Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus
Also called Tomato anemonefish, Bridled anemonefish, Bridled clownfish, Red clownfish, Red tomato clown
From Western Pacific: from the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea through the Philippines and Indonesia north to southern Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, and east to Palau123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Personality what they are like
A bold, territorial fish once it matures, quick to defend its home and not keen on other clownfish. Some adults are even known to nip at the hand that tends the tank.234
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Spends its day around a host anemone or chosen coral, staying in a defined home area.24
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
A fully marine fish rated easy to care for. Suggested aquarium water: about 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, carbonate hardness 8 to 12 dKH and specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. It does well without an anemone and may adopt a coral instead.42
Home where they are happiest
A saltwater aquarium of at least about 114 L (30 US gallons). In the wild it lives on lagoon reefs and in bays at about 1 to 12 m, mainly with the bubble-tip anemone.412
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivore that takes most meaty and plant-based foods, such as dried algae, mysis shrimp and brine shrimp.241
Company who they like around
The story where it all began
Brevoort described the tomato clownfish in 1856. It is a long-standing favourite in the marine aquarium hobby and has been bred in captivity for years, with farms such as ORA supplying captive-raised fish.13
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Pairs can spawn every 10 to 14 days, laying around 400 eggs that hatch after 7 to 8 days.3
- 2
Males turn into females at around 6.6 cm in length.1
- 3
Juveniles have a white mid-body stripe that disappears as they grow up.3
- 4
Tomato clownfish larvae drift for only about 9 days before settling down as young fish.3
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 2010)1
- James Carson Brevoort
- Species described by Brevoort in 18561
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Tomato Clownfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Salinity checkevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water testevery week
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Glass cleanevery week
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Amphiprion frenatus, Tomato clownfish fishbase.seused for range, max size, depth, host anemone, IUCN status, describer, sex change size
- Wikipedia: Tomato clownfish en.wikipedia.orgused for names, appearance, temperament, habitat, diet, aquarium notes
- ORA: Tomato Clownfish orafarm.comused for colour, range, female size, temperament, spawning and larval facts, juvenile stripe
- LiveAquaria: Tomato Clownfish quick stats liveaquaria.comused for care level, temperament, size, tank size, water parameters, diet
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.