A robust, brilliantly red-orange clownfish marked by a single white head bar (which males and juveniles show most clearly, fading on large females). Hardy and inexpensive, the tomato clown is an excellent beginner marine fish, though females grow large and can become territorial.
ℹ️
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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Medium clownfish: females to about 13-14 cm (5-5.5 in); males smaller.
Lifespan
6–18 years
Social needs
pair
Native region
Western Pacific: Japan, the Coral Triangle, and the South China Sea region
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
🌊 Marine
Family
Pomacentridae
Genus
Amphiprion
Part of the Clownfish & Anemonefish
Clownfish (anemonefish) are small, hardy, brightly banded reef fish of the genus Amphiprion in the family Pomacentridae, famous for sheltering among the tentacles of sea anemones. Peaceful, largely reef-safe, and widely captive-bred, they are the most popular beginner marine fish and the easiest saltwater species to breed at home.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Pair-sized reef
30 gal / 110 L reef
Amphiprion frenatus reaches 14 cm (large female) and is moderately aggressive. Pair in a reef with defined territory; BTA preferred but optional for captive-bred.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Mature pair territory
55 gal / 200 L+
More rock and length reduces territorial harassment. Avoid mixing tomato with other clownfish — they will kill them.
Ideal
Large hosting reef
90 gal+ / 340 L+ reef
Spacious reef with long-established BTA, strong flow, and carefully chosen tankmates. Pair breeds reliably and lives 15+ years.
Cedricguppy / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Habitat & enclosure
Give a single fish at least 110 litres (30 gallons) and a pair more, as females grow sizable and defend a territory. Keep temperature 24-27 C (75-80 F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.023-1.026 (salinity ~33-35 ppt), with ammonia and nitrite zero and nitrate low.
Provide live rock with caves and a defensible nook, plus moderate flow. Standard reef lighting is fine. The natural host is the bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor), which is readily accepted but not necessary in captivity, where tomatoes often host in rockwork or hardy corals.
Substrate
A fine aragonite sand bed over plentiful live rock suits them, providing the caves and territory the fish defends. Bare-bottom is used mainly in dedicated breeding tanks with a flat spawning surface.
Equipment & setup
Run a cycled marine system with live rock, a protein skimmer, a reliable heater, and a powerhead for moderate flow. Standard reef LED lighting is sufficient unless a host anemone is kept.
Diet
An easy-feeding omnivore that takes marine flake and pellet, frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp, chopped meaty seafood, and marine algae or nori. Feed small portions once or twice daily. A varied diet keeps the deep red coloration vivid.
Behavior & temperament
Hardy, bold, and reef-safe, tomato clowns are peaceful when young but females can become territorial and feisty with age, harassing smaller or more timid tankmates near their chosen home. Keep only one tomato clownfish or a single bonded pair, and do not mix with other clownfish species. Pair by adding a smaller juvenile (male) to a larger established fish. They coexist well with robust community fish and will not bother corals or cleanup-crew invertebrates.
Health
Generally hardy but vulnerable to marine ich and the dangerous marine velvet, as well as Brooklynella and bacterial infections under stress; quarantine all new fish. Large females can be aggressive enough to stress smaller tankmates, indirectly lowering their disease resistance. Keep salinity and temperature stable to support health. (Health information is educational only and not a substitute for advice from an aquatic veterinarian.)
Tips, DIY & hacks
Choose captive-bred fish for hardiness and easy acclimation to prepared foods. Drip-acclimate and quarantine for 2-4 weeks, and because females turn territorial, add the tomato clown later in the stocking order and provide plenty of rockwork to break sightlines. Pair by introducing a clearly smaller juvenile to a larger established fish.
