Why has my clown lost her color?

[vcnt]

This first picture shows when I first got them, around 2 years ago (technically,1 year, 11 months, 2 weeks.. but WHO IS COUNTING! )

These next few pictures are more recent of the fish, it is the one in the back of the first picture (the big one from pic 1 past ... suicide)

Can maybe be a bit hard to tell, but this fish is not pure orange, it is turning brown/black?

Diet - Mysis nearly every day, brine inplace when I feel like it, and semi regular nori

 

[StartingATank]

I may be wrong about this, but I believe that is what happens to clowns whenever they age and mature. I have seen many clowns that are like this, and they usually are ones that have aged a bit.

 

[Grog]

I may be wrong about this, but I believe that is what happens to clowns whenever they age and mature. I have seen many clowns that are like this, and they usually are ones that have aged a bit.

IMO, they can/will change colors as they age. I have a clown that was almost solid black, with orange lips when I purchased it. Now it is pretty much solid black, which I think looks better but it definitely changed over time.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#fishmedic

 

[Jimbo327]

Need to feed fish food with Astaxanthin. Try TDO chroma boost.

 

[vcnt]

Need to feed fish food with Astaxanthin. Try TDO chroma boost.

Which size would you do?

Fish include

Clownfish
Red Fire fish
Blue Tang
Algae Blenny
Mandarin
Gold-Headed Sleeper Goby
Red Coris Wrasse

 

[Reef Jedi]

I have noticed after the 2 year mark my clowns have progressively become darker as well. Maybe it’s an age thing? They are happy and healthy in their nem palace so I’ve never been concerned. Kinda cool to see darker orange and more pronounced darker lines.

 

[vcnt]

Consensus seems to be that its an age thing, I might try a different food; I do need more variety, I think.

 

[Jimbo327]

I would get a bag of small and medium of the TDO chroma boost. I like the medium as my fish is a bit bigger. If you got some gobies and firefish, small would do well.

Our reefing club just had Chad from Reef Nutritions come speak, and he showed photos of clowns before and after. It was a stark boost in color after going on the diet with Astaxanthin. Give it a try.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

This first picture shows when I first got them, around 2 years ago (technically,1 year, 11 months, 2 weeks.. but WHO IS COUNTING! )

These next few pictures are more recent of the fish, it is the one in the back of the first picture (the big one from pic 1 past ... suicide)

Can maybe be a bit hard to tell, but this fish is not pure orange, it is turning brown/black?

Diet - Mysis nearly every day, brine inplace when I feel like it, and semi regular nori

While many clowns turn a bit duller in color as they age, I would do as the others say and include some pelleted food in the diet. That way, it won't be missing any nutrients that aren't in the mysids. I use New Life Spectrum marine pellets. The Chromo-boost mentioned is also good. Astaxanthin in the food can increase the orange color in the fish, although this is more noticeable in young, actively growing fish.

 

[D-Nak]

Do you have any anemones in your tank? Sometimes the interaction with an anemone will change the color as well.

 

[vcnt]

Do you have any anemones in your tank? Sometimes the interaction with an anemone will change the color as well.

yeah i have a tube nem ik itx not clown friendly

had green bta, but it disentgrated after 5 days