Blue eyed ocellaris

20gallonreefer000 · 2026-11-14T22:41:18-0500

I've had this frostbite clown for a bit and have always been curious about this trait. I can't seem to find anything about blue eyed ocellaris online. Any insight from people who breed clowns or know if the gene can be passed on would be great. Thanks in advance :)

Comparison of first vs most recent pic

mcarroll · 2026-11-14T23:04:38-0500

They look black in the pic.....so I'm guessing, but maybe it's an artifact of your blue lighting?

20gallonreefer000 · 2026-11-14T23:30:33-0500

mcarroll said:
They look black in the pic.....so I'm guessing, but maybe it's an artifact of your blue lighting?

They are light blue. Same colour under white lighting. Definitely not black.

mcarroll · 2026-11-15T00:00:36-0500

20gallonreefer000 said:
They are light blue. Same colour under white lighting. Definitely not black.

I hear you.

Blue just doesn't show in the pics. This discrepency made me wonder if it was irridescence from the blue lights.

Irridescence doesn't photograph (not well, at least) so that would explain why I don't see it in the photos. And lots of fish have iridescent blue sheens on thier eyes (some more than others), so it's possible yours does too.

Personally I've never heard of that in clowns, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

20gallonreefer000 · 2026-11-15T00:12:13-0500

mcarroll said:
I hear you.

Blue just doesn't show in the pics. This discrepency made me wonder if it was irridescence from the blue lights.

Irridescence doesn't photograph (not well, at least) so that would explain why I don't see it in the photos. And lots of fish have iridescent blue sheens on thier eyes (some more than others), so it's possible yours does too.

Personally I've never heard of that in clowns, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

Even when bagged at the store under neutral lighting his eyes were blue. The employees also said it's their first time seeing something like that. I'm hoping it's something I can breed. Just trying to figure if out eye traits can be passed down.

Fish Fan · 2026-11-15T00:18:46-0500

Nothing looks better to me than real, regular, wild-type Clowns. I just don't get the newer 'strains'. I understand genetics, I have a degree in molecular (genetic) biology, and I used to breed colorful snakes. But to me, nothing looks better than a classic Clownfish. Just saying

I have no idea if Clownfish can have blue eyes (like in some leucistic animals), and I don't care enough for Clownfish to look into it. However, I do know that R2R has a newer member @Blue-eyed Clowns. Perhaps they could add to this conversation

Good luck with your Clowns!

mcarroll · 2026-11-15T00:29:40-0500

I don't know if I used all the correct words to explain it, but I suspect I'm right about the irridescence (or pearlescence).....

This is a Red Sea clown variant (not bred this way) that suppsedly has "pearlescent" blue eyes. They look black in the photos just like yours tho:
https://www.saltyunderground.com/sa...FTyD1MIHHWkic1lttVKoeUDQCLS7jySALmut1oLSzYEpb

I'll go out on a limb and say yours are blue just like that.

20gallonreefer000 · 2026-11-15T00:34:35-0500

Fish Fan said:
Nothing looks better to me than real, regular, wild-type Clowns. I just don't get the newer 'strains'. I understand genetics, I have a degree in molecular (genetic) biology, and I used to breed colorful snakes. But to me, nothing looks better than a classic Clownfish. Just saying

I have no idea if Clownfish can have blue eyes (like in some leucistic animals), and I don't care enough for Clownfish to look into it. However, I do know that R2R has a newer member @Blue-eyed Clowns. Perhaps they could add to this conversation

Good luck with your Clowns!

I was the same way until I saw this guy, he's my exception ;)

Hillz · 2026-11-15T03:14:34-0500

mcarroll said:
They look black in the pic.....so I'm guessing, but maybe it's an artifact of your blue lighting?

Right.

|FATHOM| · 2026-11-15T03:18:14-0500

Are the blue eyes in the room with us now?

20gallonreefer000 · 2026-11-15T03:56:35-0500

|FATHOM| said:
Are the blue eyes in the room with us now?

I don't see how it could be mistaken for black, what his iris is supposed to look like ^. Maybe I'm colourblind or something

mcarroll · 2026-11-15T04:11:29-0500

Ther fish itself looks blue, but if you're talking about the little iris ring, its color doesn't really come through very distinctly....can you take a photo in white light so the fish looks white and maybe then it will look more correct in the photo?

I will say that after looking at a few more clown photos online, I don't see others with that iris ring at all....so no matter the color that seems distinctive on its own. I'd be curious to see a white light photo if you don't mind the trouble of taking it. (Fish are terrible models....they DO NOT listen.

)

20gallonreefer000 · 2026-11-15T04:46:35-0500

mcarroll said:
Ther fish itself looks blue, but if you're talking about the little iris ring, its color doesn't really come through very distinctly....can you take a photo in white light so the fish looks white and maybe then it will look more correct in the photo?

I will say that after looking at a few more clown photos online, I don't see others with that iris ring at all....so no matter the color that seems distinctive on its own. I'd be curious to see a white light photo if you don't mind the trouble of taking it. (Fish are terrible models....they DO NOT listen. )

I’ll take a picture when the lights go on, he’s the worst when taking pictures