tsquad
Premium Member
What are your clown/anemone fanatic's views on this?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=907921
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=907921
Symbiosis Question
- Thread starter tsquad
- Start date
kau_cinta_ku
New member
thanks tyler you beat me to it
dantodd
New member
my view is that it is a really big thread with very little value.
As for the nature of the relationship I believe that the anemone protects the clown from predators and the clown protects the anemone from predators. I believe the feeding is just something that occurs in our tanks. My clarkii who has no anemone takes food to the skimmer pump to hide it. Just like she used to take it to the anemone before he "changed" to a she.
As for the nature of the relationship I believe that the anemone protects the clown from predators and the clown protects the anemone from predators. I believe the feeding is just something that occurs in our tanks. My clarkii who has no anemone takes food to the skimmer pump to hide it. Just like she used to take it to the anemone before he "changed" to a she.
phender
Active member
The experts who study anemones in the wild say that clowns DO NOT feed there anemones in the wild.
The thread also disregards the fact that many people on this forum have trouble with their clowns stealing food from their anemones. I have had several clowns that would remove food from their anemone and just spit it out and not even attempt to eat it themselves.
Personally, I think clowns live with anemones so they can better protect eggs. There are plenty of places on the reef for baby clowns to hide and an adult clarki or chrysopterus certainly doesn't need an anemone to protect itself. Clowns routinely leave their anemones to attack divers and chase away large fish.
You guys are basing you discussion on limited observations and stereotypes of clownfish.
The thread also disregards the fact that many people on this forum have trouble with their clowns stealing food from their anemones. I have had several clowns that would remove food from their anemone and just spit it out and not even attempt to eat it themselves.
Personally, I think clowns live with anemones so they can better protect eggs. There are plenty of places on the reef for baby clowns to hide and an adult clarki or chrysopterus certainly doesn't need an anemone to protect itself. Clowns routinely leave their anemones to attack divers and chase away large fish.
You guys are basing you discussion on limited observations and stereotypes of clownfish.
Amphiprion
Premium Member
I have to agree. Their association primarily benefits the clownfish, which can and will 'steal' food from their host. There are, however, plenty of observations that suggest the fish will use their anemone as a tool, tearing smaller pieces of food from a larger chunk. Clownfish that nab a large piece of food immediately take it to the anemone to aid in removing manageable pieces from it. The anemone may get the piece of food, but I believe that is simply incidental at best. While observing the aforementioned, I have even noted the clowns ripping the food away and replacing it as the anemone tried to consume it. I tend to think of this behavior much like many other fish use rocks to get smaller pieces of food.
As far as clowns leaving their anemone hosts, that all depends upon the species. Obviously several species rarely ever venture far from their hosts in the wild. The species you mention, however, don't tend to be as tightly 'bound' to their hosts and are much more aggressive (not to mention, larger) than other species.
dantodd
New member
Fautin has an interesting paper on this topic in which there is no definitive conclusion but that both the clown and anemone do receive protection from predators through the relationship.
http://nhm.ku.edu/inverts/pdf/Fautin_anemonefishsymbiosis_1991.pdf
http://nhm.ku.edu/inverts/pdf/Fautin_anemonefishsymbiosis_1991.pdf
This one is about 14 years more current:
http://www.environmental-expert.com/resulteacharticle4.asp?codi=5188
http://www.environmental-expert.com/resulteacharticle4.asp?codi=5188
55semireef
Moved On
I believe they do feed their anemones. I have seen my clowns do it recently. I have also personally seen clownfish swim out of their way and haul back weaker fish and throw them into an anemone before. I felt pretty bad though for the goby. The goby had no chance against a 5 inch maroon female.!!! But my experience is limited, so I am sure there is more to it...I am just stating simply from what I have seen.
HELLO ALL.
DOES ANYONE HAVE PICS OF THE BEGINNING OF A SPLIT AND AFTERWARDS ..
THANKS ADRIAN EMAIL TO AR325@COX.NET
DOES ANYONE HAVE PICS OF THE BEGINNING OF A SPLIT AND AFTERWARDS ..
THANKS ADRIAN EMAIL TO AR325@COX.NET
ChunksInClemson
New member
Well, I dont think clowns eat silversides...so here is a vid. I guess its something to think about...
Most of my larger clowns love "sliversides".
ChunksInClemson
New member
Ok...I was wrong, but it still looks like he is trying to feed the nem.
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