Plz Identify my fish

[tehachappi32]

Hi I'm Thomas,*


* * I'm new to the saltwater reef. I've been into fresh water for a few years. About 3 months ago, I saw some designer clown fish and I completely turned over to saltwater. Recently, I've order a pair of ORA premium Picasso clown fish from a group buy and I feel like the fish I received are not what I've paid for.*

* * I was told that they are premium Picasso clown fish and the seller said they stand behind their statement. However, I feel like I was being ripped off so please if I can*get some input on my fish. I've paid 125.00 for each fish.

*

Thank you

 

[raythepilot]

I wouldn't say you were ripped off.
These designer clowns are like breeds of dogs. There are lots and lots of them. Unfortunately, unlike dogs, there are no standards for each breed so one mans Picasso is another mans Renoir.
If you like the way it looks then keep it. If not ask for a refund.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

The bottom picture is more like Semi-Picasso...closer to true perc. Def not premium. Price for premiums from ORA is $150 per clown. If you paid that much you got cheated. If you paid $50-$75 then not too bad.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Ok just saw you paid $125 per clown.

 

[keepLearning]

Pretty sure he cannot get a refund...specially even with a group buy. Expensive lesson!

I wouldn't say you were ripped off.
These designer clowns are like breeds of dogs. There are lots and lots of them. Unfortunately, unlike dogs, there are no standards for each breed so one mans Picasso is another mans Renoir.
If you like the way it looks then keep it. If not ask for a refund.

 

[OrionN]

At least show clear pictures of the fish.

 

[mbauma]

Based on the ones I've seen, they are definitely not premium Picassos, but they might be a cross of some sort.

 

[raythepilot]

This thread is interesting because it reminds me of the same phenomenon that occurred in the 1960's with guppies.

Guppies had been bred in captivity for decades when a few breeder discovered variants with unusual colors and size. Eventually they started selling fancy guppies. There was no real difference between the fancy and plain guppy except "œeye appeal." OK "œeye appeal" is sufficiently vague and emotional that it created a great marketing gimmick. It wasn't long before there were dozens of different strains of guppies selling at a 5 x "“ 10 x premium over the "œplain Jane strain." Remember, marketing is the art of getting people to pay as much as possible for as little as possible!

The lesson is: There is no right price for anything. The price is driven by what a willing buyer will give a willing seller.

So"¦ Before you buy anything be sure to see exactly what you are getting. Judge for yourself if the "œeye appeal" is great enough FOR YOU to pay more for it.

 

[BlueFyre]

I think they are nice clowns. You will always pay a higher price for ORA designer clowns.

IMO I would not buy any designer clowns that were not WYSIWYG

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Everything was looking ok till the last photo. Regardless how the other side looks, unfortunately there isn't enough white markings on the side shown in the photo to call this a premium picasso

 

[tehachappi32]

Thanks for everyone input and advises. I guess this is a big lesson for me.

 

[OrionN]

The most common definition of Grade A or Premium Picasso (the best) are the fish that have great body shape and the white bars on both side are connected.

Buying animals sight unseen is risky at best. If you buy WYSIWYG it is a little better but you still have to worry about photophop pictures in corals and clams

 

[raythepilot]

Here is a site selling clown fish. The range and price of varieties of ocellaris/percula clowns is interesting.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/category-saltwater-fish_clownfish

The ones that I think have the best "eye appeal" are not necessarily the most expensive.

Who knows!

 

[reefgeek25]

i bought ora premium onyx clown pair i paid $400 but i bought them at a store so i can see them in person

 

[CoralsAddiction]

May be you didn't get a bad deal after all. ORA quality seems to be going downhill. Look at today's picasso clowns on DD...$150 for the pair...I wouldn't pay more than $80 for them. They look like misbar true percs instead of picasso.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

May be you didn't get a bad deal after all. ORA quality seems to be going downhill. Look at today's picasso clowns on DD...$150 for the pair...I wouldn't pay more than $80 for them. They look like misbar true percs instead of picasso.