Pure Black Clownfish?

[Shewillbemine]

Hi folks,

I am interested in adding black clownfish to my tank but I'd like some clarification please. Some of the black clownfish that I've seen seem to maintain an orange in the face/mouth area. Others I've seen are pure black.

Are these two different species or is it the same but only with variation? I am looking for a pure black clown for that "Orca" look.

Also, are onyx clowns different from black clowns? The names are, of course, quite confusing and misleading.

Thanks.

 

[urbor]

im not a clownfish expert but i think that the orange around the face is something that is on the juveniles, the older they get the darker black that all fills in

 

[chrisstie]

Onyx clowns tend to be those of the orange variety that get a somewhat decent sized portion of the orange coloring into black as they age - as picassos get older they usually eventually show this as well. I'm pretty sure onyx refers to percula but it may also be osc. but I'm not 100% on that.

For pure black clowns there are black perc or osc (i think they're osc) that come from australia and/or are captive bred. Some may develop an orange face over time but so far as I know they mostly stay black.

You can also find a black polymnus (saddleback) with white stripes that typically stays completely black but with the white stripes.

Most other clowns so far as I know are somewhere between those colors (red/ brown / gold)

 

[Slakker]

If you want all black, you want a black ocellaris.

 

[adtravels]

There is no such thing, black with white bars ok, all black no no no. Lets put this thread to bed.

 

[Slakker]

That is an interesting point...

Naked orange ocellaris, but no naked black ocellaris...I wonder what the deal is with that.

 

[Zaita]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13737774#post13737774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
Onyx clowns tend to be those of the orange variety that get a somewhat decent sized portion of the orange coloring into black as they age - as picassos get older they usually eventually show this as well. I'm pretty sure onyx refers to percula but it may also be osc. but I'm not 100% on that.

Onyx clowns are just selectively bred percs who are darker than normal ones.

For pure black clowns there are black perc or osc (i think they're osc) that come from australia and/or are captive bred. Some may develop an orange face over time but so far as I know they mostly stay black.

B&W Occ come from UK or Australia and are tank bred. They can be found naturally but I don't think they are collected.

As a Juve they will be pretty much a dark orange and white. They will darken over a couple of months leaving just an orange face. A few more months and the face will turn black having a completely B&W Occ.

 

[Shewillbemine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13738445#post13738445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
There is no such thing, black with white bars ok, all black no no no. Lets put this thread to bed.

Most people understood I meant pure black with white bars. Hence, the "Orca" comment. But thank you.

 

[Slakker]

I think you're right, Zaita...I seem to remember reading that they occur with the most frequency in a region that is also teeming with a particularly aggressive species of saltwater crocodile.

 

[ranger07]

Never seen any solid black.Do they exist ?

 

[Zaita]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13740492#post13740492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ranger07
Never seen any solid black.Do they exist ?

No.

 

[rkelman]

Not all black ocellaris's faces turn completely black. Some do some don't. My female has a black face and my male still has some orange. They are probably 2 1/2 years old now. I have babies that are 6 months old that are completely black. Luck of the draw..

 

[Mike778922]

I have heard they keep breeding the dark ones to get the all black. If its a single bred black it will have an orange face, but a double bred black will have no orange.