something about clownfish

gfxslayer

New member
Clownfish
These fish owe their name to their coloring. Several species are commercially available nowadays, often with their associated sea anemone, because their life is generally intertwined with this invertebrate, which offers them protection. In return, the anemones can take advantage of the clowns' leftover food, although this is not always the case, and they can also live without the company of their tenants.


The Amphiprions are not affected by the action of the anemone's venom; they protect themselves by progressively rubbing themselves in it, which grants them a kind of immunity. If a clownfish is separated from its anemone for any length of time, on its return it has to gradually rehabituate itself.

Anemones also play an important role in the reproduction of Pomacentrids for, without them, they breed less often. The fish mark out a territory (around 0.25 m-) close to the anemones, lay their eggs on a support, and defend the site. The parents, which stay faithful to each other - the males are generally monogamous - can reproduce every 2-4 weeks. Clownfish, at first males, later become females, which are then bigger. Feeding them in captivity does not present any problems: they like small live and frozen prey, mussels, and chopped shrimps, and they sometimes accept commercial artificial food.


Anemones Associates With Clownfish
Even though some clownfish can live without anemones, in captivity it is best to provide them with one - but not just any one. In fact, the associations concern exact species, although there may be confusion because the scientific names of anemones changed some 10 years ago. Some anemones can house several species of clownfish, others are more exclusive.

clownfish-img03.jpg



More guide:
http://saltwaterfishtips.com
 
IMO this information is largely worthless. For one, all species of clownfish are just fine in captivity without anemones, and a "guide" like this encourages new aquarists to purchase anemones, and that will generally lead to the death of a depressing number of anemones.

Furthermore, tons of people here have had clowns spawning regularly without an anemone. Plus, clownfish do not "sometimes" accept commercial food, they pretty much always accept commercial preparations.

While the relationship is fun to watch, I'm very much against any sort of literature stating that you shouldn't keep clowns with anemones (or that you should try to keep S. Gigantea or H. Magnifica without years of experience with anemones). Many aquarists get clownfish very early on in the hobby, and this is not the right time for them to be getting an anemone. They need much more experience to keep these sensitive creatures.

I appreciate the post, and it's good to see people doing research, but you gotta remember that not everything you read is accurate. The best research, in my mind, is listening to the people here who have had years upon years of experience actually keeping clowns and anemones.
 
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