Captive fish breeders ORA are working on a new variety of clownfish that may result in their most unique hybrid yet. They have paired a Black Darwin Ocellaris Clownfish with one of their well known Snowflake Ocellaris Clowns. Dustin Dorton of ORA, warned that it may be sometime and some generations until something interesting develops [...]
Captive fish breeders ORA are working on a new variety of clownfish that may result in their most unique hybrid yet. They have paired a Black Darwin Ocellaris Clownfish with one of their well known Snowflake Ocellaris Clowns. Dustin Dorton of ORA, warned that it may be sometime and some generations until something interesting develops due to the recessive nature of the ‘snowflake gene’. While I respect them, I am not a big fan of many designer clowns such as the Naked or Platinum Varieties. However, the potential contrast that could develop between a Black and Snowflake has our interest piqued.
In addition to this combo, we have been informed of other curious pairings like Platinum Percula and Onyx Percula spawning pairs. Did you know that ORA Picasso’s and ORA Platinums come from the same parents? Clownfish with Picasso style markings are found in the wild, but they are very rare. These were initially considered one-off morphs that were the result of odd environmental factors or stress during larval development. There is no doubt that environmental factors can influence coloration, such as aberrant and xanthic morphs. However, ORA’s work proves that genetics can be just as important.
In one single spawn, some fish will grow into Platinums, Picassos, Misbars or your standard Percula Clown–all while kept under the same environmental factors. From there ORA selective picks top specimens to keep as parents, while also introducing wild livestock every now and then to maintain healthy blood lines.
