Easily the most recognizable and popular saltwater fish in the hobby is the clownfish (or anemonefish). They are prized not only for their beauty and hardiness but also for their interesting symbiotic lifestyle with host anemones.
The news about these fish just gets better as they are among a growing number of marine fish being captively bred. Already, several hatcheries and “fish farms” produce an abundance of specimens in a variety unheard of just a few years ago, and among them, most species of clownfish. The biggest plus to captive-bred clownfish is that the fish are born and raised in hatcheries and are already adjusted to captive life, which makes them hardier and stronger. Wild clownfish, except for the mated pairs often exported from the Indo-Pacific region, arrive in very poor condition and are usually suffering from Brooklynella infestation. While these fishes can be treated and often recover, many do not. It seems wasteful to continue removing them from the ocean when captive bred specimens of all popular clownfish species are now widely available.
At Fintastic, we strongly advocate buying captive bred species whenever possible. Although there are many honorable collectors of wild-caught fish, there are also many unscrupulous ones who not only deliver unhealthy stock but damage the reefs and environment as well. If you’re interested in clownfish, our captive bred species include true percula (A. percula), clarkii (A. clarkii), false percula (A. ocellaris), and tomato clown (A. frenatus).
A word about anemones: though the clownfishes are generally a hardy lot, the anemones with which they associate are not. Unless you are an expert, most aquarists should choose between Entacmaea quadricolor, Bulb anemone, macrodactyla doreensis, and long tentacle anemone.