Hybrid Clowns

[Frank Mularo]

After reading Wilkerson's clownfish book, I am curious about hybrid clowns. Apparently some of the complexes are able to crossbreed and create fertile offspring. Has anyone here tried to breed different species of clownfish? Any success stories out there? It seems to me that there would be enough interest among hobbyists for some intrepid breeder to try to cross some complexes as a commercial venture. Actually, I'm surprised that nobody is doing it commercially yet.

Any thoughts?

 

[Anonymous]

I am interested in this subject as well.

I recently lost the female to my fire clown pair, and was considering adding one of my juvenile tomatoes to form a new pair. I am curious as to what the babies would look like.

I don't want to pollute the gene pool though, so I am undecided.

 

[Len]

My cap clown (A.leucokronos) is often regarded as a naturally occuring hybrid species capable of producing fertile offspring (hybrid of A.sandaracinos and A.chryspoterus).

I am not aware of any programs or successful rearing of hybrid, captive bred clowns. I don't think it's easily done in the captivity, since different species of clowns generally do not get along well in confined quarters (most are likely to kill each other before they want to mate), although it does occur on rare occasions in the wild. I think it's definitely an interesting topic to experiement with further, and I'm as puzzled as you why no one has shown more interest in these experiments. Maybe the yield/risk ratio is too unfavorabe?

SW is starting to look more like FW (in a good way)

 

[Anonymous]

Well the only reason I am thinking of it is that Wilkerson mentions that A. frenatus will hybridize with A. ephippium. I got to thinking about it since I lost one of my pair of A. ephippium.

I wonder if some would have spotted head stripes.

 

[mountainbiker619]

There is a article in a older magazine I have where they cross bred clows and eventually came out with a glow in the dark purple/maroon clown. When I get home I will post the Magazine and edition.

 

[Frank Mularo]

My cap clown (A.leucokronos) is often regarded as a naturally occuring hybrid species capable of producing fertile offspring (hybrid of A.sandaracinos and A.chryspoterus).

I am not aware of any programs or successful rearing of hybrid, captive bred clowns. I don't think it's easily done in the captivity, since different species of clowns generally do not get along well in confined quarters (most are likely to kill each other before they want to mate), although it does occur on rare occasions in the wild. I think it's definitely an interesting topic to experiement with further, and I'm as puzzled as you why no one has shown more interest in these experiments. Maybe the yield/risk ratio is too unfavorabe?

SW is starting to look more like FW (in a good way)

I'm in the process of setting up a few breeding pairs of clowns, and depending on my success, I want to give some hybrid pairings a whirl. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

they cross bred clows and eventually came out with a glow in the dark purple/maroon clown.

hi.
Are you sure about that? :?

SW is starting to look more like FW (in a good way)

Let me make a short editorial. I feel that people with sufficient knowledge and resource should work on breeding other wild species in captivity instead of doing hybridization of clownfish. There is no need for a clown with a fantail or eye as big as telescope goldfish, since unlike carp, clownfish is very interesting, pretty fish the way it is.

I just don't want people to treat us like blood parrot breeders.

 

[Frank Mularo]

Let me make a short editorial. I feel that people with sufficient knowledge and resource should work on breeding other wild species in captivity instead of doing hybridization of clownfish. There is no need for a clown with a fantail or eye as big as telescope goldfish, since unlike carp, clownfish is very interesting, pretty fish the way it is.

I just don't want people to treat us like blood parrot breeders.

Well, I think that since it is a naturally occuring phenomenon, what's the big deal? Besides, breeding other species may be beyond the capacity of your average hobbyist, which is why people breed clownfish in the first place. I mean, we're not talking about creating something freaky, just seeing if it can be done easily.

And while I'm on the subject, what's wrong with breeding fish to make something new? It's done all the time with freshwater fish, and there's a lot of interest in such hybrids.

 

[dizzy]

Frank,
I agree with Robin. The clowns are perfect the way they are and man can only screw them up, not improve them. I hope the practice of deliberately crossing species is discouraged.

 

[Mac1]

Morgan Lidster from InlandAquatics and Dick Perrin at tropicorium would be the best sources of info stateside that I can think of. I saw Morgan give a presentation on currently available CR fish, and he talked a little about Clowns. Also got to see him and Dick discussing a unique new clown Dick had at trop the following morning (MMC was a GREAT conference!). I also read Fautin and Allen's Anemone book, where they talk a bit about clowns, and cross-bred species.

- Mac