The Clownfish, or Anemonefish, are the subfamily Amphiprioninae of the family Pomacentridae. There are currently 27 species, of which one is in the genus Premnas and the rest are in the subfamily's type genus Amphiprion. The other pomacentrids are called damselfish.
Clownfish are native to wide ranges of the warm waters of the Pacific; some species ranges overlap others. Clownfish are not found in the Atlantic. Clownfish live in a mutual relationship with sea anemones, or in some case settle in some varieties of soft corals, or large polyp stony corals. Once an anemone or coral has been adopted, the clownfish will defend it vigorously. However, clownfish in an aquarium environment can exist very well without an anemone, or with a . (This may be advisable as most anemones are extremely difficult to keep alive even for experienced aquarists.) The anemone is required in nature because reef life is dangerous for small, brightly colored fish with very poor swimming abilities; in an aquarium lacking predators it is not needed. For this reason, Clownfish never stray far from their host. In an aquarium, where they don't have to forage for food, it is very common for Clownfish to remain within 6-12 inches of their host for an entire lifetime.
Clownfish are among the few marine fish that can be bred in captivity in commercially-viable quantities at the time of this writing. Hobbyists are advised to purchase captive-born clownfish (and other marine animals) whenever possible. The Amphiprions are attractive in colour and usually wear bright colours. Example: orange, black, and white. They are good for a marine aquarium because they are friendly and easy to feed. They adapt well in captivity and can be easily studied for scientific research.
Clownfish lay eggs on any flat surface close to or under protection of their host anemones. These eggs are cared for by the male and hatched under complete darkness after a period of 7 to 10 days. Hatching occurs in a natural rhythm directly connected to the phases of the moon. Clownfish are omnivorous, their diets range from flakes to meat. They feed mostly on copepods and mysids, the undigested excrement from their host anemones.
Clownfish are relatively small organisms, fish in aquaria can grow to 9 cm (3.5 inches) in length, fish in the wild can grow to a length of 12 cm (5 inches). The maximum size varies by species, with males being significantly smaller than females.
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