The clown fish | Facts & Information

(Amphiprion percula)

The clown fish (Amphiprion percula), native to the Indian Pacific and Great Barrier Reef, is found from northern Queensland to Malaysia, a territory that includes New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Solomon Island and Vanuatu.

In its natural habitat, it lives in marine waters at depths of 1-12 meters. In conclusion, the clown fish is a saltwater fish, which, due to its characteristic color, is listed among the preferences of aquarists.

It is also known as Nemo fish, anemone fish or Harlequin fish. 

Like all anemones, clownfish create symbiotic bonds with sea anemones. He uses his host, both as a shelter and to protect himself from predators, and in return, the clown fish removes intruders and toilets his host, removing parasites.

Clownfish price 

Clown fish can be found at prices of 50-100 lei.

Feeding Over The Clown

Clownfish are omnivorous, so they eat both meat and vegetables. In its natural environment, the clown fish obtains its food almost entirely by cooperating with its host, the anemone.

The clownfish leaves the secure space provided by the anemone's tenacles, heading for the neighboring reef. Its bright color attracts larger fish that, tempted by the desire to feed, follow it to the anemone, where they are stinging by one of its tentacles.

Later, the anemone consumed the fish. Clownfish consume the debris that remains after feeding on anemone, crustaceans, worms and the algae that make up the plankton (phytoplankton).

When raised in captivity, in aquariums, clownfish can be fed flakes, granules specially formulated for this type of Fish, and sometimes raw meat. Food will be given in small quantities and in 2-3 secrets.

Appearance Over Clown

The clown fish shows a characteristic color, on its body distinguishing three vertical bands of white color, bordered by black lines on an intense orange background of the rest of the body.

The first strip is located behind the eyes, the second divides the fish in two, and the third is located close to the cod (caudal) swimmer. The free edges of the flippers are also outlined in black.

In reality there is a diversity of subspecies of clown fish, the one described above being only the most common. Clownfish are found in different shades of color and patterns, specific to the three bands of white color.

There are no obvious differences in color between the male and the female, but the female is larger compared to the male. Clownfish can reach a length of up to 7-11 cm at maturity.

Features Over The Clown

Before clown fish become residents of anemones, they perform an elaborate dance around them, gently touching their tentacles with different parts of their bodies until they become familiar with the host.

The presence of a layer of mucus located on the surface of the clown fish's skin, makes them immune to the lethal Nettles of the anemone. If the clown fish is no longer protected by this layer of mucus, it can become a prey for anemones at any time.

Over clown care

Due to their close relationships, the distribution of anemones also dictates the range of life of clownfish. Both symbionts live in shallow coastal waters in tropical areas, where the depth rarely exceeds 12 meters and the water temperature is between 25-28 degrees C.

Symbiotic relationships between clowns and anemones generally occur in areas with coral reefs or rocks, where anemones can anchor and clownfish can swim around the host's protective tentacles.

Breeding Over The Clown

Clownfish mate year-round. The female gives birth to a single calving in about 100-1000 offspring. Breeding pairs are monogamous. After the female lays the eggs, the male comes to fertilize them.

After an incubation of 6-7 days, the eggs of the clown fish are fit to hatch. Just before hatching, the embryo is visible through the transparency of the egg membrane.

After hatching, the larva has a length of 3-4 mm and is almost transparent, except for the eyes, yolk sac and the presence of a few pigments. Newly hatched individuals initially fall to the seabed, but soon after are able to swim to the surface layers of the water through a process called phototaxis.

From this point on, the larva spends about a week floating along the plankton and is passively transported by ocean currents. The larval stage ends when the young clownfish settle on the seabed, about 8-12 days after hatching.

Complete metamorphosis from larva to juvenile stage generally occurs within a day. Youth is characterized by a rapid development of color.

The transition from the youth to the adult stage is dependent on the social hierarchy in the family group. Thus, each anemone is populated by a pair of clown fish and 2-3 smaller fishes. The phenomena of aggression between the dominant female and her partner are minimal.

Each male tries to intimidate and banish the next smaller male until the most damaged of them is removed from the group. Consequently, energy that could have been used for development is used to resist competitive attacks. The adult pair is the one who has the main role in stopping in youth development.

As with other anemones, the adult clown fish metamorphoses from male to female (hermaphroditism). All fish-anemones are born as males, and the largest member of the group changes sex becoming the dominant female, the phenomenon being irreversible.

The next largest male becomes the dominant male. In conclusion, when the dominant female of the group dies, the dominant male changes sex to become the female, and the other males subordinate to the dominant male ascend the hierarchical ladder.

Compatible species: the species of fish that are compatible with the living conditions of the clown fish, especially the fish-anemone. Clownfish can be easily aggressive with other fish. The average life expectancy of the clown fish is 6-10 years, some specimens may be longer, living up to 18 years.