Paul Burton
06-08-04, 09:44
Family: Pomacentridae
Common Name: Common Clown, False Percula
Latin Name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Other Common
Members: Amphiprion percula, Amphiprion clarkii, Amphiprion perideraion
Habitat: Ocellaris Clowns are found throughout the indo pacific, usually in and around the shallow waters of coral reefs. These fish are always found in association with Anemone’s in the wild and rarely stray more than a few metres from their host.
Breeding: Mated pairs will often display to each other generally with the smaller male shuddering in submission, this can last for sometimes weeks before they choose a suitable spawning site close to their Anemone. They then vigorously clean a rock or other hard substrate. The female will then deposit 100’s of bright red eggs which adhere to the hard surface followed closely by the male who fertilizes the eggs. The next step is for the male clown to continuously fan the eggs with his fins until they are ready to hatch. For more information on breeding and captive care of clown fry there is an excellent book by Joyce Wilkersen titled Clownfishes.
Feeding: In the wild clowns generally rely on water currents to bring them food scraps. They are carnivores and except a very wide range of meaty foods in the aquarium. Food items that are too big to be swallowed are often spat out into the host Anemone in an aquarium although this is not thought to happen in the wild.
Captive Care: Captive bred specimens are widely available and once acclimatised are very hardy aquarium additions, due to their small territory in the wild, clowns make excellent candidates for the aquarium and are often one of the first fish added by many aquarists. Although these animals are always found in association with anemones in the wild, in the aquarium this is not necessary, watching the symbiosis between Anemone and clown can be one of the most rewarding spectacles of keeping marine aquariums, however due to the specialised care needed to keep an Anemone it is not recommended for beginners. Clowns will often adopt other sessile invertebrates e.g. leather (Sarcophyton) or bubble (Plerogyra) corals in the aquarium.
Behaviour: Common clowns are fairly non-aggressive and suited to community reef aquarium, although they will chase certain species of fish away from their small territory if they have a host. Particularly nice to observe in pairs due to the interesting relationship between the larger female and smaller male. They will spend most of their time hovering around or lounging within the tentacles of their host if they have one.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/3d-clowns1.jpg
My 2, notice the dark colouration, this is often seen when the fish have a host.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0838.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0846.jpg
Thought I'd add these shots cos I like them! B)
Common Name: Common Clown, False Percula
Latin Name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Other Common
Members: Amphiprion percula, Amphiprion clarkii, Amphiprion perideraion
Habitat: Ocellaris Clowns are found throughout the indo pacific, usually in and around the shallow waters of coral reefs. These fish are always found in association with Anemone’s in the wild and rarely stray more than a few metres from their host.
Breeding: Mated pairs will often display to each other generally with the smaller male shuddering in submission, this can last for sometimes weeks before they choose a suitable spawning site close to their Anemone. They then vigorously clean a rock or other hard substrate. The female will then deposit 100’s of bright red eggs which adhere to the hard surface followed closely by the male who fertilizes the eggs. The next step is for the male clown to continuously fan the eggs with his fins until they are ready to hatch. For more information on breeding and captive care of clown fry there is an excellent book by Joyce Wilkersen titled Clownfishes.
Feeding: In the wild clowns generally rely on water currents to bring them food scraps. They are carnivores and except a very wide range of meaty foods in the aquarium. Food items that are too big to be swallowed are often spat out into the host Anemone in an aquarium although this is not thought to happen in the wild.
Captive Care: Captive bred specimens are widely available and once acclimatised are very hardy aquarium additions, due to their small territory in the wild, clowns make excellent candidates for the aquarium and are often one of the first fish added by many aquarists. Although these animals are always found in association with anemones in the wild, in the aquarium this is not necessary, watching the symbiosis between Anemone and clown can be one of the most rewarding spectacles of keeping marine aquariums, however due to the specialised care needed to keep an Anemone it is not recommended for beginners. Clowns will often adopt other sessile invertebrates e.g. leather (Sarcophyton) or bubble (Plerogyra) corals in the aquarium.
Behaviour: Common clowns are fairly non-aggressive and suited to community reef aquarium, although they will chase certain species of fish away from their small territory if they have a host. Particularly nice to observe in pairs due to the interesting relationship between the larger female and smaller male. They will spend most of their time hovering around or lounging within the tentacles of their host if they have one.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/3d-clowns1.jpg
My 2, notice the dark colouration, this is often seen when the fish have a host.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0838.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0846.jpg
Thought I'd add these shots cos I like them! B)