Clownfish Facts

About the clownfish

Clownfish live in warm, tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, mostly on coral reefs. Most wear white vertical bars over a body that may be orange, red, yellow, brown or black. Their bond with sea anemones helps both sides. The anemone gives shelter and protection from predators, and in return the fish chase off anemone-eating fish, clean and fan their host, and their waste draws in helpful microorganisms.

They eat mostly plankton. A group has one breeding female, one breeding male and some nonbreeders, ranked by size with the female on top. If she disappears, the breeding male becomes female and takes her spot, and everyone else moves up. The female lays eggs on a rock beside the anemone. The larvae drift into open ocean, then settle and hunt for an anemone of their own.

Did you know?

• The ocellaris clownfish is one of the marine fish traded most often.
• Clownfish are more numerous inside marine protected areas, where nobody may collect them.
• Collecting wild clownfish for aquariums has contributed to their decline.