300 Clarion Angels!

[OceanLover2]

I went to my local fish store tonight and they were unloading 300 Clarion Angels! I have never seen one before and they are very beautifully colored.

I was told they are valued at $2500.00 each because they come from only one place in Mexico and you must get a special permit to collect them. Yikes, that is a LOT of dough for a fish.

I did not have my camera with me so I used my cell phone to take these pictures. The first picture is a bucket of Clarions. The Clarions were being removed from boxes and then placed into buckets to drip acclimate them. (I will do a second post with a picture of an individual fish since I haven't figured out how to get two pictures into one message here.)

I hope you enjoy seeing these somewhat rare fish (rare in home aquariums).
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/201725Clarion_Angels_in_bucket.jpg

[thor32766]

wow like 30,000 retail in that bucket!

[rssjsb]

what LFS was this?

[flameangel88]

For the amount of money they command I'm surprised they would put that many in one bucket.

[jmaneyapanda]

What LFS would acquire 300 clarions, when they arent selling? Are there even 300 still available from the first batch? AFAIK, they havent been collected again since the last go around, and likely wont be collected agin soon due to difficulty in moving them.

[OceanLover2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13821769#post13821769 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
what LFS was this?

Aquarium Concepts
Dublin, CA


They are a HUGE store, very reputable. I don't believe the owner bought all these Clarions, I think he is letting the person who got the permit for the angels use the stores aquariums because most people don't have enough room for 300 angels. :fish2:

[flameangel88]

Now they will need armed guards there to guard them like a jewlery store.

[jmadison]

That kinda seems like overharvesting too me... I thnk they are beautiful and all, but with the market being the way it is anyways how many people are demanding $3k fish? I still would be in aw to see them all tho!

[Grouperhead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13821944#post13821944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmadison
That kinda seems like overharvesting too me... I thnk they are beautiful and all, but with the market being the way it is anyways how many people are demanding $3k fish? I still would be in aw to see them all tho!

My guess is that they are probably going to be sent to other LFS once acclimated. Not many people have a collection permit for them, so they get them while they can.

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13821885#post13821885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OceanLover2
Aquarium Concepts
Dublin, CA


They are a HUGE store, very reputable. I don't believe the owner bought all these Clarions, I think he is letting the person who got the permit for the angels use the stores aquariums because most people don't have enough room for 300 angels. :fish2:

I would hope they didnt buy them all. If they paid $1000 each wholesale, that's still $300,000 in one species that doesn't sell quick because of the price. I am curious to know if these are recent collections, or from the last batch. I was under the impression that new permits weren't acquired due to hurricane season and poor sales.

[ziyaadb]

wow

[zemuron114]

they are most likely going to various wholesalers around the world. Im assuming the LFS has an agreement with the collector (maybe get a handful for free to use the space - which is A LOT of space needed) some will go to wholesaler in NY, probably Japan, Hong kong, Taiwan, Asia pretty much. :)

I bet 250 go international, and the states get 50 since we dont like to drop 2500 on a fish. lol

any tiny ones? I love the tiny juvies!

[ccampbell57]

there are only 200. THere are some 2.5" and some 3". The majority are around 5" and not one over 8".

[Grouperhead]

Are clarion's pretty much passers with different coloration as far as size, hardiness, aggression, husbandry, etc.

[ccampbell57]

Yup...

[Grouperhead]

ccampbell, do you think passers/clarions need a chiller for optimal growth and success?

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13822453#post13822453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
I would hope they didnt buy them all. If they paid $1000 each wholesale, that's still $300,000 in one species that doesn't sell quick because of the price. I am curious to know if these are recent collections, or from the last batch. I was under the impression that new permits weren't acquired due to hurricane season and poor sales.

New batch, same permit, and same person as last time just held at a different location this time around ;)

All of the last batch sold within weeks of landing :D

[ccampbell57]

Depends on your tank Temp. I found that 77-78 is optimal. If you have a reef and it is over 82, then I would suggest a chiller.

[topher oner]

I've been meaning to check Aquarium Concepts out... this is definitey a great reason to go!!! Too bad I may have to wait until the weekend...

The Clarions shouldn't be moving just yet right???

[WLachnit]

Yeah, I got the message stating that he was getting 350 of these in tomorrow. So, I guess they came early. Hopefully they'll still be there on Sat. so that I can check them out.

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13823728#post13823728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
New batch, same permit, and same person as last time just held at a different location this time around ;)

All of the last batch sold within weeks of landing :D

Interetsing info, thanks.

I was speaking of moving at the end sale point, not from the supplier. I had spoken to a few online retailer who still had theres and had issues moving them, because of the price. And of course, I can only speak of domestic principles.

[jmaneyapanda]

Who runs this store? I cant believe they would let someone walk up, and hold a fish, like the OP has posted i her otrher thread. I wouldnt let someone do that with a $100 fish, no less a $3000 fish, if it were my store. Well, to each, there own, I guess.

[kurplunk]

Screw the permits, I think its wrong to take so many fish of one species that only exist in one place.

[myerst2]

Kurplunk, a very strong statement that lacks any credence. Clarions in their range are super abundant. It's not like they are taking 200-300 a day which I am sure is close to the number of yellow tangs collected everyday. Clarion numbers are doing very well when compared to many other angel stocks. Great idea but you chose the wrong fish be a martyr. T

[jmaneyapanda]

Yup, another noble minded, yet poorly researched knee jerk comment.

[bluedevils32701]

were there any doa clarions?

[cortez marine]

zip...zero dead DOAS or DAAS..
The young fish are collected over a large range and represent many thousands seen. Most of the fish encountered are adults...ie breeders and we are one of the only fisheries that see yearling fishes as more valueable.
The older fishes are all left to breed and make plankton. They make millions and millions of clarion babies every year but mother nature uses eggs as much as food as anything else.
The fish are not that special...the prevalence of healthy habiat is and is what determines their abundance.
Thats the science of it anyway. A bit droll....Not as alarming . Sorry.
Steve

[Tremelle]

Here is a better pic I ran across in another thread in the Elos forum on RC.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/IMG00060.jpg

[ccampbell57]

I can see mine somewhere in there (I cant wait Steve!!!!)

[danfrith]

Wow! thats a lot of money floatin around.

[OceanLover2]

I'm so happy I was there and saw all these beautiful fish being unloaded. The next day I went and that is exactly how part of the store looked. Even this great picture doesn't show half of the Clarions swimming around. They were up and perky and eatting immediately. Anyone getting one of these fish is mighty lucky!

If you live in the Bay Area you should rush in to see them before they start shipping out.

By the way, I was just at the new Golden Gate Park aquarium this weekend and they had one Clarion Angel and he wasn't even labeled!

[topher oner]

I was there in saturday and I have to admit it was definitely quite a site. They all seemed pretty happy, swiming and eating.

I do have to say if you have the cash to spend on one of these gorgeous fish, you are one lucky f*****!!!

A very nice lfs with a great setup! And everyone I spoke to there seemed very knowledgable and was very friendly.

:::cute girls are a plus, lol:::

[DamnPepShrimp]

I am literally speechless from that last photo....ummm....wow....

[dvmsn]

Australian collectors harvest 25 TONS of coral every year. 700,000 to 900,000 bangaiis are harvested each year and they are also a locally restricted species fond in only a few places. 300 is such a small number in the scale of the aquarium trade.

[cortez marine]

Most of the fish encountered are adults...ie breeders and we are one of the only fisheries in the world that see yearling fishes as more valueable.
The older fishes are all left to breed and make plankton.
As I said previously, they make millions and millions of clarion babies every year but mother nature uses eggs as much as food as anything else.
Asia wants big breeder size fishes, we took none. Zero.

The fish are not that special in their region...the prevalence of healthy habitat is..... and is what determines their abundance.
We caught less then the quota allowed and the collecting permit

Thankfully someones sees enough value in the fish to support the research on it and the fishery from it.
If they were biologically rare there would be a point here but then again, they wouldn't be allowed out!
They are only rare to our eyes which is a culturally skewed definition of the term "rare"and hardly credible.
Now gem tangs are rare in their own habitat...so are conspic angels and many species of the most coveted of fish and corals.
Steve

[stunreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13855818#post13855818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccampbell57
I can see mine somewhere in there (I cant wait Steve!!!!)
You dog you! Damn Chris, your new tank isn't going to drop jaws, its going to slam jaws on the floor breaking them into tiny pieces!

...I'm officially headed your way once its done :D

Congrats on the new acquasition :thumbsup:


Well put Steve...
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13865485#post13865485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cortez marine

They are only rare to our eyes which is a culturally skewed definition of the term "rare"and hardly credible.

[coralite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13855818#post13855818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccampbell57
I can see mine somewhere in there (I cant wait Steve!!!!)

Yeah but I get to see it first. I'll be headed to cargo in a few hrs, I will let you know how it arrives and I will post pics of the one of a kind scribbled clarion. :rollface:

[Crabber]

I know this thread is old, but didn't feel the need to start a new thread on a similar topic.

What is the going rate of clarion angels now? Have there been any more or will be any more collections in the near future? I've heard mixed opinions on Mexico isn't allowing anymore collections but heard they might? Thanks for Amy help.

[lhm nole]

I know this thread is old, but didn't feel the need to start a new thread on a similar topic.

What is the going rate of clarion angels now? Have there been any more or will be any more collections in the near future? I've heard mixed opinions on Mexico isn't allowing anymore collections but heard they might? Thanks for Amy help.They have been scarce and still demand a lofty price if you can get on CCampell would probably know more since I believe he has 2 of them

[tanglovers]

As far as I know there are not any more scheduled collections since the permit ran out on them. If this is the case, IMO they are worth more now then what they were selling for when available due to not being available.

They are great fish! I have one from I beleive the shipment pictured (mine is from the second collection trip).

[jaa1456]

I had one for 7 years, It was a great fish, my LFS has them regularly through out the year.

[OceanLover2]

It was my lucky day to walk into the LFS and see so many Clarions. :dance:
Once they shipped out, I haven't seen any more.

They are located on an island off the coast of Mexico. The permit is very expensive and the diving conditions are less than ideal.

I hope one of the lucky owners of a Clarion publishes an updated photo of their fish. I know the blue lines become more diffused as the angel ages.

[iamwrasseman]

they do pop up every now and then and i have seen one at NY Aquatic this year

[Iwishihadgills]

that is a really cool picture but that seems kinda scary with that big of a bioload.

[iamwrasseman]

yes 300 new fish on most fish store systems would certainly overload it . bet that skimmer is gonna go wild !