From: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com (K. Rogers)
Subject: Re: [M]Clownfish ID
Reply-To: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 16:07:56 GMT

jjschm@bb1t.monsanto.com writes:

>Yesterday, I was at a pet store in town and noticed a clownfish I've
>never seen before.  I asked one of the shop keepers what it was, but
>he really didn't have a clue besides "it's a clown".  Anyway the
>species is of the "plemnus(?)"  variety, not an amphirion(?) based on
>the body shape.  The color was much darker red or maroon than the
>common orange color and the stripes were thicker and surprisingly
>vivid yellow.

Premnas biaculatus (spelling perhaps a character or two off).  It's a
monotypic genus (I hate monotypic genera).  They're commonly known as
maroon clowns.  The variety with yellow stripes is very rarely sold,
they usually have white stripes.

>  I was so intrigued that I'm considering buying the lot
>(6, 2") and setting up a breeding tank.  If anyone could give me a
>better background on these fish or any breeding info on them I would
>appreciate it.

Don't get 6!  These are the feistiest of the clowns.  In fact, they
are downright mean when adult sized (3 or more inches).  The usual
thing to do with clowns is to get the largest and smallest available.
The big one will turn into a female if it already isn't, the other
will turn into a sexually active male.  However, I've heard this
method for forming a pair doesn't work often for maroon clowns.
They're so territorial that the larger will often kill the smaller
before they make a pair.  You might try a physical seperator which
still allows for visual contact for a while first so they get used to
seeing each other.

I've also heard maroons are delicate health wise.  Make sure your tank
water is in tip-top shape.  All in all, a difficult fish to keep which
is frustrating since they're so beautiful and most clowns are easy.

As for breeding - hah.  Yeah, there are a few people who have bred
these in captivity.  Unless you do some serious research first and
have gobs of time on your hands plus room for green water, rotifer and
Artemia culture you can forget it.  Breeding things marine is utterly
unlike freshwater fish; discus and tetras are trivial compared to even
the easiest marine fish which are clowns and seahorses.  Just forming
a pair that will spawn if far from a given.  And getting them to spawn
is trivial compared to raising the larvae to the juvenile stage.  If
you want to see what's involved read:

Marine Aquarium Handbook, 2ed, Moe  (new edition just came out)

Reproduction in Reeffishes, Thresher  (out of print, check a library)

Anemonefishes, Allen  (long out of print but a library may have a copy)

Plankton Culture Manual, Hoff & somebody (sold by Florida Aqua Farm)

In addition there are a bunch of scientific marine biology journals
that are well worth reading.  I don't have a compiled bibliography
though.  There is the occasional article in the hobby rags.  One came
out about a year ago from a guy on the Net (Richard Brosseau) who was
getting some A. ocellaris to juvenile stage on just Artemia nauplii.
You should check out this article.  It was in FAMA a while back - I
can't tell you which issue from here at work.

The bottom line is if you aren't seriously dedicated you can forget
the breeding apsect.  If you are on the lunatic fringe (like I am) you
go for it.  Be prepared for disappointment after disappointment.

-- 
Keith Rogers
krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria