Do all species of wild anemone fish host?

fossil

New member
In the wild do any of the 30ish species of clownfish not host and live their life entirely free swimming? If so what species? and can you please provide some sort of documentation to prove this.
 
Yeah, they all are hosted by one of the host anemone species. None of them are found "free swimming" in nature once they have gone through the initial metamorphosis stage approximately one week after hatching. They float freely in the plankton for about a week after they hatch and then begin looking for a host anemone. Research has shown that in the wild if the host anemone is covered up so the anemonefish can't get to them they soon perish if they don't find another host. Obligate symbionts is the term, I think, that describes their relationship.
 
Back
Top