Dear Lord.

[deangelr]

Argumentative welcome!

Again,, what are clownfishes natural conditions and habbits? I am curious how it all works so please let us know, but I think that in my clowns they may be feeding leftovers or extra food to their host..

although clownfish are obviously not limmeted by food quantity on coral reefs (probably more limmited by anemone availability) it would seem a safe assumption that they are not fed as well as in our tanks.

This being said the question is

In natural circumstances is it normal behavior for a clownfish to feed its host anemone?

if you are bringing them tons of dead fish and droping it all in front of their home it may be more likely for them to feed their nem then in more natural conditions.

 

[BonsaiNut]

This being said the question is

In natural circumstances is it normal behavior for a clownfish to feed its host anemone?

I'll be testing a different hypotheses, which is: under ANY condition, will clownfish feed their anemone in the wild?

I will be looking for very deliberate behavior - i.e. a clown swimming out of its anemone 6" or more and grabbing something that is drifting in a manner so that it would not normally contact the anemone. In other words, without the clown's active participation, the anemone would not eat.

If I can get one to do it, I may try to get others. I will play it by ear based on what I see when I get there. Let's hope the water is calm and clear

If I can show that clowns can be prompted to exhibit this behavior in the wild, the obvious next question will be "do they really "think" they are feeding the anemone?" and "can we observe this in completely natural conditions?" (your question). For the second question, I think someone would need to set up a camera on the bottom in a blind for extended observation. After all, even a diver's or snorkeler's presence in the water will change the behavior of the clowns somewhat. Part of the challenge in this whole experiment will be presence of other fish. Typically floating food on a reef is grabbed very quickly. The second I start releasing bits of food into the water I will be swarmed.

 

[BonsaiNut]

By the way, I had never really thought about this, but for people who have clowns in their tanks WITHOUT hosting anemones... do the clowns grab large chunks of food and bring it back to their lairs / where they sleep at night? In other words, has anyone witnessing "hording" behavior versus "feeding" behavior?

 

[Costa reefing]

If clownfish feeding their host a live fish is not naturally occurring, how is it they know to do so in captivity? Trial and error with their nearest neighbor? It would seem to me that its instinct. As far as being picky in what they feed their nems, food is food and as long as it is nutritious they will feed it to their nems, right? This topic just sprung much interest in me that I will now be dedicating much time to researching.

although clownfish are obviously not limmeted by food quantity on coral reefs (probably more limmited by anemone availability) it would seem a safe assumption that they are not fed as well as in our tanks.

My fat clowns want to disagree here. I seriously think they might need jenny craig :lol:

 

[Costa reefing]

By the way, I had never really thought about this, but for people who have clowns in their tanks WITHOUT hosting anemones... do the clowns grab large chunks of food and bring it back to their lairs / where they sleep at night? In other words, has anyone witnessing "hording" behavior versus "feeding" behavior?

Out of the 6 pairs of Percs and a pair of B&W ocellaris that i had/have without a nem, no i can't say i ever saw any type of hording behavior

 

[deangelr]

"Typically floating food on a reef is grabbed very quickly. The second I start releasing bits of food into the water I will be swarmed"

haha i do love feeding the reef.. there are usually damselfish biting before i can get the food out of my BC



and i think the camera setup underwater to watch clowns has been done.. ill try and dig the paper out

 

[Toddrtrex]

Besides the obvious...

That S. Haddoni (( while it looks decent )), is most likely in bad shape, and suspect it died a couple weeks after that video was shot. First it was/is on the rocks -- they are sandbed dwelling anemones. Second, if you have ever had the misfortune of watching a healthy S. Haddoni capture/eat a live fish, you would know that it would be all over in a matter of seconds.

 

[velvetelvis]

Besides the obvious...

That S. Haddoni (( while it looks decent )), is most likely in bad shape, and suspect it died a couple weeks after that video was shot. First it was/is on the rocks -- they are sandbed dwelling anemones. Second, if you have ever had the misfortune of watching a healthy S. Haddoni capture/eat a live fish, you would know that it would be all over in a matter of seconds.

That's a damn shame. Unfortunately, any tool with enough money can go onto a website or walk into a store and buy an animal that s/he is in no way experienced, knowledgeable, or caring enough to keep properly.

 

[kduen]

I was going to say the exact same thing as Todd in the sense that I was telling the wife one night not to turn on the main lights in the room where the tank is when she first gets up since it could startle any of the fish that are out and about directly into my 3 week old Haddoni. The very next night I wasn't thinking and turned off the tank lights and the room lights within 2 secconds of each other and out of the corner of my eye i saw a pink and blue streak in the tank. I turned the room lights back on to see one of my 4 inch anthias and a 3 inch chromis being curled up into an anemone ball and completly disapeared in about thirty secconds. Two days later there was a big ball of fish bones excreted. At least I know that it is willing to eat.

 

[chasedasea]

By the way, I had never really thought about this, but for people who have clowns in their tanks WITHOUT hosting anemones... do the clowns grab large chunks of food and bring it back to their lairs / where they sleep at night? In other words, has anyone witnessing "hording" behavior versus "feeding" behavior?

Yes, I have a Maroon Clown that has been displaying hoarding behavior for over seven years. He will grab as much food as he can fit in his mouth and dart under his rock and spit it out. The food usually floats and gets stuck under the rock and he will continue collecting until he is satisfied and he will begin his feast.

Recently he began hosting a S. gigantea and still displays this behavior and has never fed the anenome, if anything he actually steals its food.

 

[kkiel02]

Flagged that one! Hmmm you have silversides, clams, mysis, etc. etc. Why do this to a damsel. And it is by no means natural to feed a live fish to an anemone by tweezers.

Even though it is natural for a dog to eat live prey we dont throw rabbits in the yard, there is a better, more humane alternative- dog food.

Rant over

 

[velvetelvis]

Flagged that one! Hmmm you have silversides, clams, mysis, etc. etc. Why do this to a damsel. And it is by no means natural to feed a live fish to an anemone by tweezers.

Even though it is natural for a dog to eat live prey we dont throw rabbits in the yard, there is a better, more humane alternative- dog food.

Rant over

I couldn't agree with you more.