Pair of Clowns - "Mocha" Clowns, but don't match

[Chris Atkinson]

I know, I know, post pics Chris. And I will.

I finally got my QT running and ready and went out and got a nice pair of what were referred to as "Mocha" clowns. I figured they were some sort of Oscellaris variant like black clowns.

The second I take the individual bags and set them in the tank for temp equilibrate, my wife says "hey, they don't match".

Sure enough, although their color patterns are almost identical, the one has a middle band that is continouous all the way around his midsection...looks much like the dark top guy here (deep link to Wikipedia for oscellaris):

The other guy does not have a continuous middle band. It stops. Here is a deep link to a reefs 2 go image. This pair in this image shows one with a continuous middle band and another with a broken middle band (top guy):

This is a deep link to Reefs2go for their "saddleback clown"

Do any of you have pics of a "mocha clown"? Any idea if it is just an oscellaris variation of some sort?

In the Reefs2go image above, with one having the continous band, and the other having a broken band, are they possibly the same species, or are they likely actually different?

Again, these pics are "stolen" from the net and are not the ones I just picked up who are currently happy and healty in my QT. I will post pics of my guys soon.

Thanks for any thoughts,

Chris

 

[Toddrtrex]

The picture below "This is a deep link to Reefs2go for their "saddleback clown"" is a pic of a pair of B&W oscellaris -- "saddleback" is the common name for A. Polymnus, which is a different species, and the black morph (( also comes in brown )) of them look like this,

In the Reefs2go image above, with one having the continous band, and the other having a broken band, are they possibly the same species, or are they likely actually different?

All the second clown is is a "mis-bar", but they are still the same species, the middle bar just isn't completely connected.

 

[Chris Atkinson]

thanks Todd,

I was just coming back to this thread to post that I just read on LiveAquaria.com some comments on their site for "Black and White Clowns" which stated:

The misbarred clowns from England have incomplete white stripes.

So it is entirely possible that my two are indeed the same species, just one is misbarred. They sure look like they have the same paintjobs, all but that "misbar".

Thanks! Chris

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Here are my clowns:

 

[Chris Atkinson]

OK....since there's been no updated commentary, here's my ruling:

These are a variation of the Oscellaris clown, tank-raised, most likely, and the fact that one has different markings does not mean that they are different species.

Really, I could care less whether they lay eggs and all that. I just want them to be nice to everybody, to be healthy, to be happy, and to live a nice life in harmony with my 75 gal DT.

Thanks to all who have replied, and thanks in advance to anyone who may have something to add going forward.

Chris-who is still not sure that a "mocha Clown" is really anything beyond a modified oscellaris that can be sold for more money by the breeder, and maybe the retailer also gets a little premium.

 

[Beaun]

B&W oc. clowns start out orange and migrate to black as they mature. Those last pictures look like that middle stage or color change.

 

[bues0022]

sometimes if the parents were a b/w - normal ocellaris cross, the offspring can turn out a muddy brown color and be "mocha" like you have. Some don't like them, some do - same as any clown. I think they look like a good pair. I tend to prefer the mis-bar many times.

 

[Chris Atkinson]

sometimes if the parents were a b/w - normal ocellaris cross, the offspring can turn out a muddy brown color and be "mocha" like you have. Some don't like them, some do - same as any clown. I think they look like a good pair. I tend to prefer the mis-bar many times.

Thanks much!

So far, so good...they've been in the QT for a few days. They have good appetities, good personalities and they look nice. I'll not have any trouble keeping track of which is which!

Chris

 

[Mycivic88]

I have a pair of misbarred mocha clowns ill take a pic when I get home