![]() That doesn’t mean that any old sea anemone will do. And the anemonefish can come and go as they please. If a clownfish loses their host anemone, they have to start the process all over again.īut the gradual exposure to the nematocysts increases the mucus layer until it prevents their activation. (Which is why the majority of clownfish come in shades of orange) It’s the thickest part of the mucus layer. They accomplish this by creating a thick coating of mucus.Īs the clownfish brushes against the anemone’s tentacles, they slowly expose themselves to the venom. Gradually, the mucus coating grows – on the ORANGE scales. Once they settle into a new “home,” they need to establish immunity to the anemone’s venom. It’s a careful partnership that requires a little work on the part of the anemonefish. Meanwhile, the clownfish cleans up unwanted parasites and drops morsels of food into the anemone’s mouth. The anemone provides protection and defense for the striped fish. However, when you make your home in a sea anemone, you don’t need powerful swimming muscles.Ĭlownfish and anemones form a mutualistic symbiosis – meaning both of them benefit from the pairing. Feeding Your Clownfish: The Safety ZoneĬlownfish lack a strong swimming ability.These bright fish CAN work for almost anyone – who does their homework. They take their name from their colorful patterns and their clumsy, “clownlike” style of swimming.Īnd while the movie’s popularity has calmed somewhat, clownfish still enchant aquarists.Īnd as long as you prepare yourself for a little work in your reef tank, that’s not a problem. There are thirty species of clownfish currently known and described worldwide, and they divide up between just two genera: Amphiprion and Premnas. (Which is why you also see them called anemonefish) Specifically, clownfish formed symbiotic bonds with anemones. ![]() Unfortunately, most amateur aquarists didn’t understand what they were getting themselves into.Ĭlownfish share the Pomacentridae family with their cousins, the damselfish. Unlike their free-swimming relatives, though, clownfish specialized in hanging out on reefs. The demand for saltwater aquariums and these colorful fish, in particular, soared. When Finding Nemo hit theatres in 2003, the entire world fell in love with clownfish. ![]()
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