Clarion angelfish

[Guest]

Hi Guys, just wanted to show you the prettiest site I've seen in years. A legal shipment of ~80+ clarions

Just A FYI, this is the first legal shipment of multiples in ~20 years. These guys are fetching ~$2,500 retail.

And the smallest one I have ever seen shipped!! You'll be seeing more of this little guy I'm sure

 

[GreshamH]

Oops that isn't the smallest one picture. That guy is like 3.5" while the other is more like 2-2.5"

 

[Apon]

Why so expensive? what is the restriction on it before?

 

[Ibn]

Dang, that's a ton of clarions. Saw one at LBA last year, but that was only one.

 

[GreshamH]

Rare fish command rare prices Peppermints fetch $15K due to how deep and rare they are. Clarions fetch the price as the main place tehy are found takes several days of open ocean travel to get to, all off limits to all but military now basically and no permits have been issued in 20 years. In Mexico to collect and ship angels you need a main permit and an add on "endemic" list. To go to the Islands takes a major feat of wading thru the Maxican government. No one has been able to pull off the permit until recently.

FWIW almost all of these are off to Asia. This shipment is sold 4X's over

LBA's was a confiscated one from a smuggled shipment a few years ago Eric

 

[Ibn]

Doh, that would explain why they have one. Beautiful fish for sure.

BTW, you have any pics of peppermints? I've only seen them in books...

 

[GreshamH]

Never seen one either, only in books

 

[Ibn]

Dang, guess a ticket overseas to someone that has one of these in their tanks is the only way to see them.

 

[GreshamH]

There's only a handful out there. I could turn you onto someone that probably knows every known aquarium with one

 

[Ibn]

That's alright, not planning on heading to JP for the moment.

 

[jhale]

Gresham will they be gone by next week? or will I be able to see one in person?

 

[bookfish]

I just saw them. Very cool!

 

[GreshamH]

Most are leaving by tonight but there will be a few healing for the next month so there will be something to look at

There's a better source closer to home for you though. Joe Russo was extremelly instrumental in making the trip happen thus he's got some. 10 landed in NY earlier today

 

[GreshamH]

Jim - how can you be a sponsor and BOD member? I didn't think you where either now

Missed you today by 2 minutes. You guys left at 12:29 Bob said and I was there at 12:31

 

[sfsuphysics]

I guess at $2500 a pop... retail you put a LOT of effort into making sure they are all healthy with minimal (zero?) DOA.

 

[jhale]

I'll give Joe a call, I was going to stop by his place next week anyway. He told me about them coming in, but I'm not sure how long he will have them in his possession.
Joe also told me it's a long boat ride to collect them, which I'm sure adds to the cost.

 

[fishnfst]

Come on the boat ride isn't that long.. What 800 miles from San Diego Slightly closer if coming from baja

I've fished both Clarion Island and Clipperton Atoll.. I couldn't imagine what it would be like try ing to collect fish for the aquarium trade way out there..

 

[Kensington Reefer]

how are the fish doing?
what are they feeding on?

 

[GreshamH]

The ones left are feeding on Arcti-Pods as well as other feeds

 

[Kensington Reefer]

other foods?
such as...