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 75-85o F
(about 24-30o 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.
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