown that adopts a coral as its host can irritate that coral over time.

Specifications

Compatibility

Peaceful with almost everything and an easy fit in a mixed reef. Good tank mates include the Firefish Goby, Royal Gramma, Blue Green Chromis, Banggai Cardinalfish, and cleanup crew like the Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. Skip big predators such as lionfish, groupers, and large triggers, which see a small clownfish as food.

Keep one clownfish species per tank. Two different species, or two unpaired adults of any kind, will fight over territory.

Shopping the black clowns? The Black Darwin Ocellaris is the full three-bar version of this fish, the Phantom Clownfish adds jagged white snowflake markings to a black body, and the Black Ice Clownfish crosses the Darwin with the Snowflake for even more white.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Piscine Energetics PE Mysis frozen staple
• Xtreme Marine PeeWee Pellets slow-sinking daily pellet
• Vitalis Marine Grazing Pellets
• Green Bulb Anemone or Snowflake Bulb Anemone if you want a host
• Saltwater Refractometer for accurate salinity

FAQ

Mine looks brown, not black. Is that right?
Yes. Darwins start out dark brown and turn jet black at around 1¼ to 1½ inches, with the face usually the last part to darken. Good food and stable water bring the black in.

What does misbar mean?
A misbar clown is missing part of a bar. On this fish the middle or rear white bar stops partway down the side instead of wrapping the body. It is a looks-only trait with no effect on health or hardiness.

Can I pair it with a regular Black Darwin?
Yes. They are the same species, so a misbar and a full-bar Darwin pair up like any two ocellaris. Most pairs form from two young fish added together.

Does it need an anemone?
No. Captive-bred clownfish live full, healthy lives without one. An anemone is a fun extra for a mature tank, not a requirement.