The Clown Fish

The Clown Fish

1. The clown fish is a brightly colored omnivorous fish found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The coloration, resembling the bright face paint worn by circus clowns, is the reason for the clownfish’s name. There are 30 different species of clown fish, and most are known for their relationship with the poisonous sea anemone.

2.  Their beauty makes people want them as aquarium fish, although they can be difficult to care for as pets. In the early 2000s, clownfish were well known for their appearance in the film Finding Nemo.

3. They live in the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. They are also found in northwest Australia, southeast Asia, Japan and the Indo-Malaysian region. There are no clownfish in the Caribbean.

4. Clownfish depend on the Sea Anemone to help capture its meal. After the anemone eats a fish, the clownfish eats the remaining pieces. If an anemone possesses any dead limbs, the clownfish eats these tentacles also.

5. Anemones depend on the clownfish to flash its colors and draw in bait and small fish for a meal.

6. Gills enable the Clownfish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills, oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream. Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

7. Clownfish lay eggs on any flat surface close to their anemones. Depending on the species, clownfish can lay hundreds or thousands of eggs.

8. The female clown fish will lay 600 to 1600 eggs at the base of her anemone. The male will take care of the eggs until they hatch. He will eat the infertile eggs and regularly clean them with squirts of water. The eggs will hatch after 9 to 10 days.

9. Clownfish use their fins for movement through water. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the fish in water. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fish. The Clownfish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.
Ventral fins- The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fish. The Clownfish have Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming just like Dorsal fins do.
Caudal fins- The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fish. The Clownfish has Caudal fins to propel through the water. 
Pectoral fins- The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fish. The Clownfish has Pectoral fins for locomotion and side to side movement.

10. This fish lives its entire adult life among the tentacles of a bulb- tentacle sea anemone. Anemone fish do not get stung by the anemone as would most other fish so they get protection from predators. The fish  often drop food scraps which the anemones can eat.  The most common home for the Clown Fish is among the tentacles of the Sea Anemone. The fish actually uses the Anemone to save it from predators.

11. Clown fish always live near anemones; they are immune from (and protected by) the stinging tentacles. The clown fish help the anemone by cleaning the tentacles (as the fish eat detritus) and perhaps by scaring away predators.