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Can a female Ocellaris clown revert back to a male?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Rustin, Jan 11, 2009.

  1. Rustin

    Rustin Inactive User GIRS Member

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    Can a female Ocellaris clown revert back to a male or do they only change from male to female?
     
  2. h2so4hurts

    h2so4hurts Inactive User

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    Some reef fish species are able to turn from females into males. This is actually a common ability. But anemonefish have the ability to sex-change from male to female (called Protandrous Hermaphroditism). All anemonefish are born male with active male and dormant female reproductive organs. If the female dies, then the dominant male will sex-change into a female, and a non-dominant male will change into a dominant male. This allows anemonefish inhabiting one anemone to remain self-sufficient in that if the female dies there is no need for the male to find a new mate. The responsibility for caring of the eggs becomes the "new" female's job!

    From: http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=29
     
  3. Rustin

    Rustin Inactive User GIRS Member

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    So if I add a pair to an existing pair it wont work cause ill have to females that will battle and one of them wont revert back to a male. Right?
     
  4. Travis

    Travis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Clowns cannot reverse their sex. To simplify things we typically call the most dominant clown the female as it is the highest rank for a clown to achieve, second most dominant is the male, and the rest are nondominant clowns juveniles (nonsexed). We call them nonsexed because they play no role in reproduction until the male needs to be replaced or they find a home of their own.

    You should not have multiple pairs of clowns anyway. Stick to the rule of 2 and you and your fish will be much happier. BTW H2O's post is dead on except the last line. The new male will tend the eggs, the new female just produces them and guards the male.
     

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