Head to head
Royal Gramma vs Clownfish
Royal Gramma
VS Clownfish
The royal gramma and clownfish are both small, popular reef fish found in aquariums, but one makes its home in the dark of a cave while the other lives protected by the tentacles of a host anemone.
| Royal Gramma | Clownfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gramma loreto | Amphiprion ocellaris |
| Shelter | Reef caves and crevices | Host sea anemones |
| Partner animal | None | A host anemone, from only about 10 of roughly 1,000 species |
| Sting protection | Not applicable | A mucus coat, partly acquired from the anemone |
| Sex | Not documented as changing | All born male; the dominant fish becomes female |
| Diet | Carnivore, zooplankton | Omnivore, algae, zooplankton, and small crustaceans |
| Native range | Caribbean | Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Royal Gramma vs Clownfish: common questions
Where do the royal gramma and clownfish each shelter?
The royal gramma shelters in reef caves and crevices, often swimming upside down against the ceiling, while the clownfish lives among the tentacles of a host sea anemone.
How does the clownfish avoid being stung by its anemone?
It is protected by a mucus coat, partly acquired from the anemone itself, which stops the anemone's stinging cells from firing; the royal gramma has no comparable partner or need.
Where are the royal gramma and clownfish found?
The royal gramma is native to Caribbean reefs, while the clownfish is native to warm, shallow reefs and lagoons of the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific.