Designed Clownfish Help

[ParticleMan]

So, I'm trying to round out my office tank with the last addition, a single clownfish. It's a Fluval 13.5 that's been running for more than 6 months and other than a bit of a hair algae problem I'm currently fighting has been doing very well. I am looking to add a black/white variant clown and just happen to be at Petco getting some food when I noticed these two "Designer" clownfish in their tanks. I'm attaching pics. It seems like one (with more orange) is a "Black Ice" while the other (black/white with orange muzzle) is more like a "Black Storm". Both are available at $49.99 and look to be in good condition. I know Petco is not a great place to get fish but sometimes you get lucky right? Anyway, I was looking to get a black storm which I found at my local LFS but of course it's around $120.00. That would be the 3rd picture with the all black/white. What do you all think? Which would be the best choice should I grab one of the Petco "deals"? The last picture is of the tank. Thanks.

 

[KrisReef]

Deals have their appeals.

Get the one you like best for the money.

Remember your LFS needs customers to stay in business. Gl

 

[ptrusk]

If you like the fish get them. They appear healthy. Clowns live a long time so be sure you get a fish you like.

 

[Narideth]

I've gotten clowns from the LFS, from online, and from Petco, and sometimes Petco's 'designer' fish are pretty nice. They always seem to be a really random morph, but generally healthy.

The above replies are accurate in my opinion- get the one you like best that you feel is worth the price. Good luck!

 

[ParticleMan]

The first pic is the LFS Black Storm, the other two are from Petco. They all do look pretty healthy so it really was more of a which looks the best? I can only get one and I can't decide.

 

[dinosaur_1552]

I'd get the full white one from these three (the first), but if it would be me I would get a nice black and white or midnight, cause I love black clowns.

Imo when the variants intended coloring doesn't include orange, so its intended to be fully black/black white/white, orange patch on face counts as a flaw and its a B grade - only as far as coloring and only if it matters to you, the fish will still be supercute.

Dealers/breeders are not overly transparent with this as they want to sell all fish, so I would never buy named variants online, without seeing the exact fish, many times B grade fish will be sent for an A grades price.

 

[Narideth]

I'd get the full white one from these three (the first), but if it would be me I would get a nice black and white or midnight, cause I love black clowns.

Imo when the variants intended coloring doesn't include orange, so its intended to be fully black/black white/white, orange patch on face counts as a flaw and its a B grade - only as far as coloring and only if it matters to you, the fish will still be supercute.

Dealers/breeders are not overly transparent with this as they want to sell all fish, so I would never buy named variants online, without seeing the exact fish, many times B grade fish will be sent for an A grades price.

This is pretty accurate. A lot of the fish intended to be purchased in ones and twos or for their looks you see in Petco and other big box stores will be fish with defects that don't allow them to either be breeders, or sold for higher prices elsewhere.

I wanted a fantail goldfish for my large freshwater tank, and they're hard to find in the area but Petco had some. If you know what to look for, you'd see bent fins, muddy colors, crooked spines, birth defects that don't in most cases cause an issue with fish QoL, but would otherwise mark it as a cull. I got my derpy baby from the lot, the best one there and even with close examination, he ended up with a bent fin I hadn't spotted until later. For clowns it's the coloration that would keep them from being considered higher quality, but that's also the inherent evils of high end animal breeding. Nothing keeps these pretty babies from being wonderful additions to a tank so long as they look healthy by usual fishy standards.

I personally liked the 3rd one you shared best, I love the orange tips!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I think the full white one is the most unique of the three!

 

[ParticleMan]

Thanks for all the great feedback, it's really hard to decide and price isn't necessarily the factor. I really wanted the "Dairy Cow" look but haven't been able to find anything close in retail stores. Not a huge fan of ordering from online sources. Why does it have to be so difficult :(

 

[Narideth]

Thanks for all the great feedback, it's really hard to decide and price isn't necessarily the factor. I really wanted the "Dairy Cow" look but haven't been able to find anything close in retail stores. Not a huge fan of ordering from online sources. Why does it have to be so difficult :(

If you're looking for that cow appearance, a black storm is definitely where you want to look, and I have seen those at Petco for what it's worth (I even got one).

Also, your tank is so pretty!

 

[ParticleMan]

Thank you for the tank compliment, it is suffering from some hair algae but in this case it kind of helps with the aesthetics. Opinions are so varied when it comes to which to choose and I hate having too many choices! lol

 

[BryanM]

Gotta be your choice, but I'd get this one if it was me.