What type of clownfish is this?

[Cobystolz]

I just got this clownfish today and it was sold as a black ice, Ive tried looking online and one picture looked similar and said black ice and others said black ice snowflake but most others were orange and said black ice. Is this actually a black ice or something different? The only other one I saw that looked similar was a black phantom but I doubt it is.

 

[GoatmealJones]

Its hard to say since there are so many varieties of clownfish now. It might be an unknown/unspecified hybrid but nevertheless its a cool fish!

 

[Cobystolz]

Its hard to say since there are so many varieties of clownfish now. It might be an unknown/unspecified hybrid but nevertheless its a cool fish!

What does an actual black ice look like then? This isn’t one? It was one of four at the pet store labeled as black ice I just can’t find more pictures so I’m not sure.

 

[GoatmealJones]

heres a good link with the major hybrids listed

https://www.seaandreef.com/marine-ornamental-fish/clownfish/black-photon

 

[GoatmealJones]

also here
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/3325/?pcatid=3325

 

[GoatmealJones]

note that juveniles often change colors as they age and mature into their adult coloration, which makes typing even more tricky

 

[Cobystolz]

Y

note that juveniles often change colors as they age and mature into their adult coloration, which makes typing even more tricky

Thanks, it almost looks like in the first link a mix between, a phantom, a snowflake and a frostbite and the picture on live aquaria is the same one I keep seeing listed as a black ice but it’s not black, it’s just orange and black. Would a juvenile change color that much?

 

[GoatmealJones]

Y


Thanks, it almost looks like in the first link a mix between, a phantom, a snowflake and a frostbite and the picture on live aquaria is the same one I keep seeing listed as a black ice but it’s not black, it’s just orange and black. Would a juvenile change color that much?

Yep, some clown hybrids can radically change their body color patterns as they mature. The extent depends on the specific hybrid and even the individual specimen itself. One of my black photon clowns is very black and the other larger one looks like a standard percula despite them being of the same hybrid and starting off looking identical as juvenile specimens. Clownfish are crazy

 

[OrionN]

People can call the fish whatever they call them. Some breeder call them one thing while other call them different. No clear master list.
Black Ocellaris start out as orange and turn black with age. Last to turn black is the tip of the mouth.
Phantom, Black Snowflake and/or Black ice are the same typo of fish. They are black Ocellaris with what I consider more white, especially the middle bar. Some time when the white have spots of black in it they called it Freeze or Blizzards.
Like coral, the more name, longer name will often increase the price of these (deformed) fish.
I don't mind the abnormal marking, some are very nice, but the deformed body shape really turn me off, as these stupid names that does nothing to help with ID or describe the fish.

 

[BestMomEver]

People can call the fish whatever they call them. Some breeder call them one thing while other call them different. No clear master list.
Black Ocellaris start out as orange and turn black with age. Last to turn black is the tip of the mouth.
Phantom, Black Snowflake and/or Black ice are the same typo of fish. They are black Ocellaris with what I consider more white, especially the middle bar. Some time when the white have spots of black in it they called it Freeze or Blizzards.
Like coral, the more name, longer name will often increase the price of these (deformed) fish.
I don't mind the abnormal marking, some are very nice, but the deformed body shape really turn me off, as these stupid names that does nothing to help with ID or describe the fish.

Agree... they are mostly Ocellaris..... pretty colors but still just Ocellaris. I love my Clarkii. Plain and simple. But I also love maroons and McCollochi. So pretty!

 

[rkpetersen]

These are my Black Ice clowns, as sold by Sea & Reef:

 

[WMR]

Call me old fashion, purist, the only aberrant patterns I like on clowns are wild ones. Oh, except Leucokranos, hybrid? Although ORA breeds thems or did breed them, haven’t seen them in a while, what a shame.

 

[WMR]

Agree... they are mostly Ocellaris..... pretty colors but still just Ocellaris. I love my Clarkii. Plain and simple. But I also love maroons and McCollochi. So pretty!

McCollochi clowns, one of my favorites. ORA breeds them, might try them next time.

 

[Cobystolz]

These are my Black Ice clowns, as sold by Sea & Reef:

When you got them were they smaller or blacker? I’m wondering if the pet store mislabeled them. Either way I’m happy with it, it was $45 but I brought in some frags and got it for $18 so either way an $18 clown is still good no matter what it is

 

[rkpetersen]

When you got them were they smaller or blacker? I’m wondering if the pet store mislabeled them. Either way I’m happy with it, it was $45 but I brought in some frags and got it for $18 so either way an $18 clown is still good no matter what it is

It pretty much looked like this when it was smaller too.
Stores mislabel fish all the time.
Or they get something in without a label and just go with something that it's close to.

As others have mentioned, the whole naming thing is very vague and mostly driven by commerce.
Here's the chart I used when I was putting together a sizable order from Sea and Reef.
https://www.seaandreef.com/marine-ornamental-fish/clownfish/

 

[Cobystolz]

It pretty much looked like this when it was smaller too.
Stores mislabel fish all the time.
Or they get something in without a label and just go with something that it's close to.

As others have mentioned, the whole naming thing is very vague and mostly driven by commerce.
Here's the chart I used when I was putting together a sizable order from Sea and Reef.
https://www.seaandreef.com/marine-ornamental-fish/clownfish/

Yeah i know it doesn’t matter I was jut curious what people call them. I’m gonna call it a frostbite phantom, at least that’s what it looks like. Do you think that $45 for it was fair though?

 

[ambrosiozoa]

its a phantom. basically black and white snowflake. very nice body pattern

 

[Aardvark1134]

If the fish is healthy and doing well and you are ok with what you paid then it was a good price.
$45 for a healthly saltwter fish you really like is a deal. A fish that comes sick and dies 1 day after the warranty is a bad deal even if it was $10

 

[Cobystolz]

If the fish is healthy and doing well and you are ok with what you paid then it was a good price.
$45 for a healthly saltwter fish you really like is a deal. A fish that comes sick and dies 1 day after the warranty is a bad deal even if it was $10

That’s true

 

[JasonK84]

its a phantom. basically black and white snowflake. very nice body pattern

Phantom is correct but I’d go a step further and say premium phantom because the first and middle bar are connected.