Clownfish at Ocean's

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

The wild caught ocellaris I have look vastly different from the tank raised at Pisces.

I have the same observation, and more. I have seen tanksful of Ocellaris, Maroon, and Tomato Clowns at both Pisces, and Big Al's. They were supposed to have been bred in Edmonton. I am wondering if anyone knows anything about this operation? It seems odd to have Edmonton as the hotbed of clownfish breeding in Canada.

In those tanksful of clownfish there were a number of fish that would probably not have survived natural selection in the wild. Some looked runty, while some had odd markings. Most did not exhibit the same coloration I was used to from wild caught specimens. It was noted, however, that the coloration improved drastically with age.

I also found in the two I purchased a marked difference in behaviour from wild caught clowns I have had in my tanks. They just appeared to be stupid. However, I am led to believe that most fish behaviour is inherited, and had they lived they would probably have become smarter. They did have a behaviour I had never observed in wild caught fish in that both jumped out of their tank and died.

For what it is worth that is my story on tankbred clownfish.