clown fish turned dark

[cabot]

I added some lr (almost double) to the tank recently (which caused an ammonia spike) and the clown fish turned dark. Is this normal and will he be ok?

 

[MIKE NY]

totally dark or just black spots?

 

[cabot]

Just a darker version of herself, not spots. The darkness is shaded with the darkest part being her centermost part. She seems to be acting ok.

 

[Angel*Fish]

Some clowns just naturally turn a dark color - what type do you have?

 

[cabot]

She is an Ocellaris.

 

[Angel*Fish]

Are both the white & the orange turning darker or just the orange?

 

[Ironsheikh]

mine turned a burnt dark orange --i think its age, i also upgraded to an orbit light at the time and wondered if it was suntan

 

[cabot]

It's just the orange that is dark.....so, I'm thinking maybe it is just age.

 

[Amphiprion]

Light doesn't seem to have much to do with it. However, darkening is often linked to anemone association (even dependent upon anemone species) as well as age. Both factors seem to be primary contributors to darkening.

 

[cabot]

Anenome association? Do you mean lose of an anenome?

 

[Kent E]

My clowns have had tans before. When the anemone moves under the lights the become black on the top. When the anemone moves to more shaded areas they return to thier bright orange.

 

[Amphiprion]

My old female (Requiescat In Pace) was always bright orange until I added my anemone. Now here's another: when my female died, my male became even darker.

 

[cabot]

How interesting...Stress must be a factor. Anyone else have a clown turn dark?

 

[cabot]

Happy to report, she is back to normal.

 

[Mike de Leon]

ive herd that clownfish are hermaphrodites, so there colouration may change when there "spouse" passes away