Difference between a Sebae and Clarki?

[NexDog]

I lost my male Clarki and just received a replacement - except the fish doesn't look the same. So I'm wondering of my bigfemale is really a Clarki or a Sebae.

She has a black dorsal and anal fin. Pelvic fins are orange. Looks like the Sebae has an orange anal fin?

http://www.aquarium-design.com/fish/clownfishid.html

My replacement fish has yellow dorsal and anal fins and black pelvic fins so I'm confused and have no idea if the two have a chance of pairing.

Any way to tell what I have? I see some "tank raised" pictures of both Sebae and Clarki:

http://www.aquacon.com/Clownfish_saltwaterfish.html

My new one looks like that tank raised Clarki but mine has black pelvic fins.

 

[traveller7]

Laurence,

On the aquacon site, the fish toward the bottom labeled "black and yellow true sebae clownfish" are the only actual A. sebae on that page. If you look carefully, A. sebae has a shape almost exactly like A. polymnus. In addition, there is a "black" sebae variant marked similar to some clarkii.

A. clarkii has so many color variants, 2 stripe, 3 stripe, melanistic, etc., coloration is not the best way to determine species. Body shape will separate the 2 species at maturity very easily.

I have not checked in your your threads for awhile, have any recent fish picks?

 

[elegance coral]

The most noticeable difference is the sebae lacks a third stripe on the caudal fin. Clarkii usually has one.
Here's my sebae.

Here's my clarkii

 

[NexDog]

Ah, they both have the tiniest sliver of a 3rd white stripe on teh caudal fin. If there are so many variants then I'm guessing they can cross breed between colour variants too which has me hopeful that the female will take to this new male. My last male jumped to his death which is strange as I see no agression in the tank whatsoever. I'm goig to be netting the top of my tank in teh next few weeks as I've lost quite a few to jumping.

Scott, took a break for 18 months where I didn't do anything except water changes and feed the fish. Losing the Clarki gave me a kick up the *** and also my Bangai pair are spawning regularly and I have two babies now from 2 separate batches. Seeing that gave me the motivation to get back into things too.

So I'm giving the tank a makeover. I just received 40kg of new LR which I'm curing in plastic containers to get rid of die-off. Then I'm going to attack one side at a time and cut out the PVC structures as the big Sequence running those is busted (flood broke it).

I'm replacing lost fish first and this first batch is the male Clarki, a Heniochus (my last two were paired too) and I'm getting 3 sand-sifting Gobies today as the new tank setup will have more sand real estate. Also have a Niger Trigger in this batch (tiny 1.5" specimen).

 

[traveller7]

Dropped in and caught up on your thread, brought back some inspiration for my next build too :>)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14808388#post14808388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NexDog
..My last male jumped to his death which is strange as I see no agression in the tank whatsoever. I'm goig to be netting the top of my tank in teh next few weeks as I've lost quite a few to jumping.

So many potential variables, but even long captive clowns can be skittish at lights on/off, females cyclically put pressure on males chasing them out on occassion, males will occassionaly change to female, etc.

If the Female accepts the new comer, they should bond up just fine, caring little for each others color pattern. Keep an eye on them though, established females can be very picky. Expect some aggression until the new comer submits, before that the little guy may experience some torn fins and chasing.

Post some pictures of the clowns when you have some time, for this forum the cool looking brain coral can wait ;>)

 

[NexDog]

Need to get a new charger for the digital camera battery. It's on my to-do list (for the last 18 months ).

Looking forward to re-doing my tank but a bit apprehensive too. Want to make it stress free for the fish. I've always been crap at aquascaping but will see what I can come up with.