The Playful Clownfish, Surprising fact they are all born male

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Clownfish, let us know them well…

clownfish

I never thought that I will be interested in my husband’s hobby. Until I found myself one day during the lockdown always in front of his aquarium staring at these small creatures. Seeing them swimming back and forth is satisfying. It is so relaxing in the eyes, and touching in the heart.

Hubby starts this hobby while we are still working in the UAE. At the time we decided to leave the country he has a hard time letting go of his fishes. Such a blessing, there is a good hobbyist British guy who adopts them. Though some actually want to buy hubby’s fishes, his heart can’t accept to sell them. So he took time to search for a person who has a passion for this hobby, that he knows will take care of his dozen babies.

Anyway, because of my husband’s fondness for this thing, slowly I also got interested in saltwater fishes.

They are so cute and have a character that comparable to cats and dogs.

Among those, Clownfish is my favorite because of these reasons. I found him so playful, and always interacting with me every time I’m touching the aquarium glass or looking up him close… Once they saw my fingers pointing their anemone they will swim fast towards and stay there for a while.

clownfish anemone

Our new aquarium in the Philippines

At first, I really thought that they are being playful with me. But, base on the below information they are not playful but aggressive to defend their home. Despite that, I still find that behavior cute, when you see it live you will find them amusing and lovable.

 

Let us know few of Clownfish Details

Common Name: Clownfish

Scientific Name: Amphiprioninae

Type: Fish

Diet: Carnivore

Group Name: School

Average Life Span in the wild: 6-10 years

Size: 4.3 inches

Population range: at least 30 species of clownfish, most live in the shallow water of Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the western Pacific

Characteristics

Very bright orange fish that have 3 white stripes. One at the head, middle and tail.

Looking closely you will see thin black lines around the white stripes. The tips of their fins have a think black rounded strip.

Clownfish is one of the most recognizable marine species because of their colorful appearance.

they are also known as anemonefish because they can’t survive without a host anemone, whose stinging tentacles protect them and their developing eggs from intruders.
The most surprising thing about Clownfish

Changing Sex, for me the most surprising fact, imagine that all clownfish are born male. They have the ability to switch their sex, but will do so only to become the dominant female of a group. The change is irreversible.

Many reef fish have the ability to change from one sex to another. Most, such as wrasses and parrotfish, change from female to male. But the clownfish is one of the few known to change from male to female: If a dominant female dies, the dominant male will become the dominant female, and the largest remaining juvenile will assume the role of dominant male.
Why clownfish name?
They get their name from the bold color strokes on their body (from rich purplish browns to bright oranges and reds and yellows), often divided by stark lines of white or black, quite like the face paint on a circus clown.

Source of information 1 

Source of information 2

 

Feel free to approach or send me a message if you have any questions on how to take care of salt water fishes. My husband’s would be so happy to assist you, he told me promise:)
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