Question about gold stripped maroon clown fish

LLTooSweet · Feb 14, 2011

So I have a 1 1/2 inch gold stripe maroon clown. Well, I'm not sure if he's a gold stripe or not anymore...
When I bought him, all 3 of his stripes are a beautiful gold stripe. Last couple of days I've noticed that his back 2 stripes have turned white. The bar on his head is still gold as I'm typing right now.

My local fish store mentioned to me one day while we was talking about maroon clowns that they all start out with the gold stripes and the regular maroon clowns will LOSE their gold. I've tried to research on line but have not found anything on this.

Can someone chime in if they know anything about this? Is my gold stripe maroon turning into a regular or is it just going thru its ugly stage and the gold will come back.

It kinda sucks if it turns out ot be a regular maroon cuase I just got a beautiful gold stripe female about 4 1/2 inches to pair up with him.

http://aircapitalaquariums.forumotion.com/u3

RogerWilco357 · Feb 16, 2011

any pictures of your clown fish ? would like to see the stripe. I have a maroon clown fish the only one to survive my tanks seam leaking out and the only one to survive the ich when that hit my tank..he is the oldest fish in the tank and makes sure everyone knows it bossy little guy ..

Just Clownin Around · Feb 16, 2011

Actually opposite. Start out white and turn gold at about 1yr

Reef@holic · Feb 17, 2011

Agreed it's actually opposite of what fish store guy told you. They start off as white stripes and turn to gold as they mature. I have found that the maroons from Melanesia seem to have much more golden bands than others and at a younger age. Just give him a good diet and he will turn gold if he already has one for sure, he is still young at that size these guys get really big.

mfinn · Feb 17, 2011

I have a pair of GSM's that have been with me for 10+ years.
The male's stripes are still very gold, but the female turned very dark with hardly any other color.

LLTooSweet · Feb 18, 2011

LLTooSweet · Feb 18, 2011

in that picture he has all his gold stripes. hmm... maybe its just the lights that are messing me up.

Alattner · Feb 18, 2011

the stripes seem a little more white in the back then the front to me but idk what would cause that mine never changed colors as long as had him

LLTooSweet · Feb 18, 2011

You noticed that too huh! In person it looks like it has one gold stripe on the head and 2 white stripes on its body.

I'm hoping that he'll turn dark gold like the female!