changing sex

[lilduud]

can a female clownfish turn into a male? theres a chance for me to buy a female picasso and a female onyx clown which i have always wanted a pair of... ive heard of people breeding them to make snocasso and snowflake clowns which i LOVE... anyway can they change sex multiple times or are they only female once they become so.

 

[yote]

The smaller of the 2 will change to a male.IF they get along long enough for it to change.

 

[Melosu58]

LA says "
Although there are no external characteristics to differentiate male and female, all clownfish are sexually immature when hatched. Meaning that the fry do not have a pre-determined sex, and develop into males and females depending on the hierarchy of the school. A pair will lay eggs along the base of the host anemone, using it to protect the eggs. The eggs normally appear orange in color. Without proper preparation, rearing in the average aquarium is nearly impossible."

 

[drm180]

If they are both mature females, I don't think they can change back to male since female is the highest rank in their social class. They can go from male to female but it is a one-way change. If they are not mature yet though, then they are not really female and can become male. This is what I have found, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.