Species ID/mutation on clownfish?

[bnano]

I know that sounds like a really dumb question but hear me out:

I ordered two ocellaris from Reefs2Go (which contrary to common belief, I actually really enjoy) and they arrived together on the same day but were constantly fighting. One of the two has only two stripes and is a little brighter orange.

This fighting was not so much chasing each other but they were never close and the fish in question was always nipping the other. Originally I just thought they were different species. This particular fish also happens to be larger and lately the smaller "actual" ocellaris is doing that male shaking thing which tells me they ARE the same species and I shouldn't think anything of that fighting anymore.

BUT the shaking brings me to this: if this two bar clown is a regular old ocellaris then what's with the random mutation? I've never heard of it or seen it.

What are your thoughts?

 

[ernieq]

It's called a misbar and it's fairly common on tankraised clowns. It's thought to be the result of not-up-to-par water conditions during metamorphosis. Pet stores sell them all the time. If you google misbar clownfish, you will get tons of examples. A misbar is not a genetic trait, unlike snowflakes and other designer patterns, which do get passed on the next generation in various degrees.

 

[bnano]

Oh! I had heard of misbars but hadn't realized that that's what they were. That's awesome! Do they have any value?

 

[OrionN]

Oh! I had heard of misbars but hadn't realized that that's what they were. That's awesome! Do they have any value?

There are tons of them. Very common in tank raised clowns