Clownfish are native to the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans including the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. In their native environment, clownfish eat small marine mammals and plants.
At the Zoo
You can find the clownfish swimming in the Great Barrier Reef aquarium in the Australian Adventure. Look for the bright orange fish with white stripes trimmed in black. Here, they eat smelt, krill, and squid.
A powerful partnership
Clownfish form a strong bond with their mate. Eggs are laid in large batches on coral. They are protected by both parents until they hatch in four to five days.
Another important connection
Clownfish have a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. This means that both the clownfish and the anemone benefit by living together. The clownfish hides within the anemone’s stinging tentacles when it needs protection. The clownfish is unharmed by the anemone because it develops a protective coating of mucus. The anemone, in return, gets to eat crumbs of food that the clownfish brings back.
