Clownfish-Anemone System

Clownfish are immune to sea anemone stings that paralyze other fish. They live among the anemone's tentacles, gaining protection from predators who can't follow them into the stinging forest. In return, clownfish clean the anemone of parasites, drive away polyp-eating fish, and provide nutrients through their waste. Each partner creates habitat that wouldn't exist without the other.

The immunity requires careful development. Juvenile clownfish acclimate to their host anemone through a dance of brief touches, gradually building up a mucus coating that prevents stinging cell discharge. A clownfish removed from its anemone and returned immediately can be stung. The immunity is acquired, not innate - and it's specific to the home anemone species.

Clownfish aggressively defend their anemone from threats, including much larger fish. This defensive behavior extends to scientists, divers, and anything else approaching too closely. The clownfish has invested enough in establishing anemone immunity that defending the territory makes sense - switching costs are high.

The business insight is that relationship-specific investments create mutual lock-in. Clownfish can't easily switch anemones; the anemone benefits from having a specific defender. Companies that make partner-specific investments - custom integrations, trained staff, co-developed processes - create switching costs that stabilize relationships even when better alternatives might theoretically exist.