Clown's changed color?

[WallysWorld]

I have heard of clowns(Percula?) starting off with little back then becoming blacker as they get older. However my two seem to be loosing their black coloration

Here's a pic from when I first got them 6 bmonths ago.

Here's a picture of them today.

Anybody have any idea why this would happen? Also do you think they are true perc's? I thought so because of the small eye's and wide face and also the black coloration when I got them.

Thanks,
Walter

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: Clown's changed color?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15500911#post15500911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WallysWorld
Anybody have any idea why this would happen?

I've seen this happen with percula in other aquariums. It could be diet related (what do you feed?) but in this case I think it has more to do with the host anemone.
Percula kept with a natural host anemone species and fed a good diet retain their dark coloration.

 

[WallysWorld]

The anemone is a Ritteri and believe it or not its the same anemone in both pictures, it just looks a lot better than it did when I first got it. No I didn't get the anemone and clowns together.
Diet = Mysis, flakes, freeze dried seaweed and other frozen marine mixed cubes( brine shrimp, mysis, clam, squid...)

Gary, Are you saying they look like true perc's to you?

Thanks,
Walter

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

where' my glasses?

where' my glasses?

from best I can tell your fish are percula- not ocellaris.

I should have been more specific. Heteractis magnifica is a natural host of percula but (apparently.... in more than a few cases that I've seen) percula can lose black if not hosting in Stichodactyla gigantea (or another type of carpet anemone).

I would suggest adding something like Rod's food or New Life/ Spectrum pellets into your percs diet. ORA glow (pellet) is another good choice of color enhancing food.

You have some knowledgable folks in LIRA. Maybe someone else in your club has seen this happen.

 

[pecan2phat]

I would still say that they are A. percula vs ocellaris.