Weird clownfish?!

[2Addicted]

Ok so I went to the lfs today and i saw this awesome clownfish.The guy called it a black melanopus. It had the body style of an anphiprion melanopus but it did not have any stripes. Its head was orange and it faded into black and the fins were bright yellow!!! Do you guys have any idea where i could find more info on it, or has anyone seen anything like it? I should have taken a picture but i was so busy drooling over it I forgot. Ill try to go back tomorrow and get a picture.

 

[gpsmart]

Was it one of these?

Not a great photo but they won't stay still for me.

A. Ephippium

Common names vary, Fire Clown or Red Saddleback seem to be the most commonly used around here. They are part of the Tomato complex as is the melanopus ie same body shape. As juveniles they do have a head stripe but this disappears as they get older. Adult colour varies from dark like mine to a really vibrant orange with a small black saddle.

Hope that helps,

Graham

 

[2Addicted]

Thanks for the reply. That is not the same kind though it was black from about its gill back except for the yellow fins.

 

[gpsmart]

I have seen melanopus with that colouring but they all had head stripes. The Ephippium was the only one I have seen with no stripes. I am certainly no expert so i will have to leave it to someone else who recognises that colour morph. Sorry I can't be more help.

Graham

 

[vaporize]

There is actually a Coral Sea variant melanopus that does not have head stripe as well. It's near Australia.

 

[criccio]

There is a barless A. melanopus, but they are hard to come by. Here's a pic of one from a local lfs or BZA, I don't remember which.

It could have been an A. ephippium like Graham posted. I have seen juvys just as you have described, and they can be striking. Do a google image search and see if any look familiar.

What color were the pelvic fins?

 

[2Addicted]

criccio thats it!!!!!! thank you guys so much!!! Its like $140 and i dont want to set up another tank but i just might. I wish i could just put it in with my juvenile picasso but I think that would be irrisponsible and i would end up with just one expensive fish.

 

[2Addicted]

Does anyone on here have one? I tried to google it and almost nothing came up. Does anyone know what they are worth? Lets say i were to get it what are the chances of finding another one to pair it with?