Clowns fade color in RBTA

[this is me]

Have anyone else notice this? My previous pair of GSM had a faded dark red(female) and faded red(male) when they were in my tank. The pair are now in The Aquarium Gallery hosting in a LTA and the color is much more vibrant!
I now have 5 onyx clowns that were jet black when I first bought it but one month later, the color has faded.

A month ago. Check out the black!:: I was very please of how black they were especially these are just babies.

Now. Bleh...they are getting bigger though. I even ordered some Rod's Food because this is from Rod and that's what he feeds them with.
When I placed my order for these clowns, Rod warned me about the possible color fading issue with BTA. So it's not like I didn't know this before hand. But my question is, why is this the case with BTA? Is BTA sting much more potent?

 

[afboundguy]

IME my clowns have actually gotten darker in my BTA over time. Moreso the female than the male. I wonder if lighting has anything to do with it? I noticed the biggest change once I upgraded my PC's to T5's...

 

[jbishop]

I think a lot of it has to do with the food the clowns are being fed. Usually with age they get darker.

 

[Lil Shark]

You are what you eat. In this case proteins are key. See what you're feeding now and check out the proteins in them. Then slowly start to switch it up with different amounts of different stuff. Take it slow!

 

[~Flighty~]

Percs do lose their black in BTAs especially if they are young and still developing their color. Older ones in my experience don't seem to be effected. Zoanthid contact gives them and occellaris clowns black freckles. Mertains carpets are reported to cause dark black pigment in many species, (but good luck finding one)

 

[this is me]

Cindy,
Will the black comes back? Damn it, my plan of having a tank full of RBTA and onyx clowns just took a nose dive.

 

[~Flighty~]

I don't know since I have never removed the clowns from all anemones after the color loss. You could try removing one of your clowns to a refugium or sump and see what happens. I would ask on the RC clown forum and see what others say.

 

[LosingSleep]

Zoanthid contact gives them and occellaris clowns black freckles.

Same deal with clarkii and SPS has the same effect.

 

[this is me]

I did have that idea in mind. However, I don't want to reintroduce the clowns to its clownmates again. As of right now, the five are getting along just fine.
Some RC members are seeing this also and some have stated the color does come back but since mines are so young, I'm afraid the color will not be fully developed.
To make matters worst, one of the RBTA just split into 3 making a total count of 10 RBTA in the tank. I'm going to have a yard sale of RBTA if this continues.

I don't know since I have never removed the clowns from all anemones after the color loss. You could try removing one of your clowns to a refugium or sump and see what happens. I would ask on the RC clown forum and see what others say.

 

[this is me]

Any more thoughts/experience with this? I have moved all 5 clowns into the refugium without anything to host. Don't worry, there are plenty of room for them. It could be me, but I already see the black getting darker this morning although not anywhere close to what it used to be.
I looked at the pictures I took the first day I got it and the black was just BLACK! I love it. It was the reason why I spend so much on these clowns.
I'm debating whether to remove all 10 RBTAs. If the black on the clowns come back without a host, the RBTAs will be outta here.