The Clownfish

The Clownfish or Anemonefish is from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. There are 28 known species of anemonefish, most of which live in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Western Pacific. They are not found in the Caribbean, Mediterranean or Atlantic Ocean.

Bright orange with three distinctive white bars, clown anemonefish are among the most recognizable of all reef-dwellers. They reach about 4.3 inches (11 centimeters) in length, and are named for the multicolored sea anemone in which they make their homes.

Clownfish and sea anemones have a symbiotic, mutualistic relationship, each providing a number of benefits to the other. The sea anemone protects the clownfish from predators, as well as providing food through the scraps left from the anemone's meals and occasional dead anemone tentacles. In return, the clownfish defends the anemone from its predators, and parasites. The anemone also picks up nutrients from the clownfish's excrement, and functions as a safe nest site. The Clownfish perform an elaborate dance with an anemone before taking up residence, gently touching its tentacles with different parts of their bodies until they are acclimated to their host. A layer of mucus on the clownfish's skin makes it immune to the fish-eating anemone's lethal sting.

Surprisingly, Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning that they are born male and they have the ability to switch their sex when they mature, once they switch the change is irreversible. The largest and most aggressive female is found at the top.

Fortunately for those who love the clownfish, they are quite easy to keep healthy and happy in a well-maintained aquarium. The first thing people should know is that the minimum tank size is from 8 to 10 gallons. Although, they do not need a lot of space to swim, as they will often swim up and down in a relatively small area much of the time, some sources suggest a tank of 20 or 30 gallons, as small tanks require extra maintenance and can be much more susceptible to sanitation problems.

To replicate the warm, mellow waters of the tropics, keep your aquarium at a temperature of about 75-85^o F (about 24-30^o C.). Also, the aquarium should have a lighting system, which must turn off at night to replicates the normal cycle of day and night that your clownfish would experience in the wild.

In captivity, Clownfish can live for over a decade and will grow to almost become part of the family. They are active, engaging fish and will follow you as you walk by the tank. In fact, many people can actually feed their clownfish by hand. An Ideal buddy to take Home.