The Real Nemo: Finding the Fearless Clownfish of the Red Sea

Of all the countless, colourful characters that inhabit the world’s coral reefs, perhaps none is more universally recognized and beloved than the clownfish. Thanks to a certain animated blockbuster, this plucky little fish, with its bright orange and white livery, has become a global superstar. For divers in Hurghada, the thrill of seeing “Nemo” in its natural habitat never gets old.

But the real story of the clownfish is even more fascinating than fiction. It’s a tale of a unique partnership, a bizarre social life, and incredible resilience. Here at Scubadore Hurghada, our small groups often hover, mesmerized, around a single anemone, watching the drama of the clownfish family unfold. It’s a perfect opportunity to appreciate one of the Red Sea’s most iconic residents.

Let’s dive deeper into the world of the clownfish and introduce you to the specific species you’ll meet on your dives with us in Hurghada.

Meet the Red Sea’s Own: The Two-Banded Anemonefish

While there are over 30 recognized species of clownfish (or anemonefish, their other common name), the star of the show in our waters is the Red Sea Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus). As its other name, the Two-Banded Anemonefish, suggests, it is distinguished by two brilliant white vertical bars, one just behind the eye and another on its mid-body. Its body is a vibrant yellow-orange that can darken to a rich brown, especially in older, larger females. The striking bands are often edged with a fine black line, making them pop against their colourful host anemone.

You won’t find the A. bicinctus anywhere else in the world outside of the Red Sea and the neighbouring Gulf of Aden, making it a truly special sighting for any visiting diver.

The Ultimate Symbiosis: A Fortress of Stinging Tentacles

The most captivating aspect of clownfish behaviour is their incredible relationship with sea anemones. Anemones possess powerful stinging cells called nematocysts, which they use to paralyze passing fish for food. So how does the little clownfish survive, let alone thrive, while nestled deep within these deadly tentacles?

This is a classic example of symbiosis, a mutually beneficial relationship where both partners gain significant advantages.

• For the Clownfish: A Safe Haven. The anemone provides the clownfish with an almost impenetrable fortress. Most predators, knowing the painful sting that awaits, steer well clear. This allows the clownfish to live, hide, and raise its young in relative safety. The clownfish also gets to snack on leftover scraps from the anemone’s meals.

• For the Anemone: A Loyal Bodyguard. In return, the fearless clownfish earns its keep. It will aggressively defend its home from intruders, including butterflyfish and other species that are known to nibble on anemone tentacles. The clownfish also helps to keep the anemone clean by eating algae and debris, and its constant movement improves water circulation, bringing more oxygen to its host. Some studies even suggest that the clownfish’s bright colours may act as a lure, drawing unsuspecting fish into the anemone’s grasp, and that its nitrogen-rich waste acts as a fertilizer.

The clownfish isn’t born immune to the sting. It performs an elaborate “dance” upon first encountering its host, gently touching the tentacles with different parts of its body. This process helps it develop a protective layer of mucus that is chemically identical to the anemone’s own, essentially tricking the anemone into thinking the fish is part of itself.

A Fascinating and Ruthless Social Life

The drama within the anemone doesn’t stop with defence. Clownfish live in a strict, size-based social hierarchy that would make for a gripping soap opera.

Living within a single host anemone is a small family group. At the very top is the largest and most dominant fish – and she is always the female. Below her in rank is the breeding male, who is the second-largest fish. All the other smaller fish in the anemone are sexually immature males.

Here’s where it gets truly bizarre. Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites. This means that all clownfish are born male. They have the ability to change their sex, but this change can only happen in one direction: from male to female.

If the dominant female dies or is removed from the anemone, a remarkable transformation occurs. The largest breeding male will begin to change sex, growing larger and developing female reproductive organs to become the new queen of the anemone. Simultaneously, the largest of the non-breeding juvenile males will rapidly grow and mature to take his place as the new breeding male. This incredible ability ensures that the family can continue to reproduce without having to leave the safety of their home to find a new mate.

Raising the Next Generation

When you’re diving with Scubadore Hurghada, ask your guide to help you look for clownfish eggs. The breeding pair will meticulously clear a patch of rock right at the base of their anemone, where the female will lay a clutch of several hundred orange-coloured eggs.

For the next week or so, the male takes on the primary parenting duties. You can often see him dutifully tending to the nest, fanning the eggs with his fins to keep them oxygenated and clean, and bravely charging at anything—including a diver’s camera lens—that gets too close. Once the eggs hatch, usually after dusk, the tiny larvae drift away into the plankton before eventually settling on the reef to find an anemone of their own, starting the cycle anew.

Where to Find Clownfish in Hurghada

The good news for divers is that the Two-Banded Anemonefish is a common sight on nearly all of Hurghada’s local dive sites. You don’t need to go on a special trip to a remote reef. Beautiful anemones, complete with their resident clownfish families, can be found in the shallow, sunlit coral gardens of sites around the Giftun Islands and on many of our most popular reefs.

Because we dive in small groups, we can take our time. Instead of just swimming past, we can pause and observe. You can watch the charming, jerky swimming motion of the clownfish, see them preen their anemone, and witness the brave little male defending his territory. It’s these quiet moments of observation that often become the most cherished memories of a dive trip.

So, the next time you descend into the warm, blue waters of the Red Sea, keep your eyes peeled. Find a swaying anemone, approach slowly, and get ready to be charmed by the real-life Nemo. Its story is one of courage, clever adaptation, and complex social dynamics—a story that unfolds every day on the beautiful reefs of Hurghada.