Clownfish Questions

Question
Hi. I'm a 4th grader doing a class project on Clownfish. I hope you have a minute to answer a few questions. (My dad is helping me with your website.)

1.) Is it better to have an anemone in the tank with clownfish or does it not matter?

2.) How long do clownfish normally live, in the wild, and in tanks?

3.) Do clownfish sleep?

4.) Is there a chance clownfish will become endangered?

5.) a.) Do you think clownfish are smart?

b.) Why?

6.) If clownfish were land animals, what would they be most like?
(Example: Dogs, cats, people, ext.)

7.) Are there conditions clownfish can live through that most other fish can't?

Thanks for your help.
Jessica

Answer
HI JESSICA,
   I WILL TRY TO ANSWER THESE GREAT QUESTIONS THE BEST I CAN, AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT. GERRY.

1. ANEMONE? IF THE CLOWNFISH WAS CAUGHT IN THE WILD AN ANEMONE HOST IS DESIRABLE. IF TANK BRED AND RAISED IT MOST LIKELY DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN TANK RAISED CLOWNFISH LIVE SYMBIOTICALLY WITH AN ANEMONE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A BEHAVIOR NATIVE TO THE SPECIES.
2. IN TANKS THEY LIVE 3 - 5 YEARS AND IN THE WILD AS LONG AS SEVEN IN GOOD CONDITIONS.
3. MOST FISH INCLUDING CLOWNFISH DO NOT SLEEP LIKE WE DO. THEY DO HAVE A PERIOD OF TIME, EITHER DAY OR NIGHT, WHEN THEY REST. FISH ACTIVE DURING THE DAY, LIKE CLOWNFISH, FIND A SAFE PLACE LIKE AN ANEMONE OR A CREVICE IN THE REEF AND REST. FISH ACTIVE AT NIGHT REST DURING THE DAY.
4. THERE IS A CHANCE ALL REEF LIFE WILL BE ENDANGERED AT SOME POINT DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING. AS THE OCEAN TEMPERATURE RISES THE REEF WHERE THESE ANIMALS LIVE WILL SLOWLY DIE AND THE ANIMALS WILL NO DOUBT WILL ALSO BECOME VICTIMS. WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TRY AND STOP OR REVERSE THIS PROBLEM. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW DEGREES TO HAVE DRASTIC EFFECTS ON THIS DELICATE ECOSYSTEM. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED.
5. [A]YES, I DO. [B] THEY ARE CURIOUS AND SOCIAL BY NATURE. THEY REMEMBER MANY THINGS LIKE FEEDING TIME, LIGHTS OUT, LIGHTS ON, AND EVEN ACT LIKE THEY ARE GLAD TO SEE YOU WHEN YOU APPROACH THE TANK. THEY WILL EAT RIGHT OUT OF YOUR HAND. THEY ARE ALSO VERY TERRITORIAL AND WILL CHASE OTHER CLOWNFISH AWAY FROM THEIR ANEMONE.
6. THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY A KOALA. CUTE, KIND OF SHY, SLOW [EXCEPT WHEN CHASING FOOD], AND LOVABLE.
7. THE ONLY SITUATION WOULD BE THE PRESENCE OF A PREDATOR WHEN A CLOWNFISH HAS AN ANEMONE HOST. THE PREDATOR WOULD BE STUNG BY THE ANEMONE. THE CLOWNFISH EMITS A SUBSTANCE ON ITS BODY THAT ALLOWS IT IMMUNITY FROM THE STING OR SIGNALS THE ANEMONE NOT TO STING IT. IT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN. AS FAR AS WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS IT IS ONE OF THE MORE SENSITIVE FISH AND PRONE TO CERTAIN DISEASES IF NOT KEPT IN WATER OF EXCELLENT QUALITY.