Did you know that over 80% of the oceans have not been mapped or explored by humans? We don’t know what lies beneath. Even though there is a feature film about clownfishes, the truth is that there are still many things we don’t know.

Let’s take, for example, their anatomy. We don’t know much about how their bodies evolved or function. Are clownfish able to have teeth? What do the teeth look like on a clownfish?

We will be answering all these questions in this blog. This article will not only tell you if clownfish have teeth, but also explain the unique sounds they make and the dangers of developing tumors in their mouths.

So, let’s get started!

Do Clownfish Have Teeth?

Yes, clownfish do have teeth. They don’t have the same teeth as mammals, however. The teeth are instead located in the throat, and are called pharyngeal.

Transport food is made possible by the pharyngeal molars, which are located on the pads of the teeth.

However, some clownfish species, particularly larger ones, have tooth-like projections in their mouths.

Alexander Semenov took this excellent photograph of the ‘teeth, or tooth-like projections’ of Barrier Reef clownfishes.

Although clownfish aren’t big enough to be considered large, they can pack quite a punch. Continue reading for more information!

Do Clownfish Bite?

Yes, clownfish bite. In fact, I have been bitten by a number of clownfish. I also searched through various forums to find dozens of accounts that claimed to have been bitten by clownfishes.

It wasn’t surprising at all.

Let’s first find out what it feels like to be bitten and why clownfish use this unpolite greeting.

This is an adorable video showing a clownfish biting and chasing a hand.

Do Clownfish Bites Hurt?

In general, clownfish bites aren’t very painful. It’s like scraping your fingers on sandpaper. However, if the clownfish bite is larger and has gotten into your skin deep enough to clench its jaw really tight, it can hurt.

It will feel as if your finger is being pinched by multiple pins simultaneously.

Below are some responses to the bite of a clownfish and whether it hurts.

Do Clownfish Bites Hurt? Real Answers By Real People!

Notice: The answers given below are solely the property of their respective authors.

“I have a mated couple with eggs. Yesterday, the female almost took my arm! Then she jumped out to grab me strong>

“My clownfish waited until I wasn’t expecting it, and then hit me!” Although it didn’t hurt too much, it made me jerk strong>

“I have a couple of clownfish in my 32-gallon biocube. Every time I put it in the tank, the female eats small pieces of my skin. She almost leaps out of the water .”

“I consider myself extremely fortunate. My female clownfish is very friendly and only nibbles at my hand to inquire about her food. She and her mate strong> are completely non-aggressive.

They can bite. They can almost always make your jump. One clownfish almost always attacks my hand, even though I’m working on the opposite end. It will pull hair from my hands and bite my rings. Sometimes it hurts .”

“My tomato clownfish eats everything that enters the tank. It doesn’t matter if it is snails or my fingers, or the mag-float.

“My false pecula draws blood. She goes for skin between her fingers!”

“My local fish shop has a large (almost 6′ tall) female maroon-colored clownfish that is kept in a 90-gallon tank. She’s a complete terror. I can assure you, nobody wants to maintain that tank. They claim that the fish attacks their most sensitive areas .”

“I was trying to kill a snail that had escaped from my tank, but my hand got caught in the tank and my wrist was bitten by a clownfish. It was a surprise to me. So I quickly took my hand from the tank .”

It’s obvious that clownfish are very good at biting. Wear gloves and be cautious.

How Many Teeth Do Clownfish Have?

We don’t know how many teeth the clownfish has. However, judging from the number of teeth that similar-sized fish have we can conclude that clownfish may have one to two pearly whites.

Did you know that sharks can have up to 40,000 teeth? It’s insane, I know!

Clownfish Bite Marks – What Do They Look Like?

Clownfish bites rarely leave any marks. The worst case scenario is that the bites may make the area reddish and tender for several minutes. Apply ice to the area if it hurts.

Why Do Clownfish Bite?

Clownfish are not like the unwitting or naive clownfish in Finding Nemo. They are territorial and can be aggressive. Do not judge them by their size or peppy color. These fish have a very savage temperament.

Here are some reasons why clownfish bite their neighbours and those who feed them:

• The fish is endangered or stressed.
• The fish will not be able to fit in the tank.
• These water parameters are incorrect.
• The water is corrosive and unhospitable.
• The tank is overflowing with fish.
• The fish is protecting its eggs.
• Male fish compete for female attention.

These are just some of the reasons clownfish bite. Any animal on the planet would attack if they were in flight or fight mode.

Be gentle when cleaning out the tank to avoid getting bitten again. Do not poke your fingers anywhere. It won’t be funny to the fish.

To ensure that the clownfish does not attack tankmates, make sure you have enough space, resources, neighbors who are compatible, and a peaceful area.

Which Clownfish Species Are More Likely To Bite?

There are at most 30 species of clownfish. The least temperamental of all the known species are maroon and saddleback clownfish, as well as the tomato clownfish.

Since I didn’t expect to be able to answer the question of whether clownfish have teeth, I wasn’t able give as much information. This is what I was able to come up with.

Before we close this blog, let me tell you some fascinating facts about the much-loved anemonefish.

Your Clownfish Is Quite A Chatterbox!

There are many ways fish communicate with one another. To communicate, most fish use their swim bladders. Others rub their bones together. Like herrings, some people ingest air through their esophagus, and then blow it out of the anus quickly.

Clownfish communicate with one another in a unique way. They raise their heads and shuffle their bones inside their mouths before closing their jaws. The jaws can amplify the sound of teeth grinding, creating a louder noise.

It’s not like grinding your teeth. It’s a quick collision,” says Michael Fine, biologist and team member.

Virginia Commonwealth University scientists used high-speed clips to see inside the fish.

They discovered that when the fish raised their mouths in a particular way, special ligaments in the jaw closed the mouth, which resulted in the fish’s teeth banging together.

To defend their territory, clownfish make clicking sounds. The fish will attack if the intruder doesn’t listen to the warning.

Possibilities Of Tumor In Your Clownfish’s Mouth

Two long-finned clownfish, the Ocellaris clownfish, were examined by University Of Florida. Both had odontomas. Odontomas are benign tumors that affect tooth development. It appears as though the dental tissue has changed in a strange way.

It is unlikely that your clownfish will develop this condition. However, it is possible. If the tumor gets too large, the fish may have trouble swallowing food.

If you think that something is wrong with your clownfish’s mouth or skin, contact a veterinarian immediately!

Uninvited And Undesirable Guests Inside Your Clownfish’s Mouth

Closer inspection of the clownfish’s mouth revealed that nearly all clownfish have a hitchhiker living inside. It’s parasitic, freeriding crustaceans called Isopods. The Queensland Museum’s research team made this discovery possible.

It is believed that isopods enter host fish bodies as a juvenile by passing through their gills. The hook-like appendages allow them to attach themselves to the fish’s tongue and travel to their mouth cavity.

The isopods eat directly from the fish’s mouth by sucking blood, similar to female mosquitoes.

The isopods eat the fish’s tongue and their bodies swell, often almost filling the host’s mouth. However, clownfish can still feed normally despite this inconvenience.

They stay attached to the tongue of the clownfish for as long as they need to complete their entire life cycle. This can take anywhere from 60 days to one year.

Final Words!

Are clownfish able to have teeth? Yes.

Their teeth look a little different from ours. Their teeth are not in the jaws, but in their throats.

You can’t see the teeth of a clownfish right off the bat.

Apart from the obvious, the teeth help clownfish make certain clicking sounds in order to communicate with one another.

As you can see from the above testimonials, they love biting! Handling them should be done with gloves.