Clownfish
Clownfish, more technically known as Anemonefish, are the classic aquarium fish. Both hardy and attractive, they are perhaps best known for their symbiotic relationship with Sea Anemones, a relative of coral. In the wild, Anemonefish are always found with a host, leading many potential keepers to believe that an anemone is necessary to keep them. Anemonefish are easy to keep, but their cnidarian counterparts are inordinately finicky and need high light levels, and luckily Anemonefish will thrive without them. Aquarists often find that Anemonefish will host in other things, from corals and Feather Duster Worms to powerheads and other equipment. Anemonefish care is identical to that of Damselfish, as they are actually very closely related.
Cinnamon clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) or fire clownfish is a widely distributed clownfish. It is found in Indonesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, southeastern Polynesia, and the Great Barrier Reef.
They are omnivorous, and will eat a variety of meat food items and algae.
Clark's anemonefish or the Yellowtail clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) is a widely distributed clownfish. It is found in tropical waters, in lagoons and on outer reef slopes, from the Persian Gulf to Western Australia and throughout the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean as far as Melanesia and Micronesia, and as far north as Taiwan, southern Japan and the Ryukyu Islands.
Clark's Anemonefish is a spectacularly colourful fish, with vivid black, white and yellow stripes, though the exact pattern shows considerable geographical variation. There are normally two white bands, one behind the eye and one above the anus. The tail fin may be white or yellow, but is always lighter than rest of the body.
Clarke's Anemonefish are a popular aquarium species. They are omnivorous, and in the aquarium will readily eat brine shrimp. They will regularly host in many sea anemones in the home aquarium.
The Ocellaris Clownfish, Common Clownfish or False Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is a popular aquarium fish, even more so after it rose to stardom in Finding Nemo. It is very closely related to A. percula, the Orange Clownfish or "True Percula Clownfish", and often lives in association with the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica, using them for shelter and protection. Generally, Ocellaris clownfish are hardier, and slightly less aggressive than its Percula counterpart. Both species are found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the Fiji and Tonga regions.
The maroon clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, is a species of clownfish that is found in the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. They can grow up to be about 17 cm (6. 7 in), and as they grow, they become more aggressive towards other clownfish. It is also known as the spine-cheeked clownfish, or the maroon anemonefish. It is the only member of the genus Premnas, although it has been suggested that the taxon epigrammata from Sumatra should be recognized as a distinct species, Premnas epigrammata (Fowler, 1904).
The stripes across the body are normally white, but they are yellow in the taxon epigrammata. The female is usually larger than the male and dark red or maroon, and the male smaller and a bright red.
A 30-gallon tank is suggested for one fish or 60 gallons for a pair. In the wild, it is strictly associated with the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor, and preferably this should also be provided in the aquarium (but is not a requirement). The maroon clownfish likes frozen shrimp and herbivore preparations.
Because of its spines, this clownfish should not be caught using a net. The spines can get entangled in the net, which can injure the fish. Instead, catching with a cup is recommended. The maroon clownfish is one of the larger, more aggressive members of the clown family. It is best to house them singly, the only exception being a mated pair. Do not mix maroon clownfish with any other type of clownfish or bullying will occur. A good way to curb their aggression is to rearrange the rock work periodically. Also if it is planned to keep one or a pair it is best to add them last. If the right parameters are met the maroon clown will be a hardy and amusing member of the aquarium community. They are human responsive to the point of trying to "intimidate" people they are not familiar with.
The orange clownfish (Amphiprion percula) or true percula clownfish is a popular aquarium fish. Like other clownfish (also called anemonefish), it often lives in association with sea anemones. A. percula is associated specifically with Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea, and as larva use chemical cues released from the anemones to identify and locate the appropriate host species to use them for shelter and protection.[1] Although popular, maintaining this species in captivity is rather complex. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority regulates the number of collection permits that are issued to aquarium fish dealers who seek this, and other tropical fish within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The commensalism between anemonefish and anemones depends on the presence of the fish drawing other fish to the anemone, where they are stung by its venomous tentacles. The anemone helps the fish by giving it protection from predators, which include brittle stars, wrasses, and other damselfish, and the fish helps the anemone by feeding it, increasing oxygenation, and removing waste material from the host. Various hypotheses exist about the fish's ability to live within the anemone without being harmed. One study carried out at Marineland of the Pacific by Dr. Demorest Davenport and Dr. Kenneth Noris in 1958 revealed that the mucus secreted by the anemone fish prevented the anemone from discharging its lethal stinging nematocysts. A second hypothesis is that A. percula has acquired immunity towards the sea anemone’s toxins, and it has been shown experimentally to be a combination of the two. The fish feeds on algae, zooplankton, worms, and small crustaceans.
The pink skunk clownfish or pink anemonefish, Amphiprion perideraion, is a skunk clownfish found in the west Pacific Ocean. It is known to be one of the smaller clownfish. They can be found off the Cocos and Christmas Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Indo-Australian Archipelago.
Color ranges from dark brown to yellow orange with a thick white bar located just behind the eyes. A large white abbreviated saddle shape or slanted white bar across the middle of the fish's body makes it quite obvious to see how it got the name Saddleback. In some varieties, typically those specimens initially associated with H. crispa anemone, the saddle shape may extend up onto the fish's Dorsal fin with a third white bar or margin located across the caudal peduncle (pictured in taxobox).
Melanistic variation has also been partially correlated with the fish's host anemone. Specimens associated with H. crispa tend to be darker than those associated with S. haddoni. Aquarium specimens have been observed becoming lighter or darker after accepting a new host anemone species, sometimes within a few hours.
They can reach a maximum length of 12 cm.
The sebae clownfish, Amphiprion sebae, is a very rare clownfish found in the northern Indian Ocean, which includes India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldive Islands. They can be very aggressive as they get older, like all damselfish. They can grow to 12 cm (4.7 inches).
Although it is well known for its shared name with the sebae anemone, it is normally found with the saddle anemone.