Onyx/Papuan Clownfish

[haggarse]

Question...are Onyx clowns the same as Papuan clowns? I got a pair from Phishy this past weekend (beautiful fish with alot of black) and they were labeled as "Papuan". Just curious if Onyx and Papuan are different names for the same fish.

Thanks,

Sean

 

[mrwilson]

I suspect that a "Papuan" clown is simply a clown sourced from New Guinea. My understanding of an "onyx" clown is that it is a percula clown which is black. A Papuan clown may or may not be "onyx," depending on its coloration, and an "onyx" clown may or may not be Papuan, depending on its source. (Not to be confused with something like "Rod's Onyx clowns," which, I understand, come from a particular captive-bred strain of clowns.)

 

[haggarse]

Interesting. These clowns are definitely black so I'm leaning towards "onyx". I'm going to call Phishy on Wednesday and see if they can provide me any additional info.

Thanks for the response!

 

[haggarse]

Couple pics:

 

[mrwilson]

Nice looking clowns! (And what did Phishy folk tell you about the Papuan/onyx distinction(s)?)

 

[szwab]

I think you are right the onyx is just a descriptor for looks. Not a reference to where they were collected species.

 

[haggarse]

You gents are both correct. Here is Aaron's response:

"They are wild clowns from Papua New Guinea, as opposed to captive bred. There is no strict definition for what makes a clown "onyx" or not, so I dont bother to label them as such. I agree with you though - they are essentially the same color pattern as the ones some places sell as onyx."

 

[szwab]

So in other words "onyx" is just a way to charge more.

 

[sammie]

Bingo!!!!

 

[szwab]

When in doubt follow the money