Doni Marie clown's

[1geo]

Grade B Picasso

Grade B Picasso

Below is a grade B Picasso I bought from Doni's Reef June 7 2009. This fish meets the criteria for a grade B as stated on her web site. Sorry for the quality of the photo but I'm getting better at it. When I got the pair of Picassos they were about 3/4 of an inch long. In the two months I have had them they have grown about 1/4 inch. My only fear is the fact that the mortality rate for juveniles to adulthood is far higher then trying to keep and adult healthy for the same period of time. I was aware of their size when I bought and I did so because of the uniqueness of the fish and my confidence in Doni's Reef sending me a healthy specimen. I cannot say that about all the vendors out there. In fact, there are some real horror stories about some of the larger vendors selling diseased fish; read that section of the forum sometimes. Its a real eye opener and shouts, "QUARANTINE, QUARANTINE, QUARANTINE".

 

[ILLiDaN]

regardless to say i lost respect for that site and breeder

 

[1geo]

It does raise some questions, has the criteria changed for the different grades? It would appear that the criteria is the quantity of white on the fish and not if any of the (white) strips connect. If that is the new criteria, then make sure you take your time before committing to buy. She is always putting up new specimens so go slow and get exactly what you want before pushing the "BUY" button. In fact, I would even recommend telling her what you want. I did when I bought a 1.5 inch Picasso and she gave me exactly what I asked for at no extra cost. So my past experience is she will readily work with you is you ask. Another good thing about Doni's Reef is the cost. Her Bs are $50 each; any where else they would be $100 and no where near the quality. And, with Doni, you get to see what you buy; very few vendors will send you pictures of the actual fish you buy so its hit and miss with them. All things considered, I would still only buy Picassos from Doni.

 

[1geo]

Just a note. Since we have been discussing the As on Doni's Reef (in the last hour) they have been removed. Maybe someone is reading these threads after all.

 

[dc]

Well Doni is a member here.

Just a thought here tho. They're her fish, can't see grade them how she wants to? I mean beauty (grade) is in the eye of the beholder right. If you see the actual fish you buy does it really matter anyway?

 

[1geo]

Hi dc, I would agree with you except for one little problem. She states on her web site how she determines the different grades. If she simply wants to grade them by sight, then eliminate the grading standard she has posted on Doni's Reef web site.

 

[dc]

Has anyone emailed her personally?

She really can't reply in here as it would be 'commercial' and against our rules.

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15501550#post15501550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dc
Has anyone emailed her personally?

She really can't reply in here as it would be 'commercial' and against our rules.

She is great in returning emails & answering all questions. Rather than pass judgement on her grading criteria, why not buy else where if you don't like her offerings. I bought 30 of her grade "C" clowns and have enjoyed watching their patterns develop in the time that I have had them.

 

[Katowoo]

I just ordered a pair of Snowcasso's from Doni this AM. Never dealt with her before but she seems very honest and very responsive. Read through her threads and other people's comments and a lot of great things about her clownfish. The fish are just over an 1" long and are 5-6 months old. Pricey though as I paid $400 for them but I didn't want to pass them up as they're hard to come by. Any thoughts?

 

[patriots81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15501481#post15501481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dc
[B}
They're her fish, can't see grade them how she wants to? I mean beauty (grade) is in the eye of the beholder right. If you see the actual fish you buy does it really matter anyway? [/B]

agreed!

 

[ILLiDaN]

if you picked up those snowcassos would have waited seen cooler looking ones on her site, those just look like A's in my eyes

 

[Korrine]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

 

[1geo]

If you bought a car whose specifications stated it got 35 mpg but when you drove it, it only got 20 mpg. Would that upset you? I think so. No one is arguing that Doni has a right to put up for sale anything she wants but when she states the criteria on her web site that you are buying a specific item if it has a certain grade and then you look at what she is selling and it does NOT meet her own stated criteria; that's upsetting. Having said that, if you look on her web site at what she has listed as Grade B #6, one of those fish meet her criteria for a Grade A Picasso. If anyone is looking for a good deal #6 is it; ignoring the grading system works both ways.

 

[myreefcentral]

Sometimes you'll even get grade B's that resembles "snowcasso" too...you just have to be patient...

 

[Katowoo]

So ILL are you saying that I overpaid for the pair of Snowcasso's? I looked through all the vids on the A's and B's and the sole pair of Snowcasso's that I purchased definitely had a ton more white than all the other pairs.

 

[1geo]

I don't think anyone, certainly not me, is saying you paid to much. In fact, I have seen what is called Platinum Clowns by ORA on eBay for $800 a pair. All I and others are saying is "take your time." You can find bargains, like Doni's B #6 where one fish meets her B criteria but the other meets her A criteria; that's a good deal.

 

[Katowoo]

Yeah Geo... I'm a little impatient but no one can dispute that if you want something now instead of waiting and have the $ then in your own eyes it's a good deal. People may disagree but I'm happy that purchased the snowcasso's from Doni. Pairs don't come up too often so it's a matter of supply / demand and wants and I wanted them asap.

 

[dc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15504706#post15504706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Katowoo
So ILL are you saying that I overpaid for the pair of Snowcasso's? I looked through all the vids on the A's and B's and the sole pair of Snowcasso's that I purchased definitely had a ton more white than all the other pairs.

If you liked them and were willing to pay what you did, then they were absolutely worth it. While there'll always be other fish tomorrow, you wanted them and got them. Why worry now?

 

[Katowoo]

Thx DC... I'm not worried in the least bit. Just can't wait to get them. I'm cycling a new tank just for them and Doni's going to hang on to them for me until the new tank get's up and running. I didn't want to put them in my main reef tank as I have a medium sized yellow blotched anthias that may pick on them. I 've also got a brood tank for just a pair of true percs that's laying clutches every 10 days so I definitely don't want to put them in that tank. So a new tank it'll have to be just for them in their own little world.

 

[dc]

:lol: I have a Kindle, what I paid for that seems outrageous to others, worth every penny to me.