Clownfish experts! I need your help.

[elegance coral]

I bought my Clarkii a friend. Hopefully a girl/boy friend. I thought they were colored the same, but I was wrong. I would like to get your opinion on why they are colored differently.

Here is the new one. The center white bar curves backwards at the top. The spiny dorsal fin is black, but the soft dorsal is yellow. The anal and pectoral fins are black.

I have had this one for a while now. All of its dorsal fin is black. The center bar stops right at the dorsal fin. All other fins are yellow/orange.

 

[criccio]

Re: Clownfish experts! I need your help.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12493356#post12493356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elegance coral
I would like to get your opinion on why they are colored differently.

Because there are dozens of A. clarkii variations. Plus, colors/patterns change throughout a lifetime.

 

[MarinaP]

What Chris said ^

The first one looks like color variant from Christmas Island, the second one is from Maldives.

 

[kimsie]

Alright EC... I have to ask... is fish number 1 still with us? And you're just holding it?

Sorry... I sure hope it is! How does it like being held?

 

[elegance coral]

Thanks both of you.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12495924#post12495924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarinaP
What Chris said ^

The first one looks like color variant from Christmas Island, the second one is from Maldives.

This is the answer I was looking for. I wasn't sure if the color difference was a regional thing or maybe a sexual trait. Now I just hope they will pair up.

 

[reefman13]

Its not that stressful, for us its kinda like holding your breath. But the thing is, as long as a fish stays WET like nearly dripping, it can breathe.

 

[elegance coral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12495991#post12495991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kimsie
Alright EC... I have to ask... is fish number 1 still with us? And you're just holding it?

Sorry... I sure hope it is! How does it like being held?

:lol: Yes it is still with us. I just lifted it up out of the water long enough to snap the pic. The back of my hand was still under water when I took it. It took about 3 seconds, then I submerged my hand and he swam off unharmed. I don't know if he liked it or not, but he didn't freak out or anything.

 

[rkelman]

Everyone likes to be held sometimes.. lol

 

[kimsie]

So how did you get it to go in your hand in the first place?

 

[elegance coral]

He was calm and hanging out behind the pump. I just slowly reached my hand in and gently cupped it around the fish. It never sensed any danger, so it didn't try to flee. When I released it, it just slowly swam back to its hiding spot. They're not hard to handle while they are calm. It's when you lunge and them or swat at them with a big green net, that they will freak out and bolt.

 

[rkelman]

I catch all my fry with a plastic bowl. Your right as long as you don't scare them they are pretty docile..