Nigripes questions

Hey all! What is the general consensus on A. nigripes? I've finally seen a good picture of them and I really like the look.
 
So, I've seen someone on the web mention getting captive-bred stock. Any leads on that? Otherwise, sounds like the normal wild-caught disease routine is pretty bad. It also sounds like they really benefit from having an anemone? Any more information would be great. Thanks!

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886

They are horrible shippers is the biggest thing to know about them.
 
To me, the hard part is finding ones that are the nice orange color.  ALL of the actual live fish I have seen have been more of a light brown.
 
A fairly skittish fish, that can also be pretty aggressive! My female had NO problems taking on a full grown female cinnamon clown.  Once they began breeding I have had no problems keeping them spawning.  I will get some pictures and my log updated soon. (Thanks for the reminder and motivation)
 
I have around 50 juveniles, the largest of which is around 1.5 inches. Again these have the brown color of there parents.

FWIW, I do know that Sustainable Aquatics is rearing them, and I think they were sold on Blue Zoo?.  I think the same dull color.  This has to be a function of diet. 

I have always thought that is was a dietary issue as well.  I played around with adding carrot powder, and marigold powder to the grow diet, but have not seen any change.
 
I have not been very serious in my efforts though!

No Astaxanthin?  I'd think if nothing else, you could turn these guys solid orange-red?

Oh yes, I have tried lots of Astaxanthin.  No effect on creating any orange or red color.  Used the same food that would turn my tomato's bright red.  Still no effect, besides a slightly darker brown color.

This is, of course, the color that drew me to them: http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_Amphiprion_nigripes.php
 
How do they look as juveniles? If you could get the good orange/red coloration and if the black came in fairly early, I would think that they would sell like hotcakes. That's just such a striking color pattern.
 
I'm in the process of dreaming up a new broodstock system, so I think I will explore these farther once that's in place.

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886

Well, I wonder what the story is. You say that the ones that come in are all of the same (unexciting) color pattern. I wonder where they are collecting them from? Maybe the problem is in a local color variant?

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886

Yeh, I have that exact picture saved on my computer.  I have yet to see an actual fish that color in person though.
 
I agree, if we could get them that light orange people would love them.  So that is the real challenge with this fish. The black comes in very quickly though!
 
Any of you that have connections with wholesalers or large shops that have gotten a lot of these fish in should ask them if they have ever gotten fish in that look like that image. See what there experience is. I wonder if Blue Zoo ever has?

I'll shoot Mark an email...

A&M was breeding them a while back but they were more of a peach color. Not sure if they are still working with them or not. 

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

You know now that I've read this thread, a LFS here in Chicago has some... not as orangey as those, but certainly orange, and with the black front fins.
 
Hmm....  I'll go and take some pics right now, I need more DT's anyway.
 
Cheers

Which LFS?

Reef Plus in North Aurora - I'm heading out there now - I'll bring the camera and take some pics.  
 
Granted, not your old stomping grounds being from the city and all

I have a pair that have not spawned yet but I've had them for alomost a year now.  The came in WC as a family unit of 6 and I cherry picked the 2 best that I could.  3 of the other 4 died at the wholesaler.  I love my pair but they are not as orange as the picture,  more brown in them.  They are in my display as the wife loves them but it's about time to move them to the clownhouse.
 
Dave

I took pics today - I'll post if needed. They are "Cinnamon" Clowns, but they have black "feet".  Not sure if they are wild caught or not, but they are cinnamons.  Just never saw any with that color feet.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing them.

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886

Black foot Cinnamons:
 

 

 
 

Melanopus (Cinnamons) normally have black pelvic fins.  Frenatus (tomatos) and Barberi (the former Fiji rubro/cinnamon) do not.

Well call me slow in the head.  99% of the pics on the interwebs show them with black "Feet".  I really should research things more first

And learn to type faster the Matt it seems too! 
 
On a side note - found this on the web, wrong pic there as well:
http://www.petco.com/product/111054/Clownfish-Nigripes.aspx?CoreCat=Saltwater%20Fish

 
Hardly...I didn't realize this fundamental difference until maybe 3 years ago?  I just never paid much attention and frankly, most stores don't either.  Mature Tomato clowns develop the black patch on their back and all of a sudden they're "cinnamon" clowns.  Of course, it turns out that Melanopus varies widely over it's natural range and there are definitely geographic variations.  Particular varieties are particularly nice BTW..makes me think I'm going to have 3 or 5 different melanopus pairs someday, just to have that awesome diversity preserved.

Don't know how I missed this one.  There is a store near me that had a pair that I almost bought.  However, one of them had a high respiration rate so I decided to pass.  Unfortunately they only have one.  If they were able to reestablish the pair, I might purchase them.  However, they are more of a dusky orange color than the pic that was posted. 

Well finally pulled the trigger and couldnt pass them up any longer

Those really are lovely. Where did you say that you got them from? Maybe I can track down their wholesaler and see if they have any more.

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886

Keys island he had them in one of his coral tanks.  Aquamart had about 6 or so of them but they were tan in color

Thanks. I'll see what I can do.

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886

I figured I would chime in...
I have 2 pair of A. nigripes, after reading this thread, I am pretty happy that they have the beautiful orange coloration.  I was unaware until now that some are more of a brownish/tan color.
http://www.uberfrags.net/...;highlight=nigripes%27

Nice looking fish Sissy.

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

Beautiful fish sissy

Yes, those are lovely. Thanks for the photos.

--Andy, the bucket man.
"Not to know the mandolin is to argue oneself unknown...." --Clara Lanza, 1886