albertareef Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I have three pink skunk clowns I got from Garrett a few weeks ago and just noticed that the medium sized one (presumed male) has developed orange highlights on the very edge of his dorsal fin and tail (sorry, don't think I can get a pick). I swear it wasn't there before... wondering what is up with that (scratch). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Reef Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 A little bit odd, but kind of sounds cool to me. Haven't brung those in for a while so I haven't been able to see or study a phenomenon like that. Could be something normal for males. Or maybe it is amphiprion nigripes, which is not a skunk, but very similar and has yellowish orange fin and tail. He should have black fins on the bottom if so, and could possibley take a while to show up if small. Ricky Soutas Jr. -Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 Thanks Ricky - definitely pink skunks though. Actually... I think I found the answer here: The Pink Skunk Clownfish are the very few species which can be definitively sexed by colour alone. Mature males show a fine orange rim around the tail which is absent in the females. Guess I should have looked a little harder before posting DOH! Sounds like this guy is just "growing up" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Reef Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 That's good to know. It seemed like it would make sense if it was being called a male. Ricky Soutas Jr. -Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 Yeah - that was the original presumption just based on size alone but it looks like he agrees with that assessment at this point! Interesting as I didn't know there was any sexual dimorphism in the clowns... then again, I haven't had that many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Yeah - that was the original presumption just based on size alone but it looks like he agrees with that assessment at this point! Interesting as I didn't know there was any sexual dimorphism in the clowns... then again' date=' I haven't had that many. [/quote'] I mean this in an educational mode only. Not meant rude or mean. (Sorry I rewrote it several times, and still sounded kinda rude) Technically, a color difference between sexes is sexual dichromatism. Sexual dimorphism is a difference is size, shape, or ornamentation (horns, atlers, etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 I mean this in an educational mode only. Not meant rude or mean. (Sorry I rewrote it several times, and still sounded kinda rude) Technically, a color difference between sexes is sexual dichromatism. Sexual dimorphism is a difference is size, shape, or ornamentation (horns, atlers, etc). Busted! No worries Doran, I realized I messed that up after I posted it but haven't had a chance to go back and fix it until now. You beat me to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I mean this in an educational mode only. Not meant rude or mean. (Sorry I rewrote it several times, and still sounded kinda rude) Technically, a color difference between sexes is sexual dichromatism. Sexual dimorphism is a difference is size, shape, or ornamentation (horns, atlers, etc). Doran you're a nerd!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 Doran you're a nerd!!!! Perhaps... but at least he is an accurate nerd - unlike some of us! That should teach me to not post biospeak on my way out the door... (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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