worth the 200 dollar each price tag?

[TheOtherReefer]

I have a grade A pair from Doni. I received them at 4 months old with no black what so ever. Now at 6 months old the black is really starting to fill in. The fish are very healthy and active. They dont have any genetic "deformities" just a genetic mutation. She does her part in culling the fry that have these deformities although she could easily sell them to make an extra buck. All in all what we are paying for is the "rarity" of these fish. If every LFS carried them they would be no different that any other percula.

For anyone who thinks that selectively breeding an animal for its genetic mutation is wrong or unethical the first place they should turn to is dog breeders etc.. Almost every breed of dog available has been selectively bred generation after generation to achieve the desired end. There are thousands of breeds of dogs that only exist because of this process. Just as hawgdawg said.

These fish did not have their DNA changed in any way. They are a natural occuring phenomena. The fact that two can be matched and mated shows how "normal" these fish actually are. The chance that these two fish will meet in the wild is rare, we are just helping them out

If I had 400 dollars to drop on a pair I would in a heartbeat, but I opted for a grade A pair that are awesome.

my 2 cents

cheers

 

[massman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14591259#post14591259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoke15
Massman sounds like an "angry" breeder with ten thousand clowns kinda jealous of Doni's success. I am pretty sure if you bred a 200 dollar clown fish you would sell it as well.

I'm not angry just expressing an opinion. Sheesh!
I'm certainly not jealous. I breed latz, black ocellaris and coral sea melanopus ie no white stripe.

Cheers

 

[SlukBunWalla]

I love clowns. LOVE. And I would DEFINITELY pay top dollar for a natural, healthy looking pair of very rare clowns...as opposed to an unnatural looking morph of a very common clown. To me the snowflakes and piccassos look like genetic freaks...rather than a beautiful morph.

But this is completely subjective. In my store we had a green BTA that had the most blobby, gnarled tentacles I've seen on an anemone. It looked like it had been through a garbage disposal. It was VERY healthy and growing...it just happened to grow this way for one reason or another. To me it was uglier than a mud fence. But one day a customer say it and his eyes lit up. He made us an offer, snatched it up and ran out as if he had just stolen from us a great treasure.

Different strokes for different folks. If they're worth $200 to you, and they will make your reefer gland tingle with glee, go for it. You do this for you, right? If you're doing it because you'll be the cool kid with freak clowns, it hardly seems worth it...

 

[hawgdawg]

massman,

I might have missed the point, but re-read your post and tell me if you didn't sound like an angry jealous guy. If by "marketing ploy" you mean giving names like snowcasso to certain fish, I might agree wih you, I'm not a fan of that either. but you have to admit, it is a brillant marketing "strategy" when it works. the bottom line is that as long as there strong demand and little supply, price will be high. I'm sure you know what your latz and maccs go for here, lots of money. But they are some of the uggliest clowns I've ever seen.

I guess the whole point is that beauty is in the eye (and pocket) of the beholder.

By the way, is the coral sea melanopus with no white stripe you talk of the ephippium?

and yes, I am a hipocrit, But if given a choice between wild caught or farm raised, i'll take farm raised all the way. and no, I do not have an aquarium at home with wild caught fish for my own entertainement. My mutant inbred dog does that!

 

[hottuna]

I wouldnt pay 29 cents for those freakish looking misfits....

 

[massman]

Hawgdawg
Fair enough mate I can see how you took my post. All I wanted to say is that I feel they are overpriced for what they are. I think of late the hobby has been inundated with marketing terms. There was another thread on RC discussing this issue especially with respect to corals.

The coral sea melanopus is not an epphipium. It is a true melanopus but has the geographical variation of having no white stripe.

I also agree with you that the mccullochs and lat clowns are not particularly attractive clowns. Rarity makes a difference though.

Imagine if gem and black tangs were common they would have nowhere near the desirability they have now. The good ole yellow tang leaves them for dead appearence wise IMO.

Anyway it's all good. Difference is always good.

 

[Arati]

what do you mean you breed latz? I havent heard of anyone raising Latz fry. I sure would like to see some pics of that and hear how u are doing it, these guys are hard!!@! to get through meta!

OK I do know of 1 guy in europe, but he only has like 5 make it to juvys

 

[hawgdawg]

Fair enough massman. I wish they were cheaper too, I happen to be one of the people who find them really attractive. i would love to see a pic of the melanopus with no stripe, personally I've never seen it before. Maybe a google search will turn up something.

 

[Ian]

To each his own guys, no need to argue. If you don't like them, simply don't buy them. Doni is great to deal with and her clowns are very healthy and beautiful. She gets plenty of plain ol' percs through breeding and only a few come out as picassos and even fewer are her 'snowcassos', named for the excessive white markings.

Hawgdawg and Massman, you're entitled to your poinions but no need to clutter this thread with an argument that no one will 'win'....

Id buy those in a heartbeat, don't let these guys make you second guess your decision.

 

[jaypainter24]

anyone have info on how to contact Doni or her website?

 

[Phyxius]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14595569#post14595569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaypainter24
anyone have info on how to contact Doni or her website?

PM sent

 

[tommyb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14595569#post14595569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaypainter24
anyone have info on how to contact Doni or her website?

Same here. I have done a few searches but have come up empty. Thanks.

 

[tommyb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14709993#post14709993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tommyb
Same here. I have done a few searches but have come up empty. Thanks.

Never mind. I found it, Thanks.

 

[smoke15]

For what its worth. I started this thread, and DID NOT buy those 400 dollar fish. I have these and am happy with them, and their price tag was significantly less. I too found it hard to pay that price for such "young fish". I know of a few people now, whos clowns from Doni did not make it. These are not fish you can just throw into your display tank very easily. They almost need their own dedicated tank till they can grow up some. The risk seems to high for the price. Now if they where like a year old, strong and established, that may be another story!

 

[heap]

i'm not sure what my opinion is, but i hold it firmly, and it has far reaching implications.

/am i doing it right?

 

[Elan L.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14711023#post14711023 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoke15
For what its worth. I started this thread, and DID NOT buy those 400 dollar fish. I have these and am happy with them, and their price tag was significantly less. I too found it hard to pay that price for such "young fish". I know of a few people now, whos clowns from Doni did not make it. These are not fish you can just throw into your display tank very easily. They almost need their own dedicated tank till they can grow up some. The risk seems to high for the price.


Of course! These fish are only about 1'' so it makes sense not to put them in the display. Mrs. Doni mentions this many times on her site. I just got my grade A pair and i love them! Right now they are in my 20g frag tank with a koralia 1 and a hob skimmer (no overflow boxes).

 

[TheOtherReefer]

thats how we roll!! right Elan!!

lol just joking but Donis clowns are first class. I have oredered 2 grade A pairs, and am completely sold on the quality.

 

[smoke15]

Elan and other reefer
You prove my point further. Neither of you who have chimed in to "praise" Doni dropped the 400 dollars for the snocasso's. You both ONLY bought the "cheap ones".
250 dollars for one inch of fish is steep!

 

[smoke15]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14711641#post14711641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by heap
i'm not sure what my opinion is, but i hold it firmly, and it has far reaching implications.

/am i doing it right?

WHAT???? are you talking about?

 

[Elan L.]

yea but imagine what they will look like in 1 year. I see what you meen with the snowacassos. Personally there is too much white for me, but for someone who want a snowflake then, this is the best you can get and the price is lower than where i have seen oher picassos.