GBR Tomato Clownfish - (No Online Purchases)

GBR Tomato Clownfish (No Online Purchases)

The GBR Tomato Clownfish refers to the Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) found in the Great Barrier Reef.

Scientific Name: Amphiprion frenatus

Appearance: They are typically a vibrant orange-red (hence "tomato") and have a single white bar behind their eyes. Older females can sometimes develop a charcoal coloration on their flanks.

Habitat:Tomato Clownfish are found in the Western Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef, from Japan down to Indonesia. They inhabit lagoon reefs and embayments at depths of 1-12 meters, almost exclusively living in symbiotic relationships with the Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor).

Symbiotic Relationship: Like all clownfish, they have a special mucus coating that protects them from the stinging tentacles of their host anemone. In return, the clownfish defends the anemone from predators and parasites, and the anemone benefits from food scraps and improved circulation.

Diet: They are omnivores, feeding on algae, zooplankton, and small crustaceans.

Reproduction and Social Structure: Tomato Clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning all are born male. The largest and most dominant fish in a group will become the female, and they are monogamous, mating for life. The male guards and aerates the eggs.

Conservation Status:The Tomato Clownfish is currently listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. While their populations are generally stable, they are impacted by the aquarium trade and habitat destruction (especially the loss of coral reefs and anemones due to climate change and other factors).

Distinguishing from Similar Species: They can sometimes be confused with the Cinnamon Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) or the Australian Clownfish (Amphiprion rubrocinctus). The key difference from the Australian clownfish is that the female A. rubrocinctus doesn't have the distinctive black outline of the white band, and the band is often poorly developed. Geographic location and adult coloration help differentiate them.