Tomato clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
| Diet | Algae and zooplankton |
|---|---|
| Size | Length: Up to 6 inches (14 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | West Central Pacific Ocean |
| Habitat | Lagoon reefs among anemones |
Did you know?
- Clownfish snuggle among the deadly stinging tentacles of anemones.
- In return for safe haven, clownfish clean the anemones, chase away their predators and drop scraps of food for them to eat.
- The clownfish is protected by its own mucus layer and may also get some additional protection from acquiring mucus from its anemone host.
- When no female is present, the largest male becomes female, therefore the female is always the largest and most dominant fish in a clownfish social group.
- Clownfish form monogamous pairs.
- About 35 different species of clownfish exist and they can be found in a variety of colors, orange, red, pink and brown.
- Males mostly care for the nests. They keep the eggs clean and well oxygenated by mouthing and fanning the eggs. They also “take out the trash” by removing any debris.
- Males also chase predators away from the nest. During acts of aggression, clownfish can produce sounds by snapping their tiny jaws together.
- Also known as anemonefish, clownfish find and choose their host anemones by scent.