fshhub
Active Member
The clownfish:
One of the most widely found fish in the salt water hobby world, is the clownfish, which consists of several species.
Some of which include the following:
Tomato or Amphiprion frenatus
Percula or Amphiprion percula
False Percula or Amphiprion ocellaris
and Maroons
just to name a few.
Most sw tanks in the hobby have at least one of these beautiful fish. The most common probably being the Percula and False Percula Clownfish. These are very beautiful and interesting fish to say the least. In general, clownfish are fairly easy to keep and extremely hearty. Some of these species are fairly aggressive, but most are more passive.
Appropriately named, the clownfish is fun to watch swimming and wallowing around the tank. The clownfish are obligate --- changers, meaning that they change --- as their society needs. When a female is needed within the little harem, the largest most dominant male in the group will change --- and become female, having one or several males to breed with. When purchasing clownfish, you should actually buy them all at one time and only get one species. For, they are very aggressive towards other species of clwownfish.
While most people do believe that clownfish need to be with an anemone, this is a 'old wives tale'. Most clownfish will accept some type host if one is presented, however THEY WILL DO JUST FINE WITHOUT ANY HOST. this particular host does not neccessarily need to be an anemone, but may also often be a soft coral of some type. In addition, though many species seem to take to one type of an anemone or not another type, it is ultimately up to the clownfish and anemone. Often times we find that no matter what the books say should be, often there is an anemone who does not want a host and likewise there are clownfish who just do not want any of the homes known to be one of their species prefered. A clownfishes relationship with its host is very symbiotic and it is an advantage for both. The anemone provides shelter for the clownfish, while the clownfish will provide food for the anemone. Because of their slime coating, the clownfish is actually immune to the anemones stinging tentacles.
The clownfish are omnivores, meaning they will generally eat some vegetation and some meats. And normallly eat any food we provide for them. Krill, silversides, blood worms, brine and flake food are just a few of the things that they most generally will accept. They range in size from 3 inches to 6 inches in length, dependant upon the species in question.
Although they are a gairly hearty species, some care and knowledge must be used in keeping them. They are known for getting ickh and brookynella(sp) or "clownfish disease". SImply knowing the signs and how to care for them greatly increases a clownfishes chance of survival in the home aquarium.
Another nice thing about this particular fish, is that they do very well in captivity and even breed fairly well, so as hobbyists, we have both captive breed and wild caught fish available to us. The captive breed in general, do much better and normally live much longer than wild captured clownfish. However the wild caught of the species often seems to take to a surrogate host, such as an anemone, more often.
With that said, we have a pair of Perculas in our tank, and we love to watch them playing.
One of the most widely found fish in the salt water hobby world, is the clownfish, which consists of several species.
Some of which include the following:
Tomato or Amphiprion frenatus
Percula or Amphiprion percula
False Percula or Amphiprion ocellaris
and Maroons
just to name a few.
Most sw tanks in the hobby have at least one of these beautiful fish. The most common probably being the Percula and False Percula Clownfish. These are very beautiful and interesting fish to say the least. In general, clownfish are fairly easy to keep and extremely hearty. Some of these species are fairly aggressive, but most are more passive.
Appropriately named, the clownfish is fun to watch swimming and wallowing around the tank. The clownfish are obligate --- changers, meaning that they change --- as their society needs. When a female is needed within the little harem, the largest most dominant male in the group will change --- and become female, having one or several males to breed with. When purchasing clownfish, you should actually buy them all at one time and only get one species. For, they are very aggressive towards other species of clwownfish.
While most people do believe that clownfish need to be with an anemone, this is a 'old wives tale'. Most clownfish will accept some type host if one is presented, however THEY WILL DO JUST FINE WITHOUT ANY HOST. this particular host does not neccessarily need to be an anemone, but may also often be a soft coral of some type. In addition, though many species seem to take to one type of an anemone or not another type, it is ultimately up to the clownfish and anemone. Often times we find that no matter what the books say should be, often there is an anemone who does not want a host and likewise there are clownfish who just do not want any of the homes known to be one of their species prefered. A clownfishes relationship with its host is very symbiotic and it is an advantage for both. The anemone provides shelter for the clownfish, while the clownfish will provide food for the anemone. Because of their slime coating, the clownfish is actually immune to the anemones stinging tentacles.
The clownfish are omnivores, meaning they will generally eat some vegetation and some meats. And normallly eat any food we provide for them. Krill, silversides, blood worms, brine and flake food are just a few of the things that they most generally will accept. They range in size from 3 inches to 6 inches in length, dependant upon the species in question.
Although they are a gairly hearty species, some care and knowledge must be used in keeping them. They are known for getting ickh and brookynella(sp) or "clownfish disease". SImply knowing the signs and how to care for them greatly increases a clownfishes chance of survival in the home aquarium.
Another nice thing about this particular fish, is that they do very well in captivity and even breed fairly well, so as hobbyists, we have both captive breed and wild caught fish available to us. The captive breed in general, do much better and normally live much longer than wild captured clownfish. However the wild caught of the species often seems to take to a surrogate host, such as an anemone, more often.
With that said, we have a pair of Perculas in our tank, and we love to watch them playing.
