black and white ocellaris

[Alex2089]

why do some black and white clowns have an orange face white others have a solid black face?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Genetics!

 

[Rippinfrags]

Most if not all orange faced black and white ocellaris clownfish will eventually turn completely black. It's a really good sign the clownfish is a juvenile and captive bred.

 

[ReefSmarts]

While it is true a juvenile Darwin will go from Orange to black, but 90% of the U.S. Market has a mixed genetic broadstock now for Darwins. They have been mixed with standard Ocellaris, snowflakes etc etc. this when you see a Darwin with orange that has not gone away it is not a true Darwin and is mixed with some type of standard occy.

 

[Rippinfrags]

I disagree reef smarts, when a Darwin/ black and white ocellaris clown breeds with a regular orange and white ocellaris the outcome is not a spotted ocellaris. Generally it results in a Mocha/ brownish clownfish. Granted I'm not entirely sure how two black and white clownfish can have offspring with orange faces that eventually turn all black.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I disagree reef smarts, when a Darwin/ black and white ocellaris clown breeds with a regular orange and white ocellaris the outcome is not a spotted ocellaris. Generally it results in a Mocha/ brownish clownfish. Granted I'm not entirely sure how two black and white clownfish can have offspring with orange faces that eventually turn all black.

Maybe a similar situation to the color changes when mature of the Lipizzan stallions?