Tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Blackback anemonefish, Bridled anemonefish, Fire clown, Red tomato clown
Family
Pomacentridae (damselfishes and clownfishes)
Origin
Western Pacific from Japan and the Ryukyu Islands through the South China Sea to Malaysia and Indonesia; sheltered reefs and shallow lagoons.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
14 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
76 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
aggressive
Reef safe
yes

Care

Tank: a reef or fish-only aquarium with rockwork. The species article gives a minimum of about 76 litres (20 US gallons), and some keepers recommend more. It can live without an anemone and may adopt corals instead. Quarantine new fish before adding them to the main tank. Water: the sources give no species-specific figures, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and specific gravity 1.023–1.026. Keep conditions stable with good filtration and regular water changes. Behaviour: adults are aggressive and territorial, even towards other clownfish. Groups have a strict hierarchy headed by the largest fish, a female. Best kept singly or as a mated pair. Identification: bright red with a single white head bar from the front of the dorsal fin to the throat; adult females often darken on the flanks. Up to about 14 cm. Trade: clownfish are not CITES-listed. Captive-bred fish are widely available and are the better choice where possible. The article cites a 2017 IUCN assessment without giving the category. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprionfrenatus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Accepts most meaty and plant foods: dried algae, frozen mysis and brine shrimp, flake and pellets. Feed small amounts two or three times a day.

Breeding

Only the dominant pair breeds, by external fertilisation of eggs laid on a hard surface. Fish begin as males and the dominant one becomes female. It has been bred in captivity; fry can be raised on rotifers and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe with corals and invertebrates. Keep one pair per tank, with no other clownfish, and choose tankmates that can stand up for themselves.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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