Why are picasso clowns so popular?

[NatureNerd]

Please explain why these mis-pattern guys cost so much and why so many like them. I'll admit it, I am somewhat old-school as I love my pair of 15 yr old clowns. I have had them most of my adult life. I like their patterns so much better than the $120 pair I saw today at my LFS. I like how their patterns help conceal them in their LTA, just like in nature.

Is it just that these new man-made breeds are different? More rare? More expensive? Do you find more white color to be more beautiful? Less organized patterns are more appealing? They don't look like Nemo? What is it? I am glad that people like them, no criticism intended. I simply don't understand. Please take no offense.

Thanks!

 

[Saltwaternooby]

More rare and each is unique. Tank raised so they are hardier also. I like them because no one has the pair I have.

 

[davocean]

^^ Nailed it.
I just like the random pattern, they don't all look the same.

 

[2Addicted]

More rare and each is unique. Tank raised so they are hardier also. I like them because no one has the pair I have.

+1

I think they are unique, My ocellaris pair look the same as any other normal ocellaris pair. Ill take my picasso over my ocellaris any day.

 

[NatureNerd]

Sounds like it's that each is unique that is the attraction. Cool.

 

[hvacman250]

Please explain why these mis-pattern guys cost so much and why so many like them. I'll admit it, I am somewhat old-school as I love my pair of 15 yr old clowns. I have had them most of my adult life. I like their patterns so much better than the $120 pair I saw today at my LFS. I like how their patterns help conceal them in their LTA, just like in nature.

Is it just that these new man-made breeds are different? More rare? More expensive? Do you find more white color to be more beautiful? Less organized patterns are more appealing? They don't look like Nemo? What is it? I am glad that people like them, no criticism intended. I simply don't understand. Please take no offense.

Thanks!

It's the newest fad, IMO. Price is dictated by availability. The more rare a fish, the more expensive it is.

I have 4 tank raised O. clowns. Each look diferent and they are easily to tell apart. 3 are misbarred. Even our youngest son, a 6 yr old, can tell them apart enough to name them.

I look at it as "to each his own" though. I think the all white clowns are the ugliest fish I have ever seen. They are chalky and white and look deformed. Just like a Chinese Crested dog; ugly as all get out, but people love them.

I'll take a Perc or O. clown all day. Maybe a black pair one day.

 

[davocean]

Misbarred are pretty easy to tell apart.
They are just another clown w/ out the typical markings.
Not a fan of those myself, but like you say, to each their own.

 

[this is me]

I do like those cows.

 

[ezhoops]

Take the most popular aquarium fish and put a unique pattern on it and Boom. You have a hit.

 

[elegance coral]

Please explain why these mis-pattern guys cost so much and why so many like them. I'll admit it, I am somewhat old-school as I love my pair of 15 yr old clowns. I have had them most of my adult life. I like their patterns so much better than the $120 pair I saw today at my LFS. I like how their patterns help conceal them in their LTA, just like in nature.

Is it just that these new man-made breeds are different? More rare? More expensive? Do you find more white color to be more beautiful? Less organized patterns are more appealing? They don't look like Nemo? What is it? I am glad that people like them, no criticism intended. I simply don't understand. Please take no offense.

Thanks!

I understand what you're saying about your 15 year old clowns. I'll always have a soft spot for ocellaris because these were my first clowns. There's something to be said about the clean lines of these fish as well. However, If you have the privilege to see a mature and healthy pair of Picasso's, with their full color development, I think you'll see why everyone wants them. They're simply beautiful fish. Most of the Picasso's you see in a pet store will be young, skinny, pale, stressed, and sickly. They just look like a sickly little ocellaris with strange markings. This all changes once they get into a good home. As healthy adults they are incredible fish.

 

[bues0022]

Is it just that these new man-made breeds are different?

I agree with the above replies, but I just wanted to clarify on this one point you made. Picasso's are not a man-made breed. In-fact, they are the same breed (species) as regular A. Perculas. They are not even man-made color variants as they are also found in striking beauty in nature: http://glassbox-design.com/2011/wild-picasso-clownfish/

They are line-bred so the parents produce a larger number of odd-patterned offspring than the previous generation. You don't see many wild-caught picasso's because they don't occur very often in nature, but breeders have been able to bring this attractive quality to us with much higher frequency.

 

[davocean]

Very good point Bues.
I sometimes think people see them as a science project or someone injected them w/ bleach or something.
It wasn't like someone just said hey, lets create a funky clownfish.
It's just a weird thing that happened in nature, kinda similar to any albino species.
Most people that breed/raise albino reptiles or Tigers, or whatever will tell you there would be less of them if we didn't keep them, as their natural camoflauge just isn't there, they would be the first to be hunted.
It's the unusal or oddity of seeing albino animals that is often striking, and similar draw to me in picasso's unusual markings.

 

[jdyer88]

I have 4 tank raised O. clowns. Each look diferent and they are easily to tell apart. 3 are misbarred. Even our youngest son, a 6 yr old, can tell them apart enough to name them.

I bet i can guess what he named one of them:lol:

 

[NatureNerd]

I agree with the above replies, but I just wanted to clarify on this one point you made. Picasso's are not a man-made breed. In-fact, they are the same breed (species) as regular A. Perculas. They are not even man-made color variants as they are also found in striking beauty in nature: http://glassbox-design.com/2011/wild-picasso-clownfish/

They are line-bred so the parents produce a larger number of odd-patterned offspring than the previous generation. You don't see many wild-caught picasso's because they don't occur very often in nature, but breeders have been able to bring this attractive quality to us with much higher frequency.

Of course you are correct. I was sloppy with my words. Sorry. I do understand selective breeding.

 

[hvacman250]

I bet i can guess what he named one of them:lol:

Close, but no

The girl is Marlin, the boy is Thunder (the 6 yr old's clown)

 

[jt_milstead]

As a couple have already said, to each his/her own. When I first saw a Picasso, I did not like them. They grew on me, so much that I had to have a pair.I've had them for a year now.
Then I saw the Platinum/Snowcasso. I don't like those personally, it looks like someone covered them in whiteout.

 

[DxSOR25]

i just love the snowcassos and picassos so much because of how unique they are. Their patterns are basically one of a kind!

 

[Pinkskunk]

if they can design a clown with a V-Tail it would sell like hot cake

or a multi-fins clown

or 4 eyes clowns

or 2-colored clown, front half black, rear half orange

or a clown with color pattern like those of Cardinalfish would even fetch more money......

all of those should be in the work for future release.

 

[MItank]

I got mine a year ago because it's just something you don't see every day. Even people who know nothing about the hobby notice that "nemo looks different". Designer clowns are also popular because they are not shy and can easily be the centerpiece of a tank.

 

[bues0022]

if they can design a clown with a V-Tail it would sell like hot cake

or a multi-fins clown

or 4 eyes clowns

or 2-colored clown, front half black, rear half orange

or a clown with color pattern like those of Cardinalfish would even fetch more money......

all of those should be in the work for future release.

?? Is this tongue-in-cheek humor? Mocking designer clownfish? "They" don't design anything - nature does. Fish are line-bred to obtain higher offspring rates of particular natural color variants of Ocellaris or Percula. What you propose would be serious genetic alterations of the fish - something that I'm guessing wouldn't receive much - if any - support from those passionate about clownfish...i.e. in this forum. I am not aware of any clownfish that has been released that is not a naturally occurring trait of some kind - be it color, body shape, or species crosses. I guess I just might have missed the point to your post though.