Fire Clownfish

[Creetin]

Anyone know the price of one juvenile? They look pretty cool...... can anyone tell me about their personality, are they aggressive to other tank inhabitants?

[hongqixian]

The dominant female grows real big if there are more than one.

[Tanzy]

I thought there can be only one female clown per colony? There rest are just male.

[Creetin]

hmmmmm no, i tink i settle for one thats enuff. So i wont have a female growing on me rite?

hongxian, u are toking about clownfish in general or specific about the fire clown?

[Tanzy]

A single clownfish kept in a tank will almost certainly be or turn female.

[hongqixian]

In response to Tanzy's 2nd post:

Yes, the female dominates the rest

Creetin's 2nd post:

Both. The fire clownfish female just seems a bit larger than say, the percula to me

Tanzy's 2nd post:

I thought the other way? Why?

Creetin's 1st message

I believe the clownfish should be around $3 at The Reef World. Definitely below $5 or your throat is being cut.

[Tanzy]

Why? I suppose it is how nature works. I don't know why the female is dominant.

The clownfish colony is comprised of a dominant, egg-laying female and an alpha male that fertilises the eggs. All clownfishes are born male. When the dominant female dies or disappears, the alpha male turns to female and the next biggest clownfish becomes the alpha male.

[Phang]

Does this works with all species of clowns....

How about Maroons... and is there anyway we can get jus two to become a couple?????

[Tanzy]

Yes it is true for all clowns.

To get a pair simply choose a large clown and a noticeably smaller clown. The clear difference in size will help them end the dispute to who gets to lay eggs faster and the larger one will become female if not already female.

Initially, its natural for them to fight and the smaller one will get chased around a bit.

[Phang]

Hmm, will try.. that is if the larger maroon don't kill the smaller one before they ever .................

[Creetin]

hmmm hongxian u said its $3? i went to a shop which sold it at $10!!! funny rite...... the fire clown is more ex den other types of clownfish rite...

i guess one will be enuff for my tank, dun intend to breed them also......

[hongqixian]

Why? I suppose it is how nature works. I don't know why the female is dominant.

The clownfish colony is comprised of a dominant, egg-laying female and an alpha male that fertilises the eggs. All clownfishes are born male. When the dominant female dies or disappears, the alpha male turns to female and the next biggest clownfish becomes the alpha male.

So clowns won't become female unless there are others?

hmmm hongxian u said its $3? i went to a shop which sold it at $10!!! funny rite...... the fire clown is more ex den other types of clownfish rite...

i guess one will be enuff for my tank, dun intend to breed them also......

I don't know where you went but Lor Halus sells cheaply.

[Tanzy]

If there is only one clown then it is dominant since no other clowns around, so it will be female.

[hongqixian]

I see.

[Phang]

Do they morph back into males?????

[Tanzy]

[Phang]

Do they morph back into males?????

Any answers???

[Tanzy]

They don't morph back.

[Phang]

so you keep 2 clowns separately.... as they are alone, they dominate the tanks as females.... then place them together to get them to pair up.....hmmm, don't think they practice lesbianism in the clown kingdom ... right????

[Tanzy]

They will fight to the death. Not too pleasant unless you like to watch.

[bawater]

tanzy r those tomato clowns? i never saw those teeth before! just like pirahnas

phang, what u trying is forced pairing(either it accepts or it kills)- chk out www.saltaquarium.about.com on clown breeding- there are 3 methods of pairing & force pairing yields worst results(i tried with commons & got 1 pair out of 6 trys at forced pairs) . just tried a pair of skunks & so far still bitching-each at opposite ends of the tnk.

maybe u would want to wait till your main tank running then at least they have space to run from each other if they dun fall in love.

Its common for the males to turn female but haven't seen it go the other way yet(just like humans )

Maybe tanzy will find u a pic.........i ain't gonna!

[Tanzy]

Those are tomato clowns Amphiprion frenatus. The teeth are there so that is is good for biting people who put their hands into the tanks.

Some anthias can switch back and forth but clowns cannot.

[Creetin]

Hey Tanzy, u sure tomato clowns luv to bite their owners? like they suddenly wan to have some piece of flesh?

[Tanzy]

All clowns are territorial, some clowns are more aggressive, like tomatoes clowns. If an ocellaris were to bite, it won't hurt cause they only have small teeth, but I've heard of tomatoes and maroons drawing blood from people when they attack.

I was just joking about them biting anyone, but they do bite.

[Creetin]

i didnt know that! considering they are related to FW cichlids, they are pretty fierce! even LH, oscars dont bite the hand that feed them.....