Clownfish mutation

Mr. E Wrasse · Mar 18, 2013

So I have had my clownfish for about three years now and I bought them as little ocellaris about 1 inch and now they are massive. One of them however has grown big black spots where his pec fins attach to his body and the wierdest one is on his throat. Didnt know if this was common but ive never seen it before? Blurry picture but you can definitely see the spot

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revhtree · Mar 18, 2013

Are they just spots?

Mr. E Wrasse · Mar 18, 2013

Yeah its the wierdes thing. Im not worried about it or anything like that but was just wondering if it was normal lol or if it has happened to others

altolamprologus · Mar 18, 2013

Do they host anything? Oftentimes clowns that host corals will get black spots because of burns from the coral

Mr. E Wrasse · Mar 18, 2013

Nope, at one time I had a RBTA but got rid of it not long after. They sleep in the corners next to zoanthids and button polyps but I doubt zoanthids could do that...

altolamprologus · Mar 19, 2013

That's weird then. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as the fish as still eating and acting normally, there's no cause for alarm.

Alpha Aquaculture · Mar 19, 2013

I would say that the spot is on his belly and not his throat

I believe the gene mutation that produces black on the belly is fairly rare. Some Onyx will get it and of course anything bred in with a Darwin but not normally other breeds. I think that breeding in the black belly into orange colorations of ocellaris and percula is an awesome project. I've got a Fancy White female with a Snow Onyx male that are laying and both have this black belly but are otherwise orange clownfish without a lot of black. I call them my Black Belly Project. Its a sweet look! Both the fish in my pair had this trait at a young age but it makes sense that it developed later in your clownfish's life. Most types of designers change color throughout their lives as they mature. Normal striped clownfish can also change color and develop blacks and different hues. I also see the black spots develop on the area where the pectoral fin connects to the body. All in all you definitely got a sweet clownfish there. I love the way clownfish can change color in time as they mature! Thanks for sharing