stupid question but are they the same

[jubjub]

both were listed as clarkii's at my lfs (couldnt help myself they were 12.99 each) but im kind of starting to wander about one of them....looking at live aquariua i can tell the second pic is definately a clarkii but the first one the belly is full black, pectoral fins and all.... is that one a clarkii to? i've hard it could be a sebae or a allardi....

 

[brich1027]

Not an expert, but I do have a pair of Clarkii's and they both look like Clarkii's to me, They both have the thrid stripe at the base of the tail. It just looks like one is a little darker than the other.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am awful at telling the difference b/t the clowns that are part of the "Clarkii complex" so I won't hazard a guess.

However, I do know that there are black variants of Clarkiis.

 

[ocellaris123]

Both are clarkii's, def not a sebae or an allardi. In the book Anemone fishes and their host sea anemones they picture a clarkii clown looking exactly like your black one.

 

[Ron Popeil]

agreed, you have two clarkii clowns.

 

[bwest]

I've done some reading because I've had the same question in the past about a number of fish that I had within the Clarkii complex.

Yours appear to be A. Clarkii and can be identified by looking at the 3rd stripe near the tail. It's complete in both of yours.

If you compare this to A. Allardi, there isn't a complete third stripe at the tail, as you can see here:

The blacks can change color and become more or less dense in areas from my experience. I've had a clarkii similar to the very black one you posted, that over time showed more yellow.

I hope that helps.

 

[jubjub]

oh thats good i kinda had a feeling, although wasnt sure.... kinda glad they arent allardi's now seeing good pics of them, i wanted bout as black of fish as i could ha!

i tell ya the full black one she's a meanie thats for sure has kept the other one with a yellow belly in the corner of the tank except during feeding time. ha!