Clownfish
by Wendy AronThe percula clownfish is one of the most attractive and curious animals in the sea. Found predominantly in the coral reefs off New Guinea, percula clownfish eating habits and clownfish breeding behavior are peculiar to say the least. All percula clownfish are born males. When it’s time for clownfish breeding, a male will change its sex. If a dominant female dies, the largest male changes sex and takes her place and the largest of the remaining males becomes her partner. In clownfish breeding, males are given the responsibility of caring for the clutch of over 500 percula clownfish eggs, constantly fanning them to circulate oxygen. The males also care for their young until they reach sexual maturity.
In terms of clownfish eating habits, the clownfish lives among the stinging tentacles of the fish eating anemone. Immune to the anemone’s stinging barbs, the percula clownfish keeps the host clean in exchange for protection from predators. The clownfish will leave the safety of the anemone’s tentacles and swim out into the coral reef. With its brilliant colors, the fish entices other fish that are looking for a meal to chase it back to the anemone in hopes of eating it. However, the anemone then stings the other fish incapacitating it. The anemone eats the other fish and leaves the leftovers for the clownfish to eat. The percula clownfish also lives on debris and the dead tentacles of its host anemone. Clownfish eating habits also dictate making meals of planktonic crustaceans and the algae that grows on the coral reef.
Besides the percula clownfish, there are different species of this colorful ocean fish. The maroon clownfish, also known as the spine-cheeked anemone fish, is one. It is larger and more aggressive than the percula clownfish and is distinguished by a deep red body color and white stripes on the forehead and around the body.
Both the percula clownfish and the maroon clownfish make colorful attractions to a home aquarium. However, since they are aggressive toward other fish, the maroon clownfish should not be kept in the same tank as the percula clownfish. Also, be aware that anemones are difficult animals to keep in aquariums because they require a special type of coral reef lighting and are very sensitive to water conditions. Without the aquarist paying attention to these requirements, anemones tend to shrink and die gradually. This is very sad because in the wild, anemones do not age and could in actuality live for centuries under the right conditions. For your purposes however, clowns do not need to have an anemone to stay happy and healthy. They can live inside all sorts of things, including coral mushrooms and other corals that are easier to keep, or they are fine with nothing at all. Some clownfish species do well without anemone, but besides providing shelter and protection from predators in the wild, the anemone in the aquarium plays an important role in removing external parasites from the clownfish.
Sadly, many clownfish taken from the wild meet an early end through rough handling, transport and difficulties in general acclimation. There are estimates of some ninety percent mortality en route from capture to distributors and of those remaining, another nine tenths perishing before even reaching the retailer's tanks. This is because capture causes the clownfish a great deal of stress. To avoid getting a sick clownfish, buy tank-bred and raised stock if possible. Also, watch the clownfish before you buy them. Clowns should be very alert, colorful and fat. They should swim with a wagging motion, darting to the back of the tank at your first approach, then coming eagerly back to the front to look at you.
Clownfish are amongst the sea’s greatest treasures. With the proper handling, selection and care, they can become one of the greatest treasures in your aquarium, too.
