JHardman
Premium Member
Well I guess this is as good a spot as any...
The basic idea that clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites is correct (immature unsexed to male to female in a one way direction only). As far as the statements in Frank's book, those episodes where not completely documented and should not be taken as a proof. The things that Joyce and Frank have seen should be as there is something different happening with A. clarkii, not that the idea of clownfish being protandrous hermaphrodites is incorrect.
However I think the blanket statement that a single clownfish left by its self will become a female is incorrect in that it is too broad and encompassing and does not allow for certain situations.
For example I have a orange skunk clownfish that has been single for over 4 years. One would expect this clownfish to have grown to a size of 2.5 to 3.5 inches and be a fully mature and functional female. However this is not the case, the fish has remained the same size (>1"). Anyone looking at this fish would say that it is without any doubt was so ever a juvenile. This however is not proof that the fish is not female, male or unsexed, but it is a strong indicator there is more going on here than we have thought.
For another example, I had a pair of A. percula that were spawning. I lost the female and was delayed in repairing the lone male for over 6 months. I introduced a new known female (aka she was from a spawning pair that lost the male) to the lone male, they paired shortly thereafter and spawned a fertile nest within 45 days of the pairing.
The basic idea that clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites is correct (immature unsexed to male to female in a one way direction only). As far as the statements in Frank's book, those episodes where not completely documented and should not be taken as a proof. The things that Joyce and Frank have seen should be as there is something different happening with A. clarkii, not that the idea of clownfish being protandrous hermaphrodites is incorrect.
However I think the blanket statement that a single clownfish left by its self will become a female is incorrect in that it is too broad and encompassing and does not allow for certain situations.
For example I have a orange skunk clownfish that has been single for over 4 years. One would expect this clownfish to have grown to a size of 2.5 to 3.5 inches and be a fully mature and functional female. However this is not the case, the fish has remained the same size (>1"). Anyone looking at this fish would say that it is without any doubt was so ever a juvenile. This however is not proof that the fish is not female, male or unsexed, but it is a strong indicator there is more going on here than we have thought.
For another example, I had a pair of A. percula that were spawning. I lost the female and was delayed in repairing the lone male for over 6 months. I introduced a new known female (aka she was from a spawning pair that lost the male) to the lone male, they paired shortly thereafter and spawned a fertile nest within 45 days of the pairing.
