Is there any way to know the --- of a Clown fish?

reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
I have one clown right now and would like to add another to hopefully form a pair. But I don't know if mine is male or female. Would I just have to buy another and take my chances? Or do they go through some kind of transition changing genders?
Is this possible? Or can you only get a pair together?
 
jordan3548

jordan3548

Member
From what I have read on here through some research is that they are Asexual which means I guess the more dominant one or bigger one will turn into a female. I know it works something like that maybe a more experienced breeder could explain to you at a more in-depth level
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
Males turn female, but females cant turn male. Always buy a much smaller one when adding a new clown. If the one you have is male then it will become the new female.
T
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Great information....thanks everyone will get a small one this weekend. I thought I remembered reading something about one gender turning into the other but could not find it again.
I just think it would be cool to watch the relationship.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
One more question.....just aslong as I get another percula does it matter if he is orange also or can I get a black one? Would there be a chance of them pairing up?
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Originally Posted by reefaholic33
http:///forum/post/3051543
One more question.....just aslong as I get another percula does it matter if he is orange also or can I get a black one? Would there be a chance of them pairing up?
What do you have now, true percula or occelaris?
The black ones are occelaris, so the only shot you would have is is if your current one is also occelaris.
I got mixed reviews when attempting it myself, but I recenlty added a smaller black and white occelaris to w/ my current orange one. It's been a few months and they have not paired. The larger picks on the smaller quite a bit, even gives it minor teared fins from time to time. From my understandign this is normal clown behavior, but I just dont want it to go too far and have my larger kill the smaller.
Good luck.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Mine is the one that SWF has listed as a "false percula" so I'm guessing that means it's a occelaris since it's not a true percula correct?
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Originally Posted by reefaholic33
http:///forum/post/3051572
Mine is the one that SWF has listed as a "false percula" so I'm guessing that means it's a occelaris since it's not a true percula correct?
Yea...False perc is Ocellaris. THey are also the ones that come in black and white, adn also n.aked clowns.They are both really cool.
You can't mix them with true percs.
Originally Posted by tscuda
http:///forum/post/3051851
Clowns are born female. Buy a much smaller one of the same species and it will turn male.
I'm pretty sure it's the other way around. They are born males and turn into females. I could be wrong, but I think you got it backwards.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
At the risk of suffering a bombardment here................
The moody one in the corner is likely to be the female. Put a mirror in the tank and you'll be able to tell for sure.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3051895
At the risk of suffering a bombardment here................
The moody one in the corner is likely to be the female. Put a mirror in the tank and you'll be able to tell for sure.

I actually thought that was cute
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Indeed all clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, born as males, and turn female when needed.
There is no 100% positive way to tell, other then the hypothetical guesses mentioned, which are fairly certain. Get a small one, and you should be fine.
As far as mixing Percula's with Ocellaris, it certainly is possible, I have a mixed pair. However, they have yet to lay eggs after 4 years, but they are definitely a pair, rarely leaving each others side.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3052088
Indeed all clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, born as males, and turn female when needed.
There is no 100% positive way to tell, other then the hypothetical guesses mentioned, which are fairly certain. Get a small one, and you should be fine.
As far as mixing Percula's with Ocellaris, it certainly is possible, I have a mixed pair. However, they have yet to lay eggs after 4 years, but they are definitely a pair, rarely leaving each others side.
Hm, I wouldn't say "when needed". Once they turn female they cannot become male again. Just to clear any confusion.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3052090
Hm, I wouldn't say "when needed". Once they turn female they cannot become male again. Just to clear any confusion.

Correct, there should have been better explanation. Out on the reef in the ocean, when the lead female dies, the dominant male will turn female, and then till the end of her time, will stay female. I added 'when needed' because typically out on the reef, there are more then just a breeding pair living together, usually a handful of pre-pubescent males, and the breeding male, in addition to the head female.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Wow very interesting! I'm glad I finally now the differance between a perc and ocellaris, I read alot of confusing things about it. I will try and get a small black one which I don't see in my LFS very often so I might get another orange. Anyway will update with how they get along.
Do alot of the fish we have do a transition like the clowns do? Or are most born male or female?
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3051895
At the risk of suffering a bombardment here................
The moody one in the corner is likely to be the female. Put a mirror in the tank and you'll be able to tell for sure.

I like you Spanko

Originally Posted by reefaholic33
http:///forum/post/3052095
Do alot of the fish we have do a transition like the clowns do? Or are most born male or female?
That's a good question. I don't think most fish are like that. I think it's mostly clowns, but I really don't know.
You may interested to know that a male seahorses have the babies, not the females. I think the females give their eggs to the males, then the males release sperm into the egg in their body and the they "give birth" to the babies.
Or something like that.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Glad I'm not a seahorse lol.....anyways my LFS is working on getting me a small black one, I will update with how it goes!
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Well I finally picked one up.....he is slightly smaller black and white ocellaris and they are doing great. They even seem to follow each other around alot of the time and it's only been a day. They aren't married yet but def. in heading in the right direction and no aggresion.
 
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