Hobbies And Interests
Identification
Clown fish vary in color, depending on species. These fish may be orange, yellow, brown, red or black, and many feature patches of other colors. For example, the clown anemone fish is bright orange with white bands while the fire clown fish is red with patches of black. The color of a clown fish often becomes darker with age. A clown fish may reach around 5 inches in length, although many are smaller. Size also varies between species; for example, the clown anemonefish has a maximum length of 4.3 inches.
Relationship With Sea Anemones
All species of clown fish live between the tentacles of sea anemones. Clown fish spend the majority of their time amongst the host anemone's tentacles, although they do make occasional, short trips away from their host to bring back food for themselves and the anemone. The relationship between the clown fish and the sea anemone benefits both parties. The major benefit for the clown fish is that the anemone's stinging tentacles protect the fish from predators. In return, the clown fish rids the anemone of parasites and deters other animals from disturbing the anemone. Clown fish skin is covered in a mucous coating that protects the fish from the anemone's sting.
Feeding Habits
Clown fish have an omnivorous diet, comprised of food such as algae, mollusks and plankton. As well as providing the clown fish with protection from predators, the anemone is also a source of food for this fish. Clown fish eat leftover scraps from the anemones prey and they also eat the anemone's dead tentacles.
Social Organization
Several clown fish live together in a group, sharing the same anemone. All clown fish are protandrous hermaphrodites. This means that they all start out in life as males but may develop into a female. There is only one female clown fish in each social group. The female is the largest fish and is also dominant. The largest male fish is the most dominant clown fish after the female. If a female clown fish dies, she is replaced by the largest male fish. This male fish will change gender, becoming the new dominant female.
Reproduction and Rearing Young
Only two clown fish in any social group will reproduce. These fish form a monogamous pair. The male builds a nest close to the protection of a sea anemone. After the male chases the female towards this nest, she lays up to 1,000 eggs. The male clown fish then fertilizes these eggs through external fertilization and guards them until they hatch, after a period of around one week. These young clown fish will begin to search for their own anemone after a further two weeks. These first two weeks are the most dangerous for clown fish, as they are most exposed to predators.