Clownfish and Anemone Matches

In their natural habitats, clownfish and anemones have a symbiotic relationship; both need the other to survive. Clownfish rely on anemones for protection from predators, while anemones rely on clownfish for food.

Different types of clownfish tend to prefer living with, or hosting, different types of anemones. If you're setting up an aquarium and would like to keep clownfish and anemones, it makes sense to try one these natural pairings, but don't be surprised if your clownfish have different ideas. 

As with any critter in the ocean, nothing is cast in stone, and many clownfish will not go anywhere near their "preferred" anemone. Clownfish have been known to host many things other than anemones, including feather dusters and toadstool corals after rejecting every anemone presented to it.

Some aquarists believe that tank-raised clownfish do not host anemones as readily as wild-caught clownfish after a few generations. The suggested reason is that their parents and grandparents have never seen anemones and therefore have lost the instinct or need for the protection from potential predators.