Tomato Clownfish

Tomato Clownfish are stunning fish. As the name suggests, they have wonderful, deep orange / red bodies. Instead of three stripes, Tomato clownfish, have a single white band behind their eyes. In a head scarf or hood pattern. Tomato Clownfish have everything there is to love about clownfish, but they are plus size. These chunky fish have wider bodies, fatter heads, and longer fins. As a result of their body shape, these fish really do look quite cute.

Tomato Clownfish Ecology.

In nature, Clownfish form strict hierarchies, where the dominant fish is female. In the absence of a matriarch, a larger male clown will change gender and become the new boss. This is protandrous hermaphroditism. When it is time to lay eggs, the breeding pair will clear an oval shaped space for brood to go. The male Tomato Clownfish take up the job of guarding and fanning the eggs. Success of the brood depends on how attentive the subordinate males were.

Famously, Clownfish share a  symbiotic relationship with anemones. The Anemones offer the clownfish protection against predators. This is so, because anemones have stinging cells called nematocysts. Clownfish have protective mucus coats, which prevents the host from stinging them. In return, the Tomato Clownfish brings in food and keeps the Anemone free from parasites.

Clownfish are omnivorous, they will eat some algae and small meaty foods such as zooplankton or larvae.

Clownfish: In the Aquarium. 

Tomato Clownfish are omnivores and do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept frozen Mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. They will also devour live foods, such as copepods and amphipods, that can be cultivated in attached refugium. Over time they will accept high-quality pellet and flake. We adapt all our Clownfish pairs to aquarium life before they leave us. We focus on their health, and most are eating a good quality flake food and/or pellet, such as JBL Maris, before being offered for sale.