Clown Turning Female???

[kirkwood]

At what age do clowns typically start turning Female???

And, at what age are captive bred clowns typically shipped to market (specifically - SA clowns)??

I have an SA Picasso and a Misbar Onyx and they are have been close for awhile now (even though they won't host the RBTA)... I always assumed the Picasso would turn Female because it just seems to be the more active and assertive fish...

 

[saltbubbles]

From what I know, not much lol. They are all females and then they change sex the largest one remains a female while the smallest is the male. If the female dies the male will turn to female but once they're females there's no going back kinda like humans lol

Isn't that right Mr. Jamescook?

 

[jamescook]

I've had males be fertile at 9 months and females at 21 months. SA typically ships fish that are 1in+ and probably <12 months. You should see one of yours getting larger and fatter soon.

Edit: They start as males and the dominant fish will turn female.

 

[kirkwood]

jamescook;891220 wrote: I've had males be fertile at 9 months and females at 21 months. SA typically ships fish that are 1in+ and probably <12 months. You should see one of yours getting larger and fatter soon.

Edit: They start as males and the dominant fish will turn female.

Yes my SA was right around 1" at time of purchase and I've had it for about 6 months now.. I purchased the Onyx the same day also about 1".. So I would guesstimate them now at about 15-18 months of age?? They are both absolute pigs at feeding time and I wonder if they are both competing to get bigger faster and be the dominant female - or are the predisposed at birth to be male or female based on their demeanor and makeup??

thanks...

 

[jamescook]

They compete for dominance from day one. I've had some that I thought would be the male due to size and they just refused to be submissive. It's taken many months, but I'm pretty sure that it will be the female. She always has the nem. When yours finds and keeps the nem, that's the female.

 

[kirkwood]

jamescook;891226 wrote: When yours finds and keeps the nem, that's the female.

LOL - Easier said than done.. I've been waiting for them to host the RBTA for 6 months now.. I've been feeding ELOS Pellets from a syringe over the RBTA daily to encourage the pair to venture into the nem to retrieve their food.. But yet they continue to just watch the nem in what is either amazement, cautious optimism, or complete and utter disinterest (hard to tell).. Well as you can see from the 2nd and 4th pics - the RBTA is just to the right of the Monti-Cap and the pair likes to hover just above the Monti-Cap, so they are very close to the nem... The color of the Monti-Cap and Nem are virtually identical and it won't be more than a few weeks before the Monti grows and the two are actually touching...

I hope to see some hosting before 2014..