If they are close to the same size they will usually not remain a "mated pair" for long.
I have a mated pair of blk/wht saddlebacks that were really lovely with each other at first then the male got an eye infection and the female rejected him. He got over it and looks normal now, but the female still isn't as freindly to him as she used to be.
The females of this clown type tend to be pretty aggressive towards their partners compared to females of say false percs. I think my female will become more secure once I find a good anemone for them.
As for rariety. My supplier gets these clowns in all the time so they are pretty cheap. However, I've looked at all the major online aquarium stores and can't find anyone that carries them (don't know why).
So the price depending on demand can vary greatly. If you have a true "mated pair" then the price can go up exponentially. I've sold mated pairs of these clowns on auction for $55.00 all the way up to $200.00+.
It all depends on who wants them and how "rare" they are in that person's area. If you can't get yours to be mated, I would look into buying two smaller saddlebacks to try and create mates for your disenchanted lovers.
Whenever you are creating a mated pair it is best to start out with a "male" that is at least two times smaller than the female. But not so small that the female will pick on him. It takes a little time and you may have to switch out one fish for the other a few times, but usually in the end I can create a mated pair after a few tries. Females of all clowns will tend to fight with a mate that is too similar in size, has defects, or is too small (looks like a baby in comparison).
Hope this helps!
