Clownfish are among one of the most prominent and also legendary fish in the deep sea fishkeeping pastime. Many thanks, Nemo!
However, many individuals are unaware that there are many species of clownfish. This review discusses the fundamentals of caring for clownfish as well as some of the most popular clownfish kinds.
Types of Clownfish
While there are many kinds of Clownfish with numerous shade morphs, there are several of one of the most typical types, standing for each of the 6 Clownfish Complexes.
Common Clownfish
Common clownfish, sometimes known as False Percula, are among the most often observed fish in the aquatic fish tank industry. Men can grow to a maximum length of about 3 inches whereas women can grow to a maximum length of 4 inches, like all other species of clownfish.
Discovered in shallow coral reefs in the Eastern Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, the Common Clownfish has a distinct tottering design of swimming that makes them a beloved of the pet globe.
If you’re looking for a Nemo for your fish tank, the Common Clownfish is your best option. They are more affordable as well as tougher than Percula Clownfish. Common clownfish are readily available as healthy and balanced, and they come in a variety of colors. juveniles with restricted reproduction.
Regular clownfish can be distinguished from Perculas by looking at the banding and the eyes. Compared to Percula Clownfish, regular clownfish have thin black stripes between their white and red stripes. Additionally, in contrast to the True Percula Clownfish’s brighter orange eyes, theirs are darker.
While not located in the same areas, they are the only participants of the Percula Complex and, therefore, are very closely associated. If offered the opportunity, usual as well as Percula Clownfish will indeed also interbreed.
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion ocellaris.
- Complicated: Percula.
- Dimension: 3-4 inches.
- Cost: $15-20.
- Popular Anemones: Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, Stichodactyla mertensii, Entacmaea quadricolor.
- Relieve of Care: Easy.
True Percula Clownfish
The smallest and one of the most sought-after clownfish is the orange or true percula. Around New Guinea and Northeastern Australia, percula is only found in a relatively small variety in nature. They swim with a swinging appearance thanks to their attractive pectoral fin activity.
Although all clownfish have some territorial tendencies, Percula clownfish are among the more docile species, even as adults. Maintaining an excellent polyp offers a place to retreat when plagued by aggressive container pals because they are so mild-mannered.
Shade variations are changes in the body’s distribution of orange, white, and black. There are many other color variants found in nature, like the all-black percula clownfish.
Unlike other clownfish, real Percula Clownfish are sensitive to problems with insufficient water. To keep them in optimal wellbeing, water adjustments must be made on a regular basis, and screening is frequently performed. Their bodily immune systems will surely suffer if ammonia and nitrite levels are allowed to rise, leaving them vulnerable to illnesses like Marine Ich and Clownfish Disease (Brooklynellosis).
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion percula.
- Complicated: Percula.
- Dimension: 2-3 ″.
- Rate: $20-$ 30.
- Preferred Anemones: Stichodactyla gigantea, Stichodactyla mertensii, Heteractis crispa, Heteractis magnifica, Entacmaea quadricolor.
- Reduce of Care: Moderate.
Cinnamon Clownfish
Cinnamon Clownfish, sometimes known as the Fire Clownfish, are one of the larger species. They can rise to a height of 5 inches, like the majority of the Tomato Clown complex. They are a great option for fish-only area containers due to their size and somewhat aggressive character.
When young Cinnamon Clownfish is a scorched orange shade, as they develop, the flanks transform progressively black, with orange trim on the face, tail, and tummy.
Cinnamon Clownfish develop a considerable territorial expansion, similar to many damselfish. They frequently claim the entire storage tank as their territory when housed in a poorly aquascaped fish tank, which might be problematic for calm homeowners.
If provided online rock and a host polyp to protect, their hostility can be had rather.
Cinnamon Clownfish are particularly hostile in various other Clownfish and need not be kept in teams or with different kinds; a set or solitary person is best.
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion melanopus.
- Facility: Tomato.
- Dimension: 5 inches.
- Rate: $15-$ 20.
- Popular Anemones: Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis crispa.
- Alleviate of Care: Very Easy.
Tomato Clownfish
Like their close relative, the Cinnamon Clownfish, Tomatoes are huge, energetic Clownfish that you’ll require to watch on as they develop. They are discovered in the Western Pacific Ocean from Japan to Indonesia.
These clownfish are some of the most affordable and common varieties available, making them a desirable alternative for a semi-aggressive storage tank. With mature Tomato Clownfish, triggerfish, tangs, damselfish, and angelfish get along well.
Tomato Clownfish is one of the pickiest children when it comes to anemone preferences. In nature, they are only found alongside Bubble Tipped Anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor), but they can occasionally be created to complement Leathery Anemones (Heteractis crispa).
As significant, anxious eaters, they tend to daunt reluctant tankmates. Like all sorts of Clownfish, they gladly approve a combination of flakes and weighty online and icy products such as Brine Shrimp and cut Clams.
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion frenatus.
- Complicated: Tomato.
- Dimension: 5 inches.
- Cost: $15-20.
- Preferred Anemone: Entacmaea quadricolor.
- Alleviate of Care: Very Easy.
Maroon Clownfish
Maroon Clownfish are the most significant sort of Clownfish, with fully grown women rising to 7 inches. They are explicitly located in the Western Pacific Ocean, from Indonesia to Northern Australia.
Maroon clownfish are famously aggressive when fully matured. Despite being mated, the woman may decide she’s in a fight and continue picking at the lesser man until he dies. They are sophisticated and individualized, frequently recognizing their owners in addition to guests, who might see a warning message if they approach the fish tank!
Maroon clownfish are aggressive and large, but they are also beautiful and very easy to care for. , if they successfully couple, they might also create offspring for you. They must be stored in containers that are at least 55 gallons in size, given their size.
They have their own Maroon Complex where the Maroon Clownfish reside. As the Gold Striped Maroon Clownfish is merely a variant and not a separate variety, they fall under the monospecific category (Premnas). Maroon clownfish are particularly distinct from other types of clownfish because of their maroon color and distinctive cheek back.
They have been bred in captivity with the Common Clownfish and are most closely related to the Percula Complex. As a result of their intermediate pigmentation, the offspring are known as Blood Orange Clownfish. Their Maroon Clownfish genes have made them bigger and much more aggressive.
- Taxonomic Name: Premnas biaculeatus.
- Complicated: Maroon.
- Dimension: 7 inches.
- Rate: $20-$ 30.
- Preferred Anemone: Entacmaea quadricolor.
- Relief of Care: Very Easy.
Clarkii Clownfish
Both in the aquarium trade and in the wild, Clarkii Clownfish are common. They can be found all throughout the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, and they come in a wide spectrum of regularly occurring color morphs, from almost entirely orange and white to pure black with white stripes.
Even though Clarkii are a larger kind of clownfish, they aren’t quite as antagonistic as Maroons or any member of the Tomato Complex. They will surely offer several rooms to their storage tank friends while preserving the immediate area surrounding their polyp. If kept in smaller-sized storage tanks, aggression may get worse.
They are known to have large polyps in nature, similar to Pink Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion), although the lesser types tend to hang off to the edges to avoid the wrath of the larger Clarkii. The smaller, more fragile Pink Skunk Clownfish, however, can perish if it is obtained in a small fish tank.
Clarkii Clownfish are also generalists when it comes to polyps and will surely connect with any of the 10 preferred varieties. They are among of the least reliant Clownfish when it comes to polyps, and they are strong swimmers. Compared to other types of clownfish, Clarkii is found in much deeper waters (polyps require light for their photosynthetic algae).
Affordable, sturdy, and hostile, Clarkii Clownfish is an exceptional initial Clownfish for the deep sea aquarist with a tool-sized storage tank!
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion clarkii.
- Complicated: Clarkii.
- Dimension: Up to 6 inches.
- Rate: $10-$ 15.
- Preferred Anemone: All 10 Species.
- Reduce of Care: Very Easy.
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Compared to their relatives, pink skunk clownfish have unusually shaped bodies. The only upright bar on their cheeks does not quite reach the white and red stripe on their back. They fluctuate in color from orange to a black shadow cast by other clownfish, from light pink to peach.
One of the species of clownfish most dependent on anemones is the skunk complex. Pink Skunk Clownfish will rarely stray far—even a few inches—from their host polyp in order to feed. Only in the waters off of New Guinea and northern Australia are Pink Skunk Clownfish to be found.
Pink Skunk Clownfish are quiet and a great choice for a calm area with smaller coral reef fish, even if they are aggressive toward their host polyp. They occasionally do share large polyps with Clarkii, Percula, and Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion akallopisos). Pink Skunk Clownfish can live in tiny groups of their own species and share a single enormous polyp.
They are easily harassed and will surely become ill from the stress. Pink Skunk Clownfish are also very aware of water issues and won’t put up with abrupt changes in water quality or spikes in ammonia or nitrite levels.
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion perideraion.
- Complicated: Skunk.
- Dimension: 2-3 inches.
- Rate: $20-$ 25.
- Popular Anemone: Heteractis magnifica, Heteractis crispa, Macrodactyla doreensis, Stichodactyla gigantea.
- Relief of Care: Difficult.
Saddleback Clownfish
Saddleback clownfish have a distinctive red striped pattern, as suggested by its name. The second bar makes a saddle-shaped mark below the dorsal fin, but it cannot appease the obstinate belly. They are fairly widespread and can be found from Southern China to Australia in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Unlike most clownfish species, saddleback males and females are roughly the same size, reaching a respectable length of 4 to 5 inches. Saddle Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni) is preferred over other types by Saddleback Clownfish, who are known for their careful polyp attachment.
Saddlebacks will also share their polyps, forming family groups that favor a single reproductive set above several nonsexual family members. Despite being more significant than their relatives, they can be kept with smaller, calmer clownfish species like Percula and Skunk Complex types.
- Taxonomic Name: Amphiprion polymers.
- Facility: Saddleback.
- Dimension: 4-5 inches.
- Rate: $15-25.
- Popular Anemone: Stichodactyla haddoni, Heteractis crispa.
- Relief of Care: Very Easy.
About Clownfish
Clownfish are specialist Pomacentridae members that live on coral reefs. Many Pomacentridae live in small groups, but they are invariably antagonistic and somewhat territorial, emphasizing a group of coral reefs or rocks as their territory.
Because, unlike their Damselfish relatives, they do not invest much time in open water, Clownfish are unique. Instead, they discover and bond with sea polyps, invertebrates connected to reefs and jellyfish.
Living inside a marine polyp initially seems like an unusual and self-destructive choice. Before being gradually ingested by the stable polyp, polyps, like other Cnidarians, must develop arms with paralytic venom used to confine and remove tiny creatures.
Clownfish adjust to their host polyp with a procedure of adjustment. This is thought to promote resistance to the poison of their host polyp.
A polyp’s arms provide protection for the clownfish against predators. Due to their resident body manner of existence, many are quite poor swimmers that rely on their pectoral fins to weave with their arms and bring themselves along.
Additionally, the calmer, smaller varieties of clownfish will fiercely defend their host polyp from predators. Additionally, they will undoubtedly remove any debris from the polyp and disperse food scraps into the mouths or arms of their host.
Clownfish are organized in a collection of 6 Complexes. The six complications are Clarkii, Maroon, Percula, Saddleback.
Do I Need an Anemone?
The quick response is no. All clownfish, particularly the larger Maroon, Tomato, and Clarkii Complex Clownfish, can be kept without an anemonefish even though they all live up to their alternate moniker of anemonefish.
Conversely, Skunk and Saddleback Complex Clownfish are among those that depend most on anemones. They can be given caves and coral reefs to hide in because they are generally reticent and relatively open. But you won’t see them swimming in open water very often.
When selecting a polyp for your Clownfish, you need to understand that they are rather discerning. There are ten kinds of polyp that host Clownfish in nature.
- Adhesive Sea Anemone (Cryptodendrum adhesive).
- Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor).
- Beaded Sea Anemone (Heteractis aurora).
- Sebae Anemone (Heteractis crispa).
- Spectacular Sea Anemone (Heteractis Magnifica).
- Fragile Sea Anemone (Heteractis malu).
- Lengthy Tentacle Anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis).
- Huge Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea).
- Saddle Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni).
- Merten’s Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla mertensii).
Polyps are testing since their cooperate algae depend on them for a small present and strong lights to survive. Many people are also aware of the poor water quality and the attacks by fish and invertebrates.
The interactions between polyps and clownfish make the challenges worthwhile. Clownfish will certainly clean, safeguard, and also feed little food items directly into the mouths of their host polyps after getting used to their new home.
Providing a polyp also gives the aggressive Maroon and Tomato Complex Clownfish a focal point for their territory, preventing them from frightening their container mates throughout the entire fish tank.
