Clowns turning black, why?

[CurvBall]

A friend of mine's clowns have gone from orange to black. Any ideas? See images below please.Thanks.

Before:

After:

 

[Elmo18]

Hiya Curvball.

A lot of clowns become melanistic when associated/hosting with or in certain anemones. This is what is going on with your clown.

Pigments within the skin that help protect it from the anemone's sting.
Normal change for a clown to get darker.

- Elmo

 

[wrightme43]

Yep, It happens.

 

[fishermann]

I love black clowns, wish mine would.

 

[snobanker]

I know...I think it's cool too. Black clowns are awesome looking.

 

[Elmo18]

I love black clowns, wish mine would.

There are "black varieties" of clowns. However, melanistic developments of a clown doesn't render it a "black variety". This just means its symbiont is a certain type of anemone.

- Elmo

 

[Terry B]

Its not harmful to the fish outwardly, but you may want to consider what the clowns are hosted by.

Cheers,
Terry B

 

[wnorman]

i have 3 clowns and they are also turning black, however i dont have any anemones. what else could cause this?

ive had 2 for about 2years and i just got the 3rd about a month ago from a friend, they shut down her tank.

they were all orange up until last week.

 

[clownnut]

the black ocellaris when they are small they are orange/brown, when they grow older they will turn in to black.

 

[Katchupoy]

So Elmo, are you saying that this can happen to false perc too? I thought that was the only diff between false and true.... while true are turning black.