Female clarkii color change?

[kjboggs]

I purchased these 2 clarkii at the same time at the same lfs almost 2 years ago. They were identical except for one was just a tad bigger. As I expected the larger became female. But she is much larger, and darker than the male? He has hardly changed at all and has grown very little in that time?

Do males stay this small and don't change color or is there an issue with mine??

 

[Azedenkae]

Yes. That does happen. As in males stay small and don't change color.

If I remember correctly, Clarkiis change color depending on various stages of their life-cycle, moreso than any other Clownfish.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I hope you aren't disappointed with color change because your female is gorgeous. [emoji226]

 

[kjboggs]

I'm not complaining, and I agree she's gorgeous! Just wanted to make sure my male wasn't "special".

 

[Winwood]

Most likely once they form a true bond and begin spawning, your male will take on a more mature look.

 

[adtravels]

To a degree It depends on the anemone that is being hosted. Some male clarks will look almost identical to the females, Some will be the same size but have different coloured caudal fins. Some, like yours will stay small and be a different colour.

They are highly variable.

 

[Winwood]

To a degree It depends on the anemone that is being hosted. Some male clarks will look almost identical to the females, Some will be the same size but have different coloured caudal fins. Some, like yours will stay small and be a different colour.

They are highly variable.

It's also Dependent on the location, but every long term clarkii I've seen, tend to get large and dark no matter what anemone they are being hosted by. Only difference is they tend to be even darker in their pelvic fins in certain carpet anemones. Once spawning males tend to get almost equal in size to females. They are not one of the species of clowns that inhibit male size by dominant behavior like maroons and tomatoes. Most if not all the clarkii complex share this characteristic from my understanding.