All Anemone and Clownfish owners should bookmark this (Fautin/Allen)

[D-Nak]

If you don't already have a copy of Dr. Daphne G. Fautin and Dr. Gerald R. Allen's book "Field Guide to Anemonefishes and Their Host Anemones" I highly recommend picking one up. Not only does it have excellent photos, but it's also the reference guide of many. Fautin and Allen are considered by many to be the de facto experts on all things host anemones and clowns.

Fortunately, for those who do not have access to the book, the digital version is available here:

http://www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html

I encourage all clownfish and host anemone owners to take a look!

 

[TinManx]

That guide is awesome. I wonder why it is stated that S. gigantea have non-adhesive verrucae? All of mine have had them.

 

[D-Nak]

That guide is awesome. I wonder why it is stated that S. gigantea have non-adhesive verrucae? All of mine have had them.

I agree. Mine all did as well (or at least what appear to be, as it looked like the gig was using them to secure its disc to the rock). I think what we need to keep in mind is that the descriptions are all based on observation in the wild. We know that some attributes change when confined in captivity, and furthermore what we see occur in our tanks (what many believe to be feeding of anemones, for example) does not happen in their natural environment.

 

[davocean]

That is my number one source and go to guide, but that being said there are still either updates or corrections, like most nems guides or documentation, still so much being learned about these animals.

 

[phender]

It is a very good reference book, but like has already been mentioned the data is based on looking at wild anemones and clowns.

There are several things like anemone colors, ranges, even which clowns go with which anemone that are incorrect.

I don't know if it has been updated since my version, but they have latz only living in H. crispa even though they have a picture in the book of one living in a BTA. (in the picture the BTA is mis-IDed as a crispa).

There are a couple other interpretations of observations that are presented as facts that several experts have problems with, but all in all, it is a book that every clown/anemone hobbyist should have in their library.

 

[Reefahholic]

I'll have to pick up a copy.

Thanks!

 

[Reefahholic]

It is a very good reference book, but like has already been mentioned the data is based on looking at wild anemones and clowns.

There are several things like anemone colors, ranges, even which clowns go with which anemone that are incorrect.

I don't know if it has been updated since my version, but they have latz only living in H. crispa even though they have a picture in the book of one living in a BTA. (in the picture the BTA is mis-IDed as a crispa).

There are a couple other interpretations of observations that are presented as facts that several experts have problems with, but all in all, it is a book that every clown/anemone hobbyist should have in their library.

Man, with errors like that, it makes me wonder if there is a better more accurate guide out there.

 

[garygb]

It also has crispa as a natural host for percula. But, still a great book that I've found very helpful.

 

[addictedreefer]

Also, the photo of s. haddoni actually appears to be c.adhaesivum (pizza nem).

 

[D-Nak]

LOL... okay, okay... it does have some outdated material, and there are some mis-IDs. However, for the novice clownfish or anemone owner, it answers many questions that often appear in this forum.

I wish I could dig up the thread where we discussed some of the apparent errors, but IIRC it was a few years ago and it was a tangent on another thread.

FWIW, it's a A LOT better than content we find on a lot of websites, especially when it comes to IDing carpet anemones. I can think of quite a few websites that describe a haddoni but have a photo of a gigantea, and vice versa.

 

[davocean]

Man, with errors like that, it makes me wonder if there is a better more accurate guide out there.

Despite a couple needed updates or corrections, I still think as a collection of data it still has the best info overall.

 

[oh207]

Thank you!

 

[Reefahholic]

With that many errors, surely there has to be something a little better...

When I find that many errors in material I'm reading, I question the whole book and should.....