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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 Ocean. 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.
The anemone is required in nature because reef life is dangerous
for small, brightly coloured 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 to 12 inches of their host for an entire lifetime.
Clownfish and damselfish are the only species of fish which can
avoid the potent stings of an anemone. There are several theories
for how this avoidance is accomplished. Firstly, the slime coating
of the fish may be based on sugar rather than proteins so anemones
fail to recognize the fish as food and do not fire their nematocysts,
or sting organelles.
Maldive anemonefish are sometimes called Black-footed clownfish
due to their black pelvic and anal fins.Secondly, the mucous coating
may mimic the anemone's own coating, a theory that is bolstered
by the fact that it takes several days for a clownfish to adapt
to a new species of anemone. There is no adaptation period when
a clownfish is moved to another anemone of the same species.
Thirdly, their unique movements, which are unlike any other fish,
may let the anemone know that they are not food. This theory is
bolstered by the fact that juvenile clownfish, which have no coating,
will immediately seek refuge in any compatible anemone and will
not be stung. Juvenile clownfish will not survive for long without
the protection of an anemone, and few find one before being eaten.
Clownfish live in their anemone in groups. Usually a female lives
with other males. When the female dies the head male changes sex
and becomes the female.
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.
information from - http://en.wikipedia.org/
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