Clown fish

Far from clowning around, you will be amazed by the strategic skills employed by the clown fish in its day to day existence. Clown fish have an unusual attitude to match with their unusual name. They dare to live in places where most marine animals dread to go near. Indeed, their choice of residence -- anemone (or sea anemone) -- is a plant-like, immobile, underwater creature that snatches a passerby with its waving, poisonous tentacles! The clown-fish enjoys its unique association with the sea-anemone which interestingly benefits both the creatures.

Clownfish and the Sea Anemone: The clownfish obviously possesses a keen intelligence because it capitalizes on the fear factor of being the anemone’s roommates. Surely, no fish can be that hungry to chase a clown fish all the way to its dangerous dwelling. Nevertheless, if the predator continues the pursuit, it will quickly regret its decision -- instead of being a hunter, the fish becomes a fallen prey of the clown fish's protector! And how does the clown fish avoid falling victim to the anemone? Well, it turns out that the clown fish has a special layer of mucus on its skin. Miraculously, this layer of mucus gives it immunity.

Did you think the anemone lends its protection to the clown fish gratis? No way The clown fish compensates for the safety provided by the anemone by cleaning up after the anemone. This is achieved by eating leftover bits that the anemone discards. It's true! The clownfish are actually a big help to the anemone.

  • The clownfish live at the bottom of the sea with the host anemone. The clownfish live in two different types of anemone. In sheltered inshore reefs it lives in Stichodactyla gigantea, and on outer reefs it usually lives in Heteractis magnifica. Clownfish also help to protect the anemone by chasing away polyp-eating fish such as the butterfly fish.
  • Appearance: Clownfish are bright orange with three white stripes and grow to be from two to five inches in length.The orange, white and black coloration on the Ocellaris is strikingly beautiful. The Ocellaris Clownfish is often confused with the True Percula Clownfish because the two species look very similar. The Ocellaris has very thin black bands around the white stripes whereas the True Percula has much wider black bands on the white stripes. They will take almost every type of marine food available and can be very easy to keep.
  • Aquarium Care: You may believe from hearsay that a clown fish cannot be housed in an aquarium without their host anemone. This is not true. You can keep Clownfish without their host anemone and many have reported success with breeding Clownfish even without having their host anemone present. Because many breeders are having success breeding them, tank raised clowns are readily available. In fact, you are generally much better off buying a tank raised clown than a wild one because the tank raised fish tend to have better survival rates and should acclimate more quickly. Tank raised clowns usually cost slightly more than the wild ones but if they adapt better and live longer, it's worth it. The host anemones that are found in their natural environment of the clownfish can be difficult to care for in captivity and are not recommended for the saltwater novice. Very high output aquarium lighting such as metal halides is often required.
  • Damsels: Imagine having a delightful dainty group of these fish in your aquarium! These tiny beauties are small, active and brightly colored. The damsel fish largely inhabit the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans, although a few species can be found in the more temperate areas and some even in fresh waters. Also known as Demoiselle fish, the damsel fish is known to make its home along coral reef areas where they can be observed swimming in schools or pairs.
  • Varieties: Some varieties of this species are dare devils, living as they do in close proximity to the sea anemone and its vicious tentacles. This species is known as the anemone fishes and because of its association with the anemones, it is one of the better known species. One of the more interesting fact about the anemone fishes is that each species appears to have a specific species of anemone they choose to live among. All anemone fishes, which are often called clown fish, are so closely related in body shape, color and markings that it is very difficult to distinguish the different species. In most cases they are yellow-orange in color with three brilliant white stripes but some species range from rose to deep red with the placement of the white bands located in other areas of the body. Closely resembling the cichlids, these fish from the suborder of perch display a variety of hues from blues, reds, oranges to yellow. Nasal openings is found on each side of the short head and in most of the species the tail is forked.
  • Anemone fishes: Oddly enough, even though the anemone is known to be deadly to many other species of fish the anemone fishes appear to remain immune as long as they are healthy. Anemone fishes spend most of their lives within the stinging branches of the anemone swimming, sleeping, eating, hiding from danger and even laying their eggs at the base where they remain protected from most predators. The only time this fish becomes susceptible to the anemone poison cells or is eaten by the anemone is when it has become diseased. The anemone fish has even been observed taking food from the anemone's mouth without any threat of danger.
  • Food: The damsel fish will defend its chosen territory at all cost. In most species their food sources are found in the vast fields of seaweed although some species feed on zooplankton and copepods. This fish is well known for defending its home and food source from other herbivores that attempt to intrude on their territory. It is even believed that the damsel fish might possibly cultivate its algae fields by removing species of the plant that are undesirable. Like other species of damsel fishes they feed mostly on plant matter and in some species small animals trapped on the waters surface.