Anemonefish aka' Clownfish

1. Amphiprion allardi - Allard's clownfish


2. Amphiprion melanopus - Cinnamon clownfish


3. Amphiprion clarkii - Clark's anemonefish


4. Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris clownfish


5. Amphiprion percula - Percula clownfish


6. Amphiprion perideraion - Pink skunk clownfish


7. Amphiprion polymnus - Saddleback clownfish


8. Amphiprion sebae - Sebae clownfish


9. Amphiprion bicinctus - Red Sea Clownfish


10. Amphiprion tricinctus - Three-band anemonefish


11. Amphiprion ephippium - Red saddleback anemonefish


12. Amphiprion frenatus - Tomato clownfish


13. Amphiprion chrysopterus - Orange-fin anemonefish


14. Amphiprion akallopisos - Skunk clownfish


15. Amphiprion nigripes - Maldive anemonefish


16. Amphiprion sandaracinos - Orange skunk clownfish


17. Amphiprion rubacinctus - Australian clownfish


18. Premnas biaculeatus - Maroon clownfish

Breeding clowns is a very rewarding experience, and it's not nearly as hard as you might think.

Obviously the first thing you need is a mated pair. There are several options to getting these. First learn to sex them... which is quite an interesting pursuit when it comes to clownfish.

In a group the female is the largest, with the male as the second largest. All others will be juveniles and gender-neutral. When one of the adults disappears, the next biggest will take its place. Thus the male will become female and a juvenile will turn into a male. Once they are female they cannot change again. In certain species there are physical differences but it's not a real good idea to rely on this as they may have changed sexes but not markings.

Buying an established pair is perhaps the easiest way to go. Many aquarium/fish stores have these or can order them for you. Sometimes you get lucky and get a pair already spawning. Look for a pair that hangs out together as this is a good sign that they are a true pair.
Another possibility is buying a group of juveniles and raising them to breeding age. This takes a good deal longer as some species take quite a while to mature. Also certain species are more aggresive and you may have to remove unwanted extras. Basically, you watch as the group matures and they will pair up by themselves. The female will be the largest, with the male next biggest. The rest should stay juveniles.

Establishing an adult pair can be a little tricky, and a close eye needs to be kept on them to make sure that the female doesn't kill the male. Buying a large adult and getting two smaller ones from a group and letting the female pick one is an approach that has yielded a good deal of success. With maroons, try introducing just one male at a time and keep a close eye on them.

It takes patience to get them to spawn, and there are a few things you can do to help.

* Use a good quality live food in combination with a well rounded diet. Fresh shrimp frozen and then grated is a good nutritional source.
* Make them feel secure. Remove any aggressive fish that might make them feel threatened.
* Sometimes a good porno movie helps.
* Have more patience

The Set-up

* The larger species will need a 29-gallon and the smaller a 20-gallon tank.
* Some type of filtration that will not harm the larvae when they hatch.
* A clay pot or a piece of ceramic tile is a favorite to spawn on.
* A heater.
* A light on a timer -- regular day/night cycle is important.