Anemonenfische werden von ihren Wirtstieren, Seeanemonen, nur dann genesselt, wenn die Fische zuvor abgewischt wurden. Im Experiment wird Aktinienschutzstoff nachgewiesen, der von Anemonenfischen auch ohne direkten Kontakt mit der Aktinie übernommen wird.

Certain species of crustacea and fish inhabit unharmed the tentacles and body surfaces of sea anemones although other fall prey to them. Tentacles and surfaces of anemones are armed with millions of nematocytes which are discharged by contact. By chemical recognition anemones are able to distinguish between "self" and "non-self". The film shows how fishes (Amphiprion bicinctus) are protected against discharge of nematocytes. Field and laboratory experiments demonstrate that anemonefishes gain protection by impregnation with the anemone's own substances which do not release discharge of nematocytes. This is interpreted as a kind of chemical camouflage.