Clowning Around With The Black Clownfish
The Black clownfish is one of the most frequently kept clownfish species and you can find these fishes in numerous saltwater aquariums all over the world. It's native region is the warm Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Populations are found from the Persian Gulf to the Western coast of Australia. They inhabit the Indo-Australian archipelago, the many reefs of Melanesia and Micronesia, and you can also find them up to north Taiwan and south Japan.
The vibrant coloration of the fish makes it very easy to spot for predators, and it would not survive long in the wild if it was not protected by the tentacles of the stinging anemone. The Black clownfish will keep the anemone clean by eating left over food. When kept in an aquarium without any natural enemies and is provided with food by the aquarists, it does not need an anemone to survive. You should however make sure that the aquarium set up provides it with suitable hiding spots, since it can be very stressed in a barren aquarium, especially when no anemone can be found.
In the wild, these fish known to co-habit with a wide range of different anemone species. If you keep your fish with an anemone species that it has not encountered before, the Black clownfish must gradually acclimatize itself to the anemone to avoid begin injured. Examples of anemone species that Black clownfish are known to appreciate in the wild are Stichodactyla mertensii, Stichodactyla haddoni, Stichodactyla gigantean, Macrodactyla doreensis, Heteractis malu, Heteractis magnifica, Heteractis crispa, Heteractis aurora, Entacmaea quadricolor and Cryptodendrum adhaesivum.
The Black clownfish can be kept in a comparatively small aquarium since it grows no bigger than 5 inches (13 centimetres) and claims a very small territory. A 20 gallon (75 litres) aquarium will be enough. You should however keep in mind that it requires supreme water quality and keeping the levels of soluble waste down will be much easier in a bigger aquarium. In the wild, the territory of a Black clownfish group is limited to the immediate area around an anemone. It is however known to occasionally leave its host anemone to attack nearby fish. This habit makes it more aggressive than the other clownfish species.
Since the Black clownfish is native to warm, tropical parts of the world it can only be kept in tropical aquariums. The temperature must be in the 75-82 F (24-28 C) range for it to do well. The pH should be around 8.3-8.4.
Your Black clownfish should be provided with a meaty diet in the aquarium, since it is used to feeding on the scraps left by the predatory anemone. Chopped fish and shellfish is usually appreciated. It will also require some vegetables and algae to stay healthy. You can usually get them to accept flake food, but keeping it on nothing but flakes is not recommended.
Related Tags: aquariums, fish, fish tank, tropical fish, fish tanks, aquatic, aquarium shop, aquarium fish, exotic fish
Allen Jesson writes for several sites including two sites that specialize insaltwater and fresh water aquariums and the aquarium site and Seapets, aleading source for aquariumsand fish tanks. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Time I Had a Pet Blue Wasp
A lot of people have pets such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, turtles and some even have snakes and - Why Should You Buy Barking Collars For Dogs?
You love your dog but he always barks and misbehaves. It is very upsetting for owners to have dogs t - What to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
There may be plenty of occasions in your life when a puppy crosses your path and desperately needs a - What Do Pet Insurance Policies Cover?
The most basic pet insurance policies simply cover vet bills. More advanced policies can cover every - Dog Walkers Are They For You
If you own a dog then you will know how important it is to ensure that it is walked often to keep th - Creating the Right First Aid Kit For Your Dog
Most of us have some type of first aid kit in our homes. They are necessary for those small bumps an - Deciding to Crate Your Dog For Training
There are several different ways that you may decide to use to train your new dog and they are all v - What to Know About Diets For Dogs
Weight seems to be a struggle for just about anyone, and that is true in the world of dogs. In fact, - Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember
Training your dog is important. It's important for his safety, your safety, the safety of your prope - Don't Go Raising Sheep For Wool Without Reading This!
There are many possible reasons why people choose to raise sheep. Some do it as a means of livelihoo
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever Puppy And Dog Information
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not an apartment dog. She needs plenty of room to exercise and havin - How To Choose The Right Dog Trainer
Choosing a trainer is a very important decision and one that requires a fair amount of research and - Can Greenies Dog Treats Recover From Death?
A Makeover For Greenies(r) Treats Months after a series of lawsuits and media attention alleged the - Dog Treats - How to Choose Healthy Treats for Your Dog
Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items - How to Choose A Good Dog Trainer
If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don't have the - Dog Breeds and Asthma Sufferers: Are Hypoallergenic Breeds Always Best?
The first important consideration is to understand exactly what hypoallergenic dog breeds are. In sh - Audubon Bird Feeders
Bird watching is an enjoyable hobby for many of us. We love the antics of the different birds as - Must Have Accessories For Your Fish Tank
When many individuals think of fish tank accessories, decorations are often the first thing that com - The Beautifull Hummingbirds
The hummingbirds diet requires nectar as a source of energy and for their protein source small insec - Clumber Spaniel Puppy And Dog Information
The Clumber Spaniel is an intelligent, calm dog great for apartments as they do not need a great dea