deformed ocellaris & maturity

[Savant]

I had a pair of Amphiprion Percula for about 1.5 years until the female recently went carpet surfing down the plumbing hole to the basement (missed the sump by 3 inches). Now Im left with the male who has and has always had what appears to be deformed operculums in that they seem to protrude or flare out from the skull more than a normal fish leaving the gills more visible. This guy has always been small and was completely submissive to the much larger normal female Amphiprion Percula. I have a picture of the fish but unless you see him from a head on or tail on view you cant see the apparent deformity.

My questions are these:
1) could this little guy turn into a female if I were to obtain a smaller Amphiprion Percula?
2) If he turned into a female and his deformity prevents him from growing larger than his current size what would happen with the addition of a smaller clown that could/would grow larger than him?

I recently obtained a rainbow nem and after a week this guy moved right in...woohoo.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Your male is an Amphiprion Percula, not Ocellaris also don't be surprised if your clown starts losing his black colors. It happens a lot with bubble tip anemones.

 

[Savant]

Your male is an Amphiprion Percula, not Ocellaris also don't be surprised if your clown starts losing his black colors. It happens a lot with bubble tip anemones.

lol my bad

I corrected body but couldnt correct heading...feeling stupid :facepalm:

 

[Ginger bay]

Yes. If you got a smaller sumissive juvenile percula, he could turn female and start a growth spurt.

 

[ThRoewer]

As long as he is alone he can't become a functional female - that transformation is driven by social interactions. This has been scientifically researched and tested on A. bicinctus by Fricke.

Though if you add another one it may be best to go with a smaller as he will accept that easier and it's the natural progression. Also, smaller ones are easier to find.