Picasso Clown Question

[mrdc]

Some of you might know that I just setup a 29g tank. I know it will be awhile before I can put anything in it by I am considering what future fish I might add. I know that I want another midas blenny and I am also considering a picasso clown.
 
The one on this site sells for $149 and states that it is a rare clown from ORA. I friend of mine that works at the petstore says that he can order me one for $60. Why the big price difference? I assume my friend isn't ordering the fish from ORA even though that is where he order a lot of coral. He has two other distributors that he uses so maybe the clown comes from one of them.
 

 

[kylev]

I can't really answer your question fully, but I had a friend who bought a pair of picasso's for 60 bucks a piece and they didnt look nearly as good as the ones on this website selling for $149. IMO clowns, picasso's especially can be a real hit and miss and I feel its best to see the actual ones your buying first to know you like their markings/colors. Which even becomes more risky when spendy $149 each. Always a tuff gamble but you wont be having a lot of fish in your 29g so might as well really love the ones you have

 

[mrdc]

I agree. I doubt my friend will order me one unless I commit to buying it since he works at ***** and they usually don't sell expensive fish. I will have to ask him.

 

[btldreef]

The difference is whether they're grade A or grade B. Most are grade B, and they'll be half the price.
 
There are a few people that now claim to have successfully bred some of the ORA mutations, but thus far, they don't look as good.

 

[nikesb]

there are many who have bred successfully and look just as good, if not better than ORA. c-quest, doni, are just some of the examples that have really nice patterns. many members on other forums sell grade-a's as well and they look identicle in quality to ORA

 

[mrdc]

Well I will do some searching when I am ready to buy. Thanks.

 

[smartorl]

And not that I condone buying from ***** because I don't but if you keep an eye open, they have some mutations in their clown tanks selling for $16.99 all the time. The guy running my ***** saltwater section had my favorite LFS until the recession more or less shut him down.
 
He held me back a beautiful pair of Picassos that were part of a large shipment because they had them on sale for 11.99. They actually were marked better than my grade A ORA pair.

 

[mrdc]

I will only buy from ***** since I can get the livestock before he puts anything in the tanks. Once it goes in their tanks, I am not interested.

 

[mrdc]

I spoke with the guy last night about the picasso and asked where will he be ordering it from and he said ORA. Not sure why he can get it for $60 and it sells for $149 here if they are both coming from ORA.

 

[smartorl]

Picassos come in different grades. ORA will only sell the top grade to certain vendors and they have a higher demand. There are lesser quality picassos often sold in bulk to other wholesalers.
 
The Grade A picassos carry more color and are in general better representations of the fish ORA wants their name attached to.

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by smartorl http:///forum/thread/380321/picasso-clown-question#post_3311525
Picassos come in different grades. ORA will only sell the top grade to certain vendors and they have a higher demand. There are lesser quality picassos often sold in bulk to other wholesalers.
 
The Grade A picassos carry more color and are in general better representations of the fish ORA wants their name attached to.
^ This is what I've been trying to say.

 

[mrdc]

I agree with what you both are saying. I guess I was thinking ORA sold grade A only but I guess they can also sell lesser grades at a lower rate.

 

[smartorl]

Any time you breed for a specific trait, you will produce culls that don't meet the criteria.

 

[mrdc]

I went to one of my LFS that I haven't visited in awhile and they had some picassos for $50. I could tell they would be classified as a B even without ever seeing an A. lol