Information on Tomato Clownfish

Tomato clownfish or tomato anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) are native to the Western Pacific Ocean around Fiji and Indonesia, and many of the fish available as pets come from this region. Like other clownfish, they can form a cooperative relationship with an anemone in the aquarium. They can be found at local fish stores and from online retailers and sell for around $15 to $25 depending on their size.

  1. Water Parameters

    • High-quality water with the proper parameters will help keep the tomato clownfish healthy. The pH should be around 8.2 and the temperature near 78 degrees. Try to simulate the conditions on the reef by keeping the water free of ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. Depending on how many fish you have, you should consider using a protein skimmer and activated carbon to remove organic compounds and chemicals from the water. Good water flow in the aquarium is important to help stir up the detritus from the sand and provide oxygenation. The tomato clownfish is a very hardy fish and will thrive even if optimal water parameters are not met.

    Diet

    • The tomato clownfish is an omnivore and will eat a wide variety of foods. To keep your fish healthy, you should feed a mix of marine vegetables with animal protein. Some good choices are flakes, sheets or cubes of marine algae and mysid shrimp, copepods and adult brine shrimp. You can feed live foods as well such as baby brine shrimp (BBS) and live harpacticoid copepods.

    Size and Temperment

    • Tomato clownfish can grow to about 6 inches in length for females, whereas males are typically smaller. Because of their size, they need at least a 30-gallon aquarium with places to hide and swim. Like other clownfish, the tomato clown is very active and will interact with you, particularly during feeding times. They can be aggressive to other fish and will defend their home (whether it is a cave or an anemone) vigorously. They may even defend it from you if your hand gets too close.

    Captive-Bred vs. Wild-Caught

    • Captive-bred (or "tank-bred") tomato clownfish are usually preferred over fish caught directly on the reef. Purchasing captive-bred fish reduces pressure on the reefs and helps keep the reefs healthy. Additionally, captive-bred fish are better suited to the aquarium environment as they are already trained to eat prepared foods and have adapted to the aquarium environment.

    Breeding

    • Clownfish generally are one of the easiest fish to breed in a home aquarium. To do so, you will first need a mated pair of clownfish. You can purchase a mated pair or buy two very young clownfish; one will become female and one will remain male. For genetic diversity, consider purchasing one wild-caught clownfish. Next, keep the water parameters as nearly perfect as possible and make sure the tomato clowns do not have any stressors in the aquarium (such as other aggressive fish). The clownfish will lay eggs on a rock and guard them. When the fry hatch, feed them rotifers and baby brine shrimp. You can usually sell your young tomato clownfish to local aquarium stores.