Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus

The Tomato Clownfish or Tomato Anemonefish is native to reefs in the western Pacific Ocean from Japan to Indonesia. Its preferred host is bubble-tip anemone.

Like all anemonefish, it has a symbiotic relationship with a host anemone for mutual protection. It's skin has a mucus that protects it from the anemone's toxic sting that deters the fish's predators and the territorial fish keeps its host safe by chasing away anemone predators. Also, like all anemonefish, the largest fish in the group is female and reproduces with the largest male. All the others are subordinate males with their own size-based hierarchy. When the female dies or is removed, the largest male becomes female and pairs with the next largest male.

They have an orange to dark red-brown body - females are darker than males and both turn darker with age. On the adult there is a single white or pale blue band behind the eye looping from chin overhead to chin. Crucially, their pelvic fins are red (orange to dark red, but they also darken with age), as this is a key distinguishing feature from the similar Cinnamon Clownfish which usually has black pelvic fins (the fins below the chest). Above shows a particularly dark female but the pelvic fins are dark red not black.

Juveniles start with 2 or even 3 white bands which reduce to one white/blue looped band. The band has almost disappeared on this female. Actual colour and pattern varies by gender, age and region. They grow to 14cm long.