Tomato Clownfish

You've not quite found Nemo, but it's easy to make that mistake. These are Tomato Clownfish, (Amphiprion frenatus) members of the Clownfish family, related to Nemos (False Clownfish/Amphiprion ocellaris) but totally different. You may be able to tell by looking that they look a little meatier, and only  have one white band on their body, Nemos are a bit more slender, with three white bands, but enough about those, it's not their day today).

Clownfish as cute as they are, are actually quite territorial and some may dare say vicious. But only in an evolved to stay alive way. They have a symbiotic relationship with Anemones, which basically means, they live together and both benefit from it. The clownfish have shelter in the stinging tentacles, scientists don't even know why for certain clownfish don't get stung, there's many theories, the most popular being their slime coat* feels to the anemone like itself, so it thinks it's just rubbing along itself so it's not going to try sting itself... but then, anemones have been seen to sting other prey with the clownfish inside... mysteries.

*(Mostly all fish are covered with a slime coat or mucus that acts as a barrier from nasty things like parasites getting into their scales).

The relationship is great for the Anemone too. Because though they don't look very appertising, there are some types of fish that will have a nibble at it. (Butterfly fish, I'm looking at you). The Clownfish, bold as anything- come out of the Anemone and quickly attack any fish going for a bite. As someone who's had their hand in a tank and been attacked, I can honestly say they pack a bigger punch than you may think.

Not the information you were looking for? Try fishbase.org