As we have discussed, my hybrid also showed a bit more tinkerii when juvenile, and since growing, looks just like a tinker. Noit that I mind at all, I know what she is. She rather quickly lost the balck band behind the eye (a la Burgess). After discussing it with a fellow aquarist, I had thought maybe it was due to the poor lighting I had her in in the holding tank. However, since hitting the display, she immediately losty the rest of the black.

Hi Jeremy,

I am still shocked at that. Mine has only darkened in color, but we shall see how it is in a few years from now.

I saw the before pics of your specimen and the crown was dark and obvious. I didn’t recall seeing the checkered pattern on the body as much as the one above. Have these markings changed at all on yours?

To be honest, if you saw mine today, youd wear up and down it was a tinkers. Checkering, and gold in the mask and all. I guess this lays a lot of creedance to the variability of these hybrids.

As with any rare or high dollar fish, there seems to be very mixed feelings about this fish. Same with Gem Tangs and in a different league, snowflake and picasso clowns. I happen to be a big fan of the rare and abnormal so I figured it would be a nice addition to my the three I just mentioned(yes, Im the one that bought it and no all the clowns aren’t together). I didn’t feel it necessary to advertise on RC because I don’t feel like being bashed about the way I choose to enjoy my hobby, though when people flame you for the Gem, Jeremy, I love your ‘Jihad’ explination. Im not rich but I am willing to invest in something I very much enjoy…

….sorry, ‘being bashed’ is the wrong term to use, I should have said I don’t want to justify to others why I chose to buy it but I don’t need to explain that to you guys…..

You can count the people that own these hybrids on one hand, and here are 3 of them.

@Ian, I hear you loud and clear. There are some that appreciate these fish and some that don’t. Either way, there is no place for negativity or harassment.