Clownfish, more technically known as Anemonefish, are the classic aquarium fish. Both hardy and attractive, they are perhaps best known for their symbiotic relationship with Sea Anemones, a relative of coral. In the wild, Anemonefish are always found with a host, leading many potential keepers to believe that an anemone is necessary to keep them. Anemonefish are easy to keep, but their cnidarian counterparts are inordinately finicky and need high light levels, and luckily Anemonefish will thrive without them. Aquarists often find that Anemonefish will host in other things, from corals and Feather Duster Worms to powerheads and other equipment. Anemonefish care is identical to that of Damselfish, as they are actually very closely related.
Common name | Scientific name | Description | Max. size |
Cinnamon anemonefish  | Amphiprion melanopus | Dark orange body becoming black towards the caudal fin, with a bright white stripe running from the front of the dorsal fin to the pectoral fins and golden colored fins. | 12 cm (4.72 in) |
Clarkii anemonefish  | Amphiprion clarkii | Black or dark brown with bright yellow finnage and two thick white stripes running perpendicular to the body. | 15 cm (5.9 in) |
Ocellaris  | Amphiprion ocellaris | Bright orange or yellow body with white stripes. Fins are orange, rimmed with black. A. ocellaris from northern Australia are black. | 11 cm (4.3 in) |
Maroon clownfish  | Premnas biaculeatus | Maroon to bright red with three very thin white stripes. | 17 cm (6.7 in) |
True Percula  | Amphiprion percula | Nearly identical to A. ocellaris, but the white stripes are edged with black. | 11 cm (4.3 in) |
Pink skunk anemonefish  | Amphiprion perideraion | Pink to orange body with one white stripe over the operculum and another running from the tip of the snout, along the back to the dorsal fin. All fins are white. | 10 cm (3.9 in) |
Tomato clownfish  | Amphiprion frenatus | Bright red with a single white stripe running from the front of the dorsal fin to the bottom of the head. | 14 cm (5.1 in) |
Saddleback anemonefish  | Amphiprion polymnus | Similar to A. ocellaris and percula, but the second stripe does not extend the full with of the body and instead resembles a saddle. | 13 cm (5.1 in) |
Sebae anemonefish  | Amphiprion sebae | Black or dark brown body from above the pectoral fin, yellow below. Has two white stripes, the second resembling that of A. polymnus. | 16 cm ( in) |
