Do Clown Stripes Rub Off?

[KMP]

OK - this seems weird to me - hopefully normal. I have a Tomato Clown and today I introduced a RBTA to the tank. Within 30 minutes the clown was waddling in the nem. The clowns stripe which was solid white ended up looking as if the stripe had been partially wiped off.

Is this normal?

 

[davocean]

You know, I've seen this question asked a couple times over the years, but don't think that happened quite as fast as yours, weird.
I would be inclined to think the clowns color just dulled down a bit like what tangs or others do when sleeping or stressed, but who knows, pics might help, and observe what happens.
My picasso's lost black color from BTA's, but that took weeks if not months to be even noticeable.

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

Nems can affect clown coloration, specifically a perc's black coloration, however I've never heard of it happening to a Tomato or happening this quickly. I've seen a Maroon that's lost it's stripes by hosting. Can you post a before and after pic? I'm curious to see exactly what is happening.

 

[jonnybravo22]

great thread and YES. i think that in a nem the clown's white stripe can be partially wiped off or altered so that it looks like there are spots missing.

my percula clownfish has shown this from time to time in its gigantea anemone. at first i was worried, but then i would look at it the next day and it's all fine back to normal. so i'm not sure by what mechanism this happens, but if you're saying the white stripe (in my case the clown's headstripe) appears to have splotches wiped off or missing after interacting with the anemone, yes i've seen it happen.

does not appear to be a sign of damage or anything to worry about though as my clowns have been in the anemone for more than a year now. but i noticed it as recently as a few months ago. doesnt happen often or all the time but i see it occasionally. same clown spends a good amount of time digging his head into the anemone's mouth for a few seconds at a time. not sure if it's related to that.

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

You know, I've seen this question asked a couple times over the years, but don't think that happened quite as fast as yours, weird.
I would be inclined to think the clowns color just dulled down a bit like what tangs or others do when sleeping or stressed, but who knows, pics might help, and observe what happens.
My picasso's lost black color from BTA's, but that took weeks if not months to be even noticeable.

Stress would make sense, possibly the clown is adjusting to the nem and the clown isn't fully coated with nem mucus yet, thus resulting in stress?

 

[jonnybravo22]

curious, what is your lighting as i wonder if that may be a factor. i.e. maybe it looks like it's wiped off when really it's like some mucus that reflects oddly under certain spectrum? i use LEDs and have pretty blue spectrum, but anyways just a thought. see earlier post that i have seen this happen.

 

[KMP]

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately did not take a picture. Today his stripe is normal. Perhaps the lighting (LEDs), mucous or stress. New experience for me and happy to see it was short lived. The other clown did not show the same signs, but he hasn't been able to dive right in either since the other is reluctant to share.

 

[phender]

Have you ever turned on your lights when your clown was sleeping? Usually there white stripe turns gray or darker. Sounds like the same effect.

 

[KMP]

Haven't done that before; interesting. Both clowns are in the nem today; nothing cooler than watching them bathe in the tentacles. Not helping my work productivity