Each species has one type of anemone they prefer to live in. The anemonefish is protected from the venomous sting of the anemone by a layer of mucus. Most large anemones have a pair of adults that live there permanently.
Females are typically larger than males.
Spawning takes place year round in the tropics near the full moon. Hundreds of eggs are laid in a patch at the base of the anemone. Like the Garibaldi, the male cares for the eggs. The eggs hatch at night after about a week. Anemonefishes mainly eat zooplankton and algae.