Orange Anemone Fish

Facts about the Orange Anemonefish, it is widely recognized as an admired aquarium fish that belongs to the genus Amphiprion of the Pomacentridae. The binomial name of the fish is Amphiprion Percula and it is also called Orange Clownfish. Similar to other Clownfish it habitually lives in association with marine anemones. The Orange Anemonefish species is associated especially with Stichodactyla gigantean and Heteractis magnifica, and as larva use compound cues discharged from the anemones to recognize and find the suitable host species to use them for protection and shelter. This causes favored choice when locating their anemone host species. Even though popular, maintaining the Orange Anemonefish in captivity is somewhat difficult.

Features

An adult Orange Anemonefish is capable aof attaining a maximum body length of 4.3 inches (11 cm). The Orange Anemonefish species can be identified through three white color lines across its bright orange body, without difference in color between genders. The anterior white bar is located just at the back of its eyes, the middle bar goes directly down its body’s middle part, and its posterior bar occurs close to its caudal fin. An anterior protruding bulge exists on its middle bar, as well. Besides the white coloring, a black strip outlines each fin with different thickness.

The Orange Anemonefish can be mistaken for the analogous species of clownfishes, such as the Ocellaris Clownfish and occasionally, called as the False Percula Clownfish or Common Clownfish, owing to its similar pattern and color. The easiest way to differentiate the two species is the fact that the Orange Anemonefish has 10 spines in its first dorsal fin, whereas the Ocellaris Clownfish has 11 fins, which is a more consistent difference than color patterns.

Usually, Orange Anemonefish species are found in pairs and family clusters habitually with Merton's Anemone on coastal secluded reefs. Orange Anemonefish are often found in warm water at a depth that ranges from 2 inches to 8 inches (5 cm to 20 cm). These Orange Anemonefish species are specific Damselfish and live a symbiotic association with a variety of anemones. Some of these Damselfish species will only be seen with one kind of anemone, whereas others can live with several types. Usually, these fish species are rarely found extremely isolated from an anemone.

Reproduction

As these Orange Anemonefish species live in a warm water surroundings, they can reproduce throughout the year. Each cluster of fish includes a breeding couple and 0 top 4 non-breeders. Within each cluster there is a hierarchy, based on the size, such that the female fish is the biggest fish, the breeding male fish is the next biggest one, and the non-breeding males get increasingly smaller while the hierarchy descends. They show protandry, which means that every fish is born male, but they will change to a female only if the individual breeding female fish dies. If it dies, the breeding male fish changes gender, and it becomes the breeding female fish and the biggest non-breeder turns into the breeding male.

The spawning process of the Orange Anemonefish species is associated with the lunar cycle. At nocturnal the moon maintains an elevated level of awareness in the Orange Anemonefish and this enhances the interaction with the females and males. Earlier than spawning, the male fish attracts the female through its courting behavior. These courting activities include biting the female fish and chasing her by extending their fins. The males, as well, swim swiftly in a downward and upward motion to attract the female fish. The nesting location is also vital for the endurance of the eggs. According to the size of the female fish, it is capable of spawning about 400 to 1500 eggs per breeding cycle. The expected term of breeding females is about 12 years and is comparatively lengthy for a fish of its size, but is trait of other reef fish.

The average lifespan of the Orange Anemonefish ranges from 6 years to 10 years in the wild, whereas in the captive, they can live more than 10 years.