This is one of those delightful denizens of warm Pacific waters, particularly around the Indo region. The clownfish in general is a bright, colorful addition to any saltwater aquarium, but it's also one that needs to be placed with compatible fish. Their darting, apparently playful behavior, actually is a form of aggression that is expressed when they defend their feeding territory, so it is not really the "clowning" around that gives it the name.

In the wild, they would be found amongst anemones, which make a great natural hiding place for the brightly colored fish. A schooling species, you would then find them in groups around coral reefs, or where there are clusters of anemones on the sea bottom. A home aquarium should be equipped with plants or other hiding places, to give them something of the same feel of their natural environment.

The Percula Clownfish, or amphiprion percula, is a bright orange, with 2-3 well-defined vertical white stripes. They grow to 3-4 inches and thrive best in an aquarium kept at 75-79 degrees, while being fed a diet that includes flakes, pellets, and live or frozen meats such as shrimp.

Because they are a territorial fish, you must balance the population of your saltwater aquarium carefully. It is possible to keep more than one species of clownfish in the same aquarium, and it's very attractive with the color blends, but remember not to overpopulate the tank, which will stress them and cause fights over food sources.