Rare Clarkii Variety?

[sharky_steve]

I was wondering if anyone has seen a clown like this before? Saw it in my lfs and had to buy it. I own every clownfish book available and have done numerous internet searches, and I still have not seen anything like it. It appears to be an odd clarkii color variant. Its body (and eyes) are jet black, with a gold tail, pectoral fins, and mouth. Sorry if the picture is not the best; I'll try to get some better pics posted. And I do plan on bredding it, so if anyone has any ideas on varieties/sources for a mate I would appreciate it.

 

[MarinaP]

[welcome]

http://wish.wodonga.tafe.edu.au/~kwaldon/clarkii.htm

 

[phender]

Very nice fish. It is not the most common color variety, but it is not really rare. Let your fish store(s) know what you are looking for. They should be able to find one of similar color to pair with it pretty easily.

 

[dantodd]

Hi Steve,

Welcome to RC Absolutely gorgeous clarkii. As Phil said not rare but not your everyday coloration either.

Lots of great help here on RC for clownfish lovers and 2 of the best were the first to reply to your post!

 

[sharky_steve]

Thank you for your responses! Does anyone know of anyone who has bred clarkiis with this coloration or similar color? I'd like to aquire a tank-raised juvenile to "become her man".

 

[stykthyn]

hosting in certain anemones such as the mertens will cause them to turn black. is that a WC fish?

 

[stykthyn]

hosting in certain anemones such as the mertens will cause them to turn black. is that a WC fish?

 

[sharky_steve]

That is a good point about the anemone. I had wondered the same thing. Yes the fish is wild caught. I hope this is not the reason for the beautiful coloration, because then if I do successfully mate this specimen, offspring won't look the same. But I do fear this is true, perhaps explaining the reason I have not been able to find any tank-raised specimens available with this appearance. Oh well, at least I can enjoy the beauty of this little guy (assuming the anemone-induced alterations are permanent).

 

[stykthyn]

keep your eyes open they come in often enough, they just get snatched by someone looking out for them.

 

[adtravels]

That clarks is a dead ringer for the ones I see over here in thailand on the andaman side around Krabi Ko Lanta.
They are almost exclusively found in Aurora anemones.