Do clownfish dorsal fins get blacker as they age?

[fishywishy]

I know this is kind of stupid but i just got some baby clownfish like as small as you can get them and I noticed there dorsal fin has no black and i kind of wanted one with black fins and I’m wondering if theres just no black when there babies and it becomes blacker as they age or did i just get some bad ones? Also kind of want to know how long they take to grow because I’m going to get a lion fish and i don't want it to eat them.

 

[Sean Clark]

It will probably depend on the individual fish. Mine has gotten a lot more black as it has gotten older.
2016

2022

 

[fishguy242]

hi,welcome to the reef...
yes colors will fill in /darken with age,
as far as size ,better be a 6" maroon or is potential lion food

 

[Biglew11]

General rule of thumb is if a fish can fit in another fish's mouth, it will eventually end up there.

 

[fishywishy]

hi,welcome to the reef...
yes colors will fill in /darken with age,
as far as size ,better be a 6" maroon or is potential lion food

How long will it take?

 

[fishguy242]

How long will it take?

what type ?
size now ?

 

[fishywishy]

what type ?
size now ?

There regular Ocellaris clowns and there a little over a inch right now

 

[fishguy242]

There regular Ocellaris clowns and there a little over a inch right now

4-5"female , 4" male ,5-7 yrs depending on feeding and tank size.

 

[fishywishy]

dang, guess I’m going back to the fish store

 

[vetteguy53081]

Most clowns especially wild caught have dark pigments that come in as they mature

 

[fishywishy]

4-5"female , 4" male ,5-7 yrs depending on feeding and tank size.

My LFS said they would grow to full size in a few months but won’t fully mature for another 3 years, is this true?

 

[fishguy242]

My LFS said they would grow to full size in a few months but won’t fully mature for another 3 years, is this true?

No, even at 1" already 5-6 mo old. may mature and change sex in first year ,yr and a half, but full size 5-7 years.
possibly more ,they can live 20 plus years.

 

[i cant think]

No, even at 1" already 5-6 mo old. may mature and change sex in first year ,yr and a half, but full size 5-7 years.
possibly more ,they can live 20 plus years.

I’m curious, what size would a Black Photon (Occ x Perc) get to do you think? I’d assume it’s a similar time as well.

 

[fishguy242]

I’m curious, what size would a Black Photon (Occ x Perc) get to do you think? I’d assume it’s a similar time as well.

Honestly not 100% sure, would be close in my opinion...
diet, tank size,would also play factor,lil bit...

 

[i cant think]

Honestly not 100% sure, would be close in my opinion...
diet, tank size,would also play factor,lil bit...

Yeah, it’s hard to figure it out when they’re a hybrid and not purebred. I’ve had her for around 2 years now and she’s about 2-3 inches