Clown Fish Facts For Kids | Clown Fish Habitat & Diet

Through this article I’ll be validating some of the essential clown fish facts for kids that are rarely known elsewhere. Clown fish belongs to the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the Pomacentridae family. These species are considered to be symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones in the wild. Although the physical coloring predominantly depends upon the type of species, mostly clown fish exhibits orange, blackish, yellow, and reddish color together with the white blotches. The largest clown fish can grow to a size of about 18 cm (7.1 inches), with the smallest measuring at 10 cm (3.9 inches).

Clown Fish Facts For Kids

Clown fish is also known as Damselfish, anemonefish or Demoiselles. Unlike orange-colored garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicunda) and blue chromis (Chromis cyanae) which exhibit bright color appearance, sergent major (Abudefduf saxatillis) reflects stripes and patches. Nearly all damselfish are no longer than 6 inches (15 cm).

A close observation of clown fish displays flattened body coupled with projecting dorsal fins, with the front one is spinous. The very nature of the clown fish family allows them to make use of pectoral fins in a paddle-like manner.

Clown fish are sometimes referred to as the strong territorial species and are often come in conflict with each other. These species communicate by producing ticking noises with the help of pharyngeal teeth that are aligned with the throat.

The male domino is known to create sound pulses on particular occasions. According to the scientists, the female only produce aggressive sounds. There are 335 clown fish species around the world.

• The weight of the damselfish measures around 250 grams (9 oz.)
• ⁽¹⁾These species are 35 cm (13.5 inches) long; with most clown fish measuring at 10 – 15 cm (4 – 6 inches)⁽¹⁾.
• They have an oval and draw-out body with a single dorsal fin.
• Damselfish physical feature displays striking patterning.
• The breeding period varies as we move from one species to another.
• They have a lifespan of about 5 years.
• Clown fish are the inhabitants of tropical, subtropical and coastal waters including Mediterranean.

Where Do Clown Fish Live

Clown fish are endemic to the Pacific and Indian oceans embracing Red Sea and Barrier Reef. Not many clown fish have an extensive distribution with the exception of some species that are known to be prevalent.

These types of fish inhabits the base of the shallow seas or sheltered reefs. In Atlantic Ocean, there are no clown fish. These kinds of fish are known to reside in tropical waters amongst which they fancy their living around coral reefs. Clown fish that inhabits in proximity to the coral reefs tend to drift hundred times near coral heads.

When bothered, they barb with one harmony into the gap among the corals. Garibaldi of the Bay of California is known to reside on kelp beds along with the rocky coasts that provide alike refuge as of coral reefs.

What Do Clown Fish Eat

Here are some more interesting clown fish facts for kids about the fish diet. Clown fish largely feed on tiny invertebrates which then could possibly harm the sea anemone, as well as the fecal matter offers nutrients to the sea anemone.

By nature, they are omnivorous; however, they mostly consume plants, algae or tending algal “gardens”, mollusks, crustaceans, and phytoplankton, zooplankton, in the wild. Some of the damselfish are piscivorous in that they feed on tiny fish or their own smaller individuals. This is particularly happened when there is no ample space for the smaller fish to hide.

Under captivity, they are mostly fed with fish pallets, fish flakes, and other similar nutrients. Algae cover 20 – 25% of the clown fish diet. Other foods include isopods, zooplankton, mysids, and copepods.

Reproduction

While observing the clown fish specimens and studying the breeding behavior of these species, J. Garnaud (scientist) witnessed that most of damselfish were produced in the early morning.  This spawning ensued 3 times a month and in each spawning female had been known to lay 20,000 to 25,000 eggs.

With the sticky nature, eggs are laid in insignificant clusters, or some kind of hard surface such as rock. The male is responsible for looking after these eggs until the hatching begins after 4 – 5 days.

During his experiment, the scientist discovered that garibaldi spawned at a depth of about 4 to 42 feet (1.2 to 13 metres). However, male is supposed to clean the hard surface around a red seaweed clump where eggs are laid. The stripes fade away when the garibaldi reaches 6.5 cm (2.5 inches).

Clown Fish Predators

Clown fish being so small has no self-defence and often fell prey to large tropical fish and bony fishes such as:

• Sharks
• Morays
• Stingrays

It is due to this lack of self-defence against its predators that the clown fish lives along with the sea anemone. Whenever the clown fish senses danger, it hides inside the sea anemone’s tentacles for protection.

Source: Fix.com Blog

Reference

• International Wildlife Encyclopedia, Volume I, Robert Burton