Happy Pets

In their natural habitat the Clownfishes share a fascinating relationship with the Sea-anemone (Stoichactis, Discosoma and Radianthus species).

Normally, any fish venturing into the outspread tentacles of the Sea-anemone is fatally stung and consumed, but the Clownfish enjoys immunity (and safety from other larger fishes) as it swims in and out of its host. It is assumed that in return for this favour, the Sea-anemone receives scraps of food dropped by the tenant Clownfish. Clownfishes should therefore be kept with Sea- anemones in the aquarium wherever possible.

Tomato Clown; Fire Clown Amphiprion ephippium120 mm 41 in. Indo-Pacific oceans. The body and fins are tomato red. A blurred dark oval patch appears on the flanks, and the gill covers may be similarly marked. A white stripe runs vertically across the head, although according to some sources this stripe should be missing ; a fish fitting this description is A. rubrocinctus. Other sources indicate that the white stripe fades with age. Like all Clownfishes, this is a very territorially minded fish and is intolerant of its own species. Breeding: some species of Amphiprion have spawned in the aquarium, but no fry yet raised.

Common Clown; Clown Anemonefish; Percula Clown Amphiprion percula 80 mm in. Indo- Pacific oceans. Perhaps one of the best-known marine aquarium fishes. The patterns of red/orange, black and white appear to be hand-painted. Some importations of A. percula may in fact be A. oce//aris, which has less black in the markings than the true species. If a large enough Sea- anemone is available, more than one Clownfish can take up residence without too much squabbling. Breeding: some species of Amphiprion have spawned in the aquarium.

Maroon Clownfish; Spine‑cheeked Clownfish; Premnas Premnas biaculeatus 150 mm 6 in. Indo-Pacific oceans. This close relative of the Clownfishes has a deep red/brown, or maroon-coloured body crossed by three narrow white bands. One or two backward pointing spines are present below the eyes. This fish is aggressive towards Clownfishes and seems able to do without the company of a Sea- anemone. Breeding: no details available.

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Anemone Fishes and Clown Fishes, Feeding Skill

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• Miscellaneous Aquarium Fishes Species continue...
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 2:52 am and is filed under Fish. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.