Is it nornal for clownfish to change color?

[bmhair03]

Your'll going to think I'm crazy after this .But,here goes.I've been observing my clownfish and have notice over the last couple days,its color to lighten and darken over the few hours that I am able to watch it.I aready have a post going about color fading .But noticed after awhile that its not just fading, the color came back and its lines were sharp and bright.When it fades it almost turns completely orange up to the first white band.Its rear fin is almost transparent.While this is happening,the fish acts the same ,normal.Feeding doesn't seem to be a factor either. I cant find anything about this searching .I should say the fish is acting,and eating normal.I stated in the other post my parameters are all normal, 0's.1.023-05 80f.

Has anyone heard of anything like is???:eek1: :confused:
My wife can verify my limited sanity!!:)
I'm working on pics.

[G13]

I think I'm having the same thing happen to my male black ocellarius. His third stripe by his tail has turned grey? I don't know why, they are hosting in some GCP. Don't know if that's the reason.....I hope you guys can tell on these pics.

Does your clowns stripe look something like this?

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/geedupj/firstdayonyx035.jpg

[G13]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/geedupj/firstdayonyx037.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/geedupj/firstdayonyx036.jpg

[G13]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/geedupj/firstdayonyx038.jpg

[G13]

Sorry, bad pics but you can see the 3rd stripe on my male is not bright white like the others. It used to be bright white but I noticed one side turned greyish about 2 weeks ago. Now the stripe is fully grey.

[stykthyn]

maybe he is an old man

[G13]

lol....maybe

[bmhair03]

Ya ,I wish it was old age!!lol I'm home for lunch and his colors are bright again..Go figure.Maybe he is part chameleon!I figure hes about 1-1/2" long so I think he is still young?

[EMBRYOGUY]

are they hosting anemones? bec that can definetly have an effect on color fading.

if not i believe some clowns simply adjust to diff conditions. either by darkening or fading. i have 5 systems and 1/5 does not develop good black even though all 5 systems have same parameters. as long as its eating well, disease free. than nothing you can really do. luck of the draw. just like any animal. some have better skin quality than others.

[bmhair03]

thanks for the respones.The clown is hosting a frogspawn.The thing is his color is actually fading and then darkening probally ,4-5 times a day. He seems very happy nd healthly,and I am already in love with it .It is just so strange!

[EMBRYOGUY]

the frogspawn is likey the reason for the clowns fading color. same thing happend to one of my percs with a frogspawn also. many clowns are fine, others are not. my clown would also fade and darken through out the day. i since have removed it from the frogspawn and now its color is stabilizing to dark again.

[bmhair03]

Is it easy to get it to rehost?Should I just remove the frogspawn?

[stykthyn]

try moving it and see if the fish ignores it.

[bmhair03]

He follows it everywhere.!!I can put the frogspawn in my sump .Do you think that would work?And is it a good idea.I don't want to scare him into a corner.

[stykthyn]

I would be more worried about what it would do to your frogspawn. does the relationship affect the coral? is the color the only issue with the fish? if both seem happy with the arrangement I would just leave them be.