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CLOWNFISH - DOTTYBACKS - GOBIES & BLENNIES - CARDINALFISH - SEAHORSES - OTHERS

CLOWNFISH (Family: Pomacentridae) - SPECIES AVAILABLE FROM ORA™

Clownfish or Anemonefish of the family Pomacentridae were the first popular saltwater aquarium species to be aquacultured. Aquarists and aquaculture biologists have bred them for over 30 years. Captive-raised clownfish are indistinguishable in behavior and morphology from clownfish found in nature. ORA™ has taken clownfish culture to the highest level, producing the largest, most colorful and healthiest fish ever grown. The aquarists of today can enjoy these beautiful marine fish knowing they did not have to adapt to captivity from the wild. ORA™ provides the option of avoiding stressed and drugged wild specimens and their inherent problems that aquarists must overcome.

One popular misconception about cultured clownfish is that they will not symbiotically associate with anemones like their wild counterparts. This is not true, as demonstrated by the many professional and amateur aquarists who have observed cultured clownfish associate with host anemones in aquariums. In fact, some tank-reared fish are observed to associate with unusual hosts such as large-polyp stony corals and corallimorph anemones.

Since tank-raised clownfish are raised on common aquarium foods, they are well adapted to aquarium diets. They will eat frozen brine shrimp, mysid shrimp, and many other commonly available commercial frozen foods. They will also accept dry foods such as pellets, flakes, freeze-dried or granulated foods. Most Clownfish eat algae, which consists of about one third of their diet. Foods containing algae, such as spirulina or other natural algae products are a good addition. ORA™ Clownfish are fed a granulated high-protein fish feed as well as some frozen foods.

By nature clownfish are territorial and mate for life. Most species hardly ever leave the immediate area of their host anemone during their lives. They defend their territory by aggressively chasing away other fish species. This is also true with aquacultured clownfish. In aquariums this territoriality may lead to aggression towards tankmates and especially towards members of their own species. Some species such as the False Percula are very peaceful and tolerant, while Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) normally will not tolerate another Maroon clown in the tank (unless paired). Species that grow large, such as Clark's, Maroon and Tomato Clownfish, should be housed in larger tanks, and have tank-mates at least their size or larger. Generally the female is the oldest and largest of a pair. Some aquarists have observed that tank-raised fish are slightly less aggressive than their wild counterparts.

A nest of clownfish eggs in nature may have only a few survivors into adulthood, while farm-raised spawns generally have higher survival rates. This leads to a more diverse group of juveniles and consequently more variations are observed in tank-raised fish.

Wild-caught clownfish historically have higher than average mortality after transport due to a number of reasons. These include use of drugs during capture (Cyanide), bacterial infection and often an infestation by the single-cell parasite Brooklynella hostilis. Purchasing captive-bred fish can avoid these problems and most reliable dealers will sell only tank-raised clownfish, knowing their customers will benefit.

Cultured clownfish have normal immune systems and potentially are susceptible to the same parasites and disease as wild caught fish. They can be medicated as any other fish for the particular problem. They are copper tolerant for treatment of protozoan parasites.

CLOWNFISH SPECIES AVAILABLE FROM ORA™