As they get larger, they will seek out food, though they don't venture much more than a few meters from the anemone, according to the ADW. Little is known specifically about false clownfish mating behaviors, but the general behaviors of anemonefish are known. All anemonefish are monogamous. Before spawning, the male prepares a nest by clearing a spot on bare rock near the anemone, according to the ADW. He then courts a female with a show of extended fins, biting and chasing , according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
He chases the female to the nest, but after that it is up to her to make the next move. She will make several passes over the nest before depositing her eggs. She will lay from to 1, eggs, which are 3 to 4 millimeters long. The male then passes over the nest and releases sperm to fertilize the eggs. Then, the female swims off. The male does most of the "egg sitting. The eggs hatch six to eight days later.
The larvae float away and spend about 10 days adrift. They start their lives clear or transparent, but as they begin to mature they start to gain the color of their species. As juveniles, the young will settle to the bottom of the reef to search for a host anemone.
Ocellaris clownfish are not endangered. However, in the last generation, 15 to 30 percent of the world's reefs have been lost, according to the ADW. They live in colonies consisting of a dominant female, an adult male, and several juvenile males. If the dominant female dies, one of the juvenile males undergoes a period of rapid growth, which causes it to change into a female.
The males care for the colony's eggs until they hatch. Clownfish are named for their orange-, white- and black-striped patterns, which are reminiscent of a circus clown's costume. There are 28 species of clownfish, with many color and pattern variations. Clownfish are bred in captivity for the aquarium trade, as they are popular saltwater aquarium fish. After about a week, you may notice a slimy green substance called algae growing on the coral. Algae is a plantlike organism that clownfish like to eat.
It is best to leave the algae on the coral, though you may remove it from the tank glass. To prevent algae from growing uncontrollably, keep a snail in the tank. Snails are big algae-eaters.
In fact, clownfish are happiest when they have anemones in the tank. However, reef aquariums are very difficult to maintain and are recommended only for expert marine aquarium keepers. For the less experienced marine aquarists, a fish-only tank is best. Clownfish can live peacefully in a tank with certain kinds of fish, but make sure your family has had time to learn how to keep your fish healthy and happy before taking this next step.
You must consider several things, such as how large your tank is, how big the fish will get, what it eats, and whether the fish is aggressive toward other fish. If your family wishes to add different fish to your tank, ask your dealer for recommendations. A young adult or adult should perform regular tests to ensure the chemical balance of the water is suitable for your fish. Prepackaged sea salt mixes are available at most pet stores. Follow the instructions to mix the correct amount of sea salt with purified water.
Your family may want to store prepared salt water in a cool, dry place for when you need to replace the tank water.
A device called a hydrometer will allow you to measure salt levels in the aquarium. Your family will also need to do other chemistry tests, such as measuring pH and the levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Each of these elements must be at just the right level to keep your clownfish happy and healthy.
The water should be tested every day for the first two to three months and every one to two weeks once the tank is established. Your dealer should be able to recommend test kits. A messy bedroom might not be a big deal, but a dirty aquarium is a life-or-death matter for fish.
Because of this, saltwater aquariums should be cleaned often. Aquarium water can be contaminated with harmful salmonella bacteria, so only an adult or young adult should handle cleaning the tank. The aquarium glass should be scrubbed once a week.
Every two to four weeks, the filters in the tank should be cleaned and wastes removed from the gravel on the tank floor. Pet stores sell special vacuums for this process. Every week or two, about 10 to 20 percent of the water should be removed and replaced with prepared saltwater. Many people use a long hose and a bucket to remove the water, but pet stores also sell other kinds of equipment for this task.
Experts recommend replacing half of the water if your tests show there is a problem or if your fish look sick or upset. Interestingly, all clownfish begin life as males.
As they mature, the largest fish in a small group becomes a female who can lay eggs. The second biggest fish becomes a male who can fertilize the eggs — the others cannot.
If the female dies, the breeding male becomes the female, and the next biggest fish takes his place. A female clownfish lays her eggs on a surface, such as a rock. The male fertilizes and guards the eggs, fanning them with his tail to give them oxygen. They hatch in 6 to 15 days, always in the dark. A comfortably settled mated pair of clownfish will often spawn lay and fertilize eggs in an aquarium, Raising the young is complicated, though.
For that, your family will need a separate tank with plenty of oxygen and heat. Some people move the eggs to a separate tank just before hatching; others wait until right afterward. Newly hatched fish, or larvae, need live food. Start with rotifers dust-speck-sized aquatic creatures. After five days, feed them brine shrimp.
Do not worry if many of the little fish die — that happens in nature, too. You have done a terrific job if even a few survive. After about three months, find the fish new homes in pairs or as singles. Adult clownfish become aggressive toward one another in large groups.
It is difficult to say how long clownfish live since so many factors affect this. Of course, you cannot know how old a wild-caught fish is when you buy it — another reason to get tank-raised fish. Generally, clownfish have a longer life span than other saltwater aquarium fish , many of which live only about 2 to 4 years. Assuming a clownfish lives in a smoothly running aquarium, it may live between 4 and 10 years.
Some aquarists report having clownfish that are much older than the upper estimate. In addition, a study found that the percula clownfish in a New Guinea lagoon may be 30 years old. Fish have the same senses you do — they can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. They also have a sensory organ body part , unlike anything people have. It is called the lateral line, and it helps fish sense changes in the movement of water.
Clownfish use their senses in many different ways.
0コメント