Amphiprion ocellaris
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
1-15 meters
The clown anemonefish, made globally famous by a certain animated film, is one of the most recognisable and photogenic fish on Komodo's reefs. This small, vibrant orange fish with three bold white bars edged in black lives exclusively within the protective tentacles of host anemones — a remarkable symbiotic relationship where the fish gains shelter from predators and the anemone benefits from the fish's cleaning and territorial defence. Clown anemonefish are immune to the anemone's stinging tentacles thanks to a thick mucous coating on their skin. In Komodo, they are commonly found in magnificent sea anemones and carpet anemones on reef slopes and flats. Each anemone typically hosts a dominant breeding pair and several smaller subordinates. All clown anemonefish are born male, with the largest dominant individual becoming female — if she is removed, the next largest male changes sex to replace her. Their bold personality means they will often swim directly at a diver's mask to defend their home, making for entertaining and endearing encounters.
Average Size
6-8cm
Size Range
3-11cm
Maximum Size
11cm
Omnivore feeding on algae, zooplankton, and small invertebrates. Also consumes dead tentacles and parasites from its host anemone, contributing to the symbiotic relationship.
The clown anemonefish, made globally famous by a certain animated film, is one of the most recognisable and photogenic fish on Komodo's reefs. This small, vibrant orange fish with three bold white bars edged in black lives exclusively within the protective tentacles of host anemones — a remarkable symbiotic relationship where the fish gains shelter from predators and the anemone benefits from the fish's cleaning and territorial defence. Clown anemonefish are immune to the anemone's stinging tentacles thanks to a thick mucous coating on their skin. In Komodo, they are commonly found in magnificent sea anemones and carpet anemones on reef slopes and flats. Each anemone typically hosts a dominant breeding pair and several smaller subordinates. All clown anemonefish are born male, with the largest dominant individual becoming female — if she is removed, the next largest male changes sex to replace her. Their bold personality means they will often swim directly at a diver's mask to defend their home, making for entertaining and endearing encounters.
This species plays an important role in the marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park. Responsible diving practices help protect these animals and their habitat for future generations.
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They do live in anemones as shown in films, but they are far more aggressive and territorial than their animated counterparts! The dominant female is the largest and fiercest defender of the anemone home.
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