Sustainable Aquatics Longfin Clown

I think it looks terrible. Looks like a clownfish was dropped into some radioactive waste. The fins dont even match the body type of the fish, so it looks unnatural.
 
Well I got confirmation that this is real.... my lfs in Boston is on a waiting list with sustainable aquatics. I guess that picture is a male and they keep breeding him with a bunch of females... I'm told that in a year or two these clowns will be available
 
Cool. :) Wonder when these will be available in Australia. :D Can't wait...

Unfortunately Australia does not allow importation of hatchery-bred fish (only wild-collected fish). I understand the reasons, but it's still too bad :(

Finding an unusual fish like this (all opinions on its appearance aside) is an exciting opportunity to learn.
Similar mutations have been found and bred in freshwater fish for decades, but I don't think it has been found in a marine fish yet.
 
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my fear with this fish is not on the Sustainable Aquatics ends but the retail end. These fish from the article are slower and seem to be easier to pick on. Personally i dont feel it reponsible to sell these fish in the masses, especially since you know alot of people are going to throw them into a reef tank they will get torn up.

It also looks like it could severly limit swimming capabilities. If this was best way for clownfish fins to work they would all be long fin. They have evolved to have shorter fins.
 
Unfortunately Australia does not allow importation of hatchery-bred fish (only wild-collected fish). I understand the reasons, but it's still too bad :(

Finding an unusual fish like this (all opinions on its appearance aside) is an exciting opportunity to learn.
Similar mutations have been found and bred in freshwater fish for decades, but I don't think it has been found in a marine fish yet.

Oh, I did not know that. >.<

I'm curious, how did Picassos and stuff enter Australia?
 
Reefvette, I see your point, although it does beg the question: Should the occurrence of this mutation in a saltwater fish be treated differently than the same mutation in a freshwater fish? I don't have the answer, but it is something to think about. Responsible aquarium keeping (meaning in this case properly caring for the animals in one's aquarium) should always be encouraged (for many reasons). Of course, if there is no demand for this type of animal, it's unlikely to be produced in large numbers anyway. If there is demand for it, the sales will undoubtedly fund what I see as the most important work to be done for the trade: development of technologies/techniques needed to breed additional species of marine organisms.

Oh, I did not know that. >.<

I'm curious, how did Picassos and stuff enter Australia?

Hmmm...good question! We've been told that the rule has been in-place for at least 10 years and that hatchery-bred marine ornamental fish have never been imported (legally). It is permitted to bring wild fish into Australia (as long as they are on the approved list), so it's possible that some wild-collected Picasso clowns were brought in for breeding by domestic hatcheries.

Matt
 
Fishboy

Fishboy

Matt!

Im all for enhancing the hobby and i respect what you guys do!

In a reef tank flow and water movement are alot different than how fresh water fish live in, these fish will not be able to handle that type of flow with these fins. Thats why it was moved to a different tank.

Evolution has obviously made this gene recessive for some reason. It may be because it slows the fish down or makes them an easy target for predators.

Just like evolution figured out which is the best barring pattern or body type for each of the complex's of clowns.

Matt im just worried about the retail side of it, this is not barring patterns this is actually dealing with the locomotion of these fish.
 
Matt im just worried about the retail side of it, this is not barring patterns this is actually dealing with the locomotion of these fish.

What about those stubby little football looking ones? Doesn't that affect locomotion too? I see them a lot for sale.

I like the long fins, and I mostly dislike all the color/misbar variants. Not all clowns go into a 100X turnover SPS tank. I think a pair would look neat in a little solana or something like that.
 
Sd

Sd

Sdguy,

It does and thats another fish that really shouldn't be sold. Most of those fish do have problems swimming and probably struggle in a true high flow reef setting.

They may be for sale but i dont think it is that highly sought out fish. I havent seen one in a retail setting in my area.

We dont know unless ORA has done xrays/mri/cat scan on those fish if they are actually healthy fish or develop problems later in life. Their organs could be impacted or crush as the fish get bigger but the inside of their body is still smaller.

Most of these fish would be shark bait in the wild because these deformities make them easier to pick off.
 
Good discussion.
The "stubby" clown is one that we do see from time-to-time in almost all species, and we do offer them for sale (certain customers really like them), but we have never made an effort to produce them deliberately, as it seems that they aren't incredibly popular.

With the longfin (assuming it does breed true and that people have interest in keeping them), it may be that educating aquarists who want to keep this fish about their specific needs (which we will still have to figure out but will likely be things like lower flow, no fin nippers, etc) will be important for success in keeping this particular variety.
 
Reefers can keep what ever fishes they like. Personally, I don't find the long fins atractive. I breed Platinum clowns also even if I think they are not as nice as a normal wild type Percula.
I am sure there are people out there that like them.
 
Sdguy,

It does and thats another fish that really shouldn't be sold. Most of those fish do have problems swimming and probably struggle in a true high flow reef setting.

To be perfectly honest, many TB clowns are stubby, at least in my eyes, so.... maybe I'm too used to seeing wild clowns.
 
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