Amphiprion barberi

[Gary Majchrzak]

a newly described species of Clownfish (2008):

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=64181&genusname=Amphiprion&speciesname=barberi

I've seen these for sale at LFS's in the past. Only photo I can find online:

http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+27+2754&pcatid=2754

Adults resemble extremely large male (bright orange-red) Tomato (or Melanopus) Clowns are are SPECTACULAR.

 

[tmz]

Nice color to it.

 

[nate82]

that's a cool fish very unique ORA just came out with a platinum clown as well it's pretty neat all white

 

[NirvanaFan]

There is someone here on RC that is trying to breed the Barberi. It's pretty cool.

 

[tmz]

Saw the platnum ora clown. Don't really like it. At $750 it doesn't matter if I like it or not. I wont get it.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Wow! A newly named species and it's actually reasonably priced! Who knew?

Nice find, Gary!

Are folks calling these "Barberi clowns", or do they have another common name in the trade?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

they sometimes show up in shipments misidentified as melanopus or Tomato clowns.

I saw someone bring their mated pair of barberi into a LFS as a trade-in. None of us, (myself included), actually knew how special they were- I just knew they were SPECTACULAR specimens.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Wondering if anyone in the URS has this clown now that it's been "known about" for a few years?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

a pair was sold from Marine Oasis prior to me posting this thread so SOMEBODY in our area has (or had) them.

For all intents and purposes (IMO) this species remains largely "unknown". People in the collection/supply chain probably still refer to them as Tomato Clowns.

 

[GMaquarium]

For all intents and purposes (IMO) this species remains largely "unknown". People in the collection/supply chain probably still refer to them as Tomato Clowns.

I think so too.

 

[puter]

There are a few photos and some very interesting info in the
species description.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Thanks for the link, some interesting reading.

 

[tmz]

Thanks for the link.

I've had a pair of amphiprion in my 90 g lps tanks from the start about 8 years now.They were juveniles when I got them and have been mating and producing fry for years. Unfortunately, the nest under a rock ledge built into the stack structure so
I have not tried to gather the eggs or the fry.
They are not amphiprion frenatus , the fish identified by Scott Michaels s a tomato clown. That fish has 2 stripes mine have one like the barberi. They are clearly not aphiprion melanopsis since teir tails are red not yellow. They female shows more black/dark color than the male.


Here are some pictures from a few years ago. What do you folks think they are?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Tough call. There are a handful of clowns with one stripe. I'm certainly not an expert, but yours look darker than the photos I've seen of barberi.

Dug this thread back up because liveaquaria recently started stocking barberi. I just ordered a pair. I'll be sure to note progress. I'm not specifically setting myself up to breed, but would probably at least attempt to raise offspring if they spawned.

Also, I feel strange asking this, but is anyone aware of a common name for this species? Besides "Tomato clown?" :lol:

 

[Newreeflady]

What connection does this name bear to D. Barberi?

Tom, I'm with you on the platinums. I think it's hard to get used to a lot of these new clowns, and right now the platinums look horrid to me. But, I didn't used to like the misbars, either, and now I think they are cute so maybe I'll come around. The platinums are funny because it looks like someone took an eraser to them.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I remember reading a website that detailed "standard" clown breeding practices maybe 8 or 9 years ago. It was written by someone with commercial experience, but I can't remember who, or where the article was. It mentioned culling stock that was misbarred. Ironic that today a misbarred fish is worth MORE than a standard fish.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Ironic that today a misbarred fish is worth MORE than a standard fish.

not neccessarily true: it all depends on IF you can get somebody to pay for a fish that should have been culled. Some of the misbars float my boat and some don't. I'm sure that many fish breeders are still culling misbars!

Tom: I can't make a call on your fish based only on the pictures.
The barberi that I've seen in person were extremely large and totally blinding orange- even the female.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

oooops!

oooops!

I forgot to mention the most ironic part of the story:

whoever owned the pair of barberi that I saw traded them in for a panther grouper and some other stupid fish!