Fauna
Species

Tomato Clownfish

Amphiprion frenatus

Also known as Blackback Anemonefish, Bridled Anemonefish, Fire Clown, Red Tomato Clown

Tomato clownfish live in strict, female-dominated pairs or small groups within the protective tentacles of bubble-tip anemones. These bold damselfish aggressively defend their host anemone from intruders, charging and even biting divers or larger fish that venture too close. Young fish display a bright red-orange color with multiple white bars, which fade to a single white head bar and a darker, blackish body as they mature into dominant females.

MarineTerritorialSymbiotic
Tomato Clownfish reference
"tomato clownfish, Amphiprion frenatus" by brian.gratwicke is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCopepods, Algae, Tunicates
Predators
  • Groupers
  • Snappers
  • Moray eels
ThreatsCoral reef degradation, ocean warming, and overcollection for the aquarium trade
HabitatsCoral reefs, lagoons, and seaward reefs hosting bubble-tip anemones
Life span6 to 10 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyPomacentridae
  2. SpeciesAmphiprion frenatus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Boldly defends its host anemone and may nip at fingers or hands if approached too closely.
Why it is dangerous
Aggressively defends its territory and will fearlessly bite fingers, hands, or diving gear to protect its host.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a single prominent white vertical bar behind the eye on a bright orange to dark reddish-black body.
What to do
Maintain a respectful distance of at least one meter from the host anemone and do not attempt to touch the fish.
Responsible observation
  • Observe the host: Look for the bulbous tentacles of bubble-tip anemones on shallow reefs to locate these fish.
  • Keep your distance: Avoid placing hands near the anemone to prevent defensive nips from the resident pair.
  • Watch the hierarchy: Observe how the larger, darker female dominates the smaller, brighter male.
Related species
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