Clarkii Clown... Coloring or something bad...

[fishforme]

I purchased a Clarkii Clown about three weeks ago and appears to be happy in my tank ever since. But, never owning a Clarkii Clown before, I've been noticing a few things that I am unsure of... I don't know if it is merely his color or a disease or parasite. He is eating great and swimming fine too... And he plays often in his Blue Haddonni... His tail fin has appearsed to be getting darker towards the back of this tail. It started with a little white patch and then proceeded to get a little darker -- as dark as the larger portion of his body. In addition, the tips of his other fins started to develop slightly darker spots -- again the same color as his main torso... Is this normal color? Is this him merely settling in? Could it be more?

 

[stupid_naso]

I'm affraid you got a sebae clown instead of clarkii clown. The description fits the description of sebae clown: haddonni anemones (the only anemones sebae seems to like), fins turns the color of his body.
It's really hard to distiguish the two clownfishes. Many confuses the two, even SWF.com label them as the same thing, and so do many lfs. The way I learned it, I always see the bands, there should be three white bands, and also the fins, the tail, the anal fins all should stay yellow. And one huge difference, clarkii takes most anemones, even condylactis, though sebae only takes one, and it's haddonni.
The black color that you're worried about it's just a sign of growth. Most clownfish will change its coloring as it matures and as it lives in anemones. Don't worry. I did the same thing, I panicked and thought it was parasite. I even got him a cleaner shrimp and feed him garlic soaked food. No change. I still have mine with his weird coloring, I got him like probably two months ago. Still love him though, I'm starting to think that I can train him .
Hope that helps...
stupid_naso