Clownfish Fun Facts

1. Clownfish are sometimes known as anemonefish.


2. They belong to the damselfish family.


3. They have distinctive black, white and orange markings.


4. They make their homes amongst reefs.


5. Female clownfish lay upto a thousand eggs on coral or rocks on anemones.


6. Eggs can be laid all year around.


7. Some females even lay eggs in amongst the anemones.


8. Males guard the eggs until they hatch after four or five days.


9. To catch their prey, clownfish swim onto the reef where they attract larger fish, which are stung by the anemones.


10. The anemone then eats the larger fish, leaving the remains for the clownfish.


11. As well as fish remains, clownfish eat algae and plankton.


12. They can grow between two to five inches.


13. Clownfish can be kept as saltwater aquariums or tanks as pets.


14. In captivity, they can live upto five years.


15. Clownfish became hugely popular due to the 2003 Pixar animated film Finding Nemo, in which a nervous clownfish searches for his missing son.


16. All clown fish are born male and some develop female reproductive organs when needed.