Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion Frenatus)
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus)
The Tomato Clownfish is the "red giant" of the clownfish world. While it lacks the intricate stripes of the Ocellaris, it makes up for it with a bold, saturated color and a legendary, feisty personality. It is one of the hardiest marine fish in existence, making it a favorite for beginners, but its assertive nature means it requires a bit of planning regarding its tank mates.
Key Information
-
Common Names: Tomato Clownfish, Red Clownfish, Bridled Anemonefish
-
Scientific Name: Amphiprion frenatus
-
Origin: Western Pacific (Japan to Indonesia and the Philippines)
-
Max Size: 12–14 cm (approx. 5.5 inches) — Females are significantly larger than males.
-
Lifespan: 12–15+ years
-
Temperament: Semi-aggressive to Aggressive (especially as they age)
-
Diet: Omnivore – Extremely easy to feed
-
Care Level: Very Easy
Appearance & Identification
The Tomato Clown is all about that "monotone" impact:
-
The Body: A deep, vibrant orange-to-tomato red. As females mature, their sides often darken to a deep mahogany or nearly black color.
-
The Single Stripe: Unlike most clowns, it has only one white vertical band (the "bridle") located just behind the eye.
-
The Fins: Usually match the body color, though they may have a thin black outline.
-
The Juveniles: Interestingly, young Tomato Clowns may start with two or three stripes, but they lose the extra ones as they grow, eventually keeping only the head band.
Behaviour: The "Protective Parent"
-
The Bubble-Tip Specialist: In the wild, their preferred host is the Bubble-Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor). They are extremely devoted to their host and will "feed" the anemone by bringing it scraps of food.
-
Aggression: They are far more territorial than Pink Skunk Clowns. A mature female Tomato Clown will often attack a hand that enters the tank during maintenance. It is best to keep them as a single specimen or a mated pair.
-
Tank Mates: Because they are bold, they can live with larger, more active fish like Tangs, Large Wrasses, and Angels. They may bully smaller, passive fish like Firefish.
-
Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe. They are great for reefs, but if they don't have an anemone, they might try to "host" in large-polyp stony corals (LPS), which can sometimes irritate the coral.
Ideal Tank Setup
-
Tank Size: A minimum of 115L (30 Gallons). Because they grow larger and are more active than common clowns, they need the extra swimming space.
-
Host Options: They are not "picky" in captivity. While they love Bubble-Tips, they will often host in Long Tentacle Anemones or even a clump of Hair Algae if nothing else is available!
-
Feeding: They are "pigs." They will eat anything: flakes, pellets, frozen mysis, and chopped seafood.
-
Water Quality: Extremely resilient. They are often used to help "cycle" tanks (though this is no longer recommended) because they can withstand conditions that would be fatal to other fish.
Why Choose the Tomato Clownfish?
The Tomato Clown is for the hobbyist who wants a "Bulletproof Centerpiece." Its deep red color provides a stunning contrast against green corals or blue backgrounds. It is a fish with "soul"—it will watch you, interact with you, and definitely let you know who the boss of the tank is.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion Frenatus)
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion Frenatus)
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus)
The Tomato Clownfish is the "red giant" of the clownfish world. While it lacks the intricate stripes of the Ocellaris, it makes up for it with a bold, saturated color and a legendary, feisty personality. It is one of the hardiest marine fish in existence, making it a favorite for beginners, but its assertive nature means it requires a bit of planning regarding its tank mates.
Key Information
-
Common Names: Tomato Clownfish, Red Clownfish, Bridled Anemonefish
-
Scientific Name: Amphiprion frenatus
-
Origin: Western Pacific (Japan to Indonesia and the Philippines)
-
Max Size: 12–14 cm (approx. 5.5 inches) — Females are significantly larger than males.
-
Lifespan: 12–15+ years
-
Temperament: Semi-aggressive to Aggressive (especially as they age)
-
Diet: Omnivore – Extremely easy to feed
-
Care Level: Very Easy
Appearance & Identification
The Tomato Clown is all about that "monotone" impact:
-
The Body: A deep, vibrant orange-to-tomato red. As females mature, their sides often darken to a deep mahogany or nearly black color.
-
The Single Stripe: Unlike most clowns, it has only one white vertical band (the "bridle") located just behind the eye.
-
The Fins: Usually match the body color, though they may have a thin black outline.
-
The Juveniles: Interestingly, young Tomato Clowns may start with two or three stripes, but they lose the extra ones as they grow, eventually keeping only the head band.
Behaviour: The "Protective Parent"
-
The Bubble-Tip Specialist: In the wild, their preferred host is the Bubble-Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor). They are extremely devoted to their host and will "feed" the anemone by bringing it scraps of food.
-
Aggression: They are far more territorial than Pink Skunk Clowns. A mature female Tomato Clown will often attack a hand that enters the tank during maintenance. It is best to keep them as a single specimen or a mated pair.
-
Tank Mates: Because they are bold, they can live with larger, more active fish like Tangs, Large Wrasses, and Angels. They may bully smaller, passive fish like Firefish.
-
Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe. They are great for reefs, but if they don't have an anemone, they might try to "host" in large-polyp stony corals (LPS), which can sometimes irritate the coral.
Ideal Tank Setup
-
Tank Size: A minimum of 115L (30 Gallons). Because they grow larger and are more active than common clowns, they need the extra swimming space.
-
Host Options: They are not "picky" in captivity. While they love Bubble-Tips, they will often host in Long Tentacle Anemones or even a clump of Hair Algae if nothing else is available!
-
Feeding: They are "pigs." They will eat anything: flakes, pellets, frozen mysis, and chopped seafood.
-
Water Quality: Extremely resilient. They are often used to help "cycle" tanks (though this is no longer recommended) because they can withstand conditions that would be fatal to other fish.
Why Choose the Tomato Clownfish?
The Tomato Clown is for the hobbyist who wants a "Bulletproof Centerpiece." Its deep red color provides a stunning contrast against green corals or blue backgrounds. It is a fish with "soul"—it will watch you, interact with you, and definitely let you know who the boss of the tank is.
Original: $42.91
-65%$42.91
$15.02Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus)
The Tomato Clownfish is the "red giant" of the clownfish world. While it lacks the intricate stripes of the Ocellaris, it makes up for it with a bold, saturated color and a legendary, feisty personality. It is one of the hardiest marine fish in existence, making it a favorite for beginners, but its assertive nature means it requires a bit of planning regarding its tank mates.
Key Information
-
Common Names: Tomato Clownfish, Red Clownfish, Bridled Anemonefish
-
Scientific Name: Amphiprion frenatus
-
Origin: Western Pacific (Japan to Indonesia and the Philippines)
-
Max Size: 12–14 cm (approx. 5.5 inches) — Females are significantly larger than males.
-
Lifespan: 12–15+ years
-
Temperament: Semi-aggressive to Aggressive (especially as they age)
-
Diet: Omnivore – Extremely easy to feed
-
Care Level: Very Easy
Appearance & Identification
The Tomato Clown is all about that "monotone" impact:
-
The Body: A deep, vibrant orange-to-tomato red. As females mature, their sides often darken to a deep mahogany or nearly black color.
-
The Single Stripe: Unlike most clowns, it has only one white vertical band (the "bridle") located just behind the eye.
-
The Fins: Usually match the body color, though they may have a thin black outline.
-
The Juveniles: Interestingly, young Tomato Clowns may start with two or three stripes, but they lose the extra ones as they grow, eventually keeping only the head band.
Behaviour: The "Protective Parent"
-
The Bubble-Tip Specialist: In the wild, their preferred host is the Bubble-Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor). They are extremely devoted to their host and will "feed" the anemone by bringing it scraps of food.
-
Aggression: They are far more territorial than Pink Skunk Clowns. A mature female Tomato Clown will often attack a hand that enters the tank during maintenance. It is best to keep them as a single specimen or a mated pair.
-
Tank Mates: Because they are bold, they can live with larger, more active fish like Tangs, Large Wrasses, and Angels. They may bully smaller, passive fish like Firefish.
-
Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe. They are great for reefs, but if they don't have an anemone, they might try to "host" in large-polyp stony corals (LPS), which can sometimes irritate the coral.
Ideal Tank Setup
-
Tank Size: A minimum of 115L (30 Gallons). Because they grow larger and are more active than common clowns, they need the extra swimming space.
-
Host Options: They are not "picky" in captivity. While they love Bubble-Tips, they will often host in Long Tentacle Anemones or even a clump of Hair Algae if nothing else is available!
-
Feeding: They are "pigs." They will eat anything: flakes, pellets, frozen mysis, and chopped seafood.
-
Water Quality: Extremely resilient. They are often used to help "cycle" tanks (though this is no longer recommended) because they can withstand conditions that would be fatal to other fish.
Why Choose the Tomato Clownfish?
The Tomato Clown is for the hobbyist who wants a "Bulletproof Centerpiece." Its deep red color provides a stunning contrast against green corals or blue backgrounds. It is a fish with "soul"—it will watch you, interact with you, and definitely let you know who the boss of the tank is.
