Can a mature female clown turn back male?

[RedReefer]

I have a three year old female clown that has laid eggs several times. The male she was paired with died (power head accident) She has been female for at least the past two years. There is a local reefer that is trying to rehome a 3 year old black/white female clown. Can I add their female with my female? Will one of the females turn back male? System = 80 gal display, plenty of rock and hiding places. Four BTA to host. Will this work? Both are similar size and Ocellarus Clowns.

 

[Gtinnel]

I'm almost positive that the answer is no. Once they change they don't change back.

 

[RedReefer]

That was also my thoughts. Things =(fish & coral) never surprise me, I seen weird stuff happen in this hobby. Love it though!

 

[RedReefer]

Answer = No,

All anemonefish, including clownfish, are hermaphrodites. They are all born male, according to National Geographic. They have the ability to turn themselves female, but once the change is made, they can't go back to being male. Sometimes the change is made when mating. Jul 13, 2016

 

[Gtinnel]

I was just coming back to say I found online resources that confirmed they can't change back. You Googled it quicker than I did LOL.

 

[c_healy]

No, it’s a one way ticket.

 

[RedReefer]

Can I add mated pair (male and female) in with a single female is 80 gal? Three all together? Two females, and one male?

 

[Gtinnel]

Can I add mated pair (male and female) in with a single female is 80 gal? Three all together? Two females, and one male?

Nope. It would probably lead to one female eventually killing the other.

 

[Rmckoy]

Answer = No,

All anemonefish, including clownfish, are hermaphrodites. They are all born male, according to National Geographic. They have the ability to turn themselves female, but once the change is made, they can't go back to being male. Sometimes the change is made when mating. Jul 13, 2016

Similar to this but I was lead to believe they are born neither male or female .
as they mature they form male or female .
typically the larger , ore dominant one is female

once she dies or is taken away the next dominant male changes to female .

 

[Gtinnel]

As I understand it they're all born male, but not dominant breeding males there is only one breeding male. When the female dies the dominant male changes to female and one of the juvenile males become the dominant male.

 

[RedReefer]

Looks like she's going to be lonely until I can get a new male in the tank...

 

[Gtinnel]

I started with just one clownfish in the tank. When I finally added another one I picked the smallest one I could find to make sure it was a juvenile male.

 

[Rmckoy]

When buying a new clownfish to add to already established one. .
Always buy significantly smaller .
In the lonely one is female , less chance of fighting for dominance or losing a weaker fish

 

[RedReefer]

Lonely one is female.

 

[Rmckoy]

So a good question …
If in the lfs and notice they have a smaller clownfish in a tank alone . Is it still too immature to be male or female .
is it automatically female and will fight till death with anything it’s added with ?