Anemones can cause color changes in onyx clowns
- Thread starter EMBRYOGUY
- Start date
Amphiprion
Premium Member
IME, not only do certain anemones cause color changes--certain tanks do. I have seen the opposite with H. crispa--darker coloration instead of lighter coloration.
COreefer
Premium Member
What's the variable with in the tank that would cause this change?? My clowns were developing fine into dark onyx colors until about 2 weeks after I added the anemone. Initially I thought it was because I had 3 in the tank, and they had stress coloration. i have since removed the third (about 3 weeks ago) and the clowns with the anemone still are pale in coloration as seen in the pic. The third clown is in my 10g and even he has not put his black coloration back on. I'm perplexed...
chelskisw6
Member
interesting read... what about people with no anems, ones that have their onyx host in a frogspawn for instance, is there the same loss in colour?
maybe you guys should all post up your tank params, diet etc. and take all variables into account when considering the reason for the colour change. just a thought. cheers!
maybe you guys should all post up your tank params, diet etc. and take all variables into account when considering the reason for the colour change. just a thought. cheers!
BBoley24
New member
I am completely ignorant on the Onyx Clown history... but... Im just throwing this one out there... but what if the Onyx clownfish lineage was from a part of the ocean where it was anenome scarce... and they are not like all other clowns so their mucous bodies are weaker than the percs? food for thought
NewSchool04
New member
Ha, I can't believe I bumped into this thread. I've had a pair of Rodonyx clowns since February 2006 hosting in a green BTA. I purchased them as juveniles and they have never blackened up.
isseym328
Premium Member
I have two wc onyx clowns. Had they for about a year and half now. I've been trying to get them to host in my carpets/roses but they seem to snuggle them to death. So I decided not to get them an anemone anymore. The majority of their time in my 50g tank they have gone w/o a anemone. I think they look darker now than when I bought them. For the past few months they have been in my 20g and they sort of host in my frogspawn and zoanthid colonies. They're as black as ever. Whew.
Bones18
In Memoriam
I have a pair of wild caughts which killed a GBTA and a HAddoni... I never really noticed them loosing coloration, however they are happier than ever now hosting a Huge Toadstool leather....lol
But one thing I have noticed is that since the absence of the anemones, the Female which was huge 4" seems to have lost some mass and length, while the male is noticably growing....hmmmm
Anyone up for a field trip, go find out what really goes on down there
But one thing I have noticed is that since the absence of the anemones, the Female which was huge 4" seems to have lost some mass and length, while the male is noticably growing....hmmmm
Anyone up for a field trip, go find out what really goes on down there
NewSchool04
New member
I'm just about to do that COreefer. I'm looking for a gigantea and getting rid of the BTA I've had for 3 years. I'll post if I notice any changes.
Nano's Rock
New member
Any Changes yet?
NewSchool04
New member
none yet, I still haven't sold the BTA. I think I have a buyer that will come by this weekend and then we'll see.
NewSchool04
New member
Things change fast! I sold my GBTA tonight, now we'll see if this has any effect on my clowns. I've had my Rodonyx since last Feb, about a year now and bought them when they were juveniles, still developing their second strip and nothing for the third. The clown that became the female was disbarred when I bought them and the stripes grew in! 
Either way, here is a coupld of pictures of them now, I'll come back with any changes.
Please excuse the eggcrate, our local club is having a big frag swap and I'm trying to get ready for it.
Either way, here is a coupld of pictures of them now, I'll come back with any changes.Please excuse the eggcrate, our local club is having a big frag swap and I'm trying to get ready for it.
NewSchool04
New member
It's actually nice to see them out and swimming! I was used to the two addicts that would never leave the crack anemone.
Nano's Rock
New member
Your 2 fish look almost exactly like mine do now! My female has that same dark look all over and my male looks like the coloration of your male too. My 3rd bars never came in as nice though. I received my two onyx in May. I’m really looking forward to the out come of your experiment. My rose BTA might have to go to the next frag swap with me. Did your clowns deiced to host anything else in your tank yet?
NewSchool04
New member
It's not even a 1/2 day so they haven't hosted anything yet. I don't really have anything in that tank that I think they might host except a small hammer coral and they didn't go near that for the 3 hours the lights were on after the BTA was removed. They did look lost but were exploring the tank like they've never done and seemed pretty well adjusted. It's just weird to see them out and about.
The one thing those pictures don't show is how much bigger the female is, I would say twice the size of the male.
I'll keep everyone up to date with pics on a weekly basis. Where did you get your clowns Nano's Rock?
The one thing those pictures don't show is how much bigger the female is, I would say twice the size of the male.
I'll keep everyone up to date with pics on a weekly basis. Where did you get your clowns Nano's Rock?
Princess Di
New member
Wow, never seen that before. I bought my pair from Rod about a year and a half ago and they have hosted a rbta the whole time. I'll try to post some pics. The new pictures were taken just this morning and the nem is still down in the rocks. I had to feed the clowns to get them to come out.
Nano's Rock
New member
I bought my clowns from Rods-Reef.com. Just hoping at least one of my fish eventually turns onyx.
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