Average Clownfish Retail Prices from Online Vendors

[mpedersen]

I did a quick informal survey of online retailer price lists, grabbing prices for the smallests sizes listed, irrespective of immediate availability. WC & CB items from the same vendors were included as two separate entries, as were some where collecting location determined a price difference (But not strain difference). I did not include fish / varients where I could only find one list price (i.e. Latezonatus are currently only listed on Marine Center.com at $699 a pair, also species like nigripes, tricintus etc...) As of late I have not seen any of the ORA-Type Captive Morphs available (i.e. Snowflake Ocellaris, Picasso Perculas, Naked Ocellaris etc...). I surveyed 14+ US E-Tailer websites to gather pricing data on 6-4-07

So, with that all said, here's a snapshot of the current average retail list price of a smaller sized fish, i.e. akin to one you might rear as a captive breeder, followed by the low and high prices:

Amphiprion frenatus - $13.89 - $8.99 - $18.99

Amphiprion perideraion - $14.40 - $8.95 - $19.99

Amphiprion clarkii - $16.01 - $11.99 - $19.99

Amphiprion melanopus - $16.24 - $9.99 - $19.99

Amphiprion ocellaris - $17.01 - $9.99 - $25.00

Amphiprion sebae (True sebaes) - $17.99 - $14.99 - $19.99

Amphiprion sandaracinos - $18.49 - $14.99 - $23.99

Amphiprion akallopisos - $20.30 - $14.99 - $25.00

Premnas biaculeatus "White Stripe" - $21.52 - $13.99 - $25.00

Amphiprion polymnus "Brown" - $22.12 - $16.50 - $29.99

Amphiprion percula - $22.86 - $15.99 - $37.00

Amphiprion polymnus "Black" - $24.49 - $18.99 - $39.99

Amphiprion ephippium - $25.49 - $19.99 - $39.99

Premnas biaculeatus "Gold Stripe" - $27.30 - $14.99 - $35.00

Amphiprion percula "Solomon Islands" - $32.49 - $19.99 - $44.99

Amphiprion bicinctus - $44.79 - $19.99 - $79.99

Amphiprion chrysopterus - $44.98 - $29.99 - $49.99

Amphiprion ocellaris "Darwin Black & White" - $51.23 - $34.99 - $89.00

Amphiprion allardi - $51.31 - $33.95 - $59.99

Amphiprion percula "Onyx / PNG" - $53.24 - $17.99 - $99.99

Amphiprion akyndinos - $66.98 - $59.00 - $74.95

FWIW,

Matt

[Clownfish75]

Interesting to see some of the prices there, the price on white stripe and gold maroons seems like the same thing?

Are Nigripes really that uncommon over there? whats the selected going rate on them?

Christian

[mpedersen]

I've only seen one vendor offer Nigripes this year, and they were like $100 a pair...but that place has since closed. Saltwaterfish.com shows them on their list all the time, but never as actually available, and asks $25 for them as WC fish. But since they're never actually available, is that really the going price? Conversely, I know Tricinctus go for 45-55 when they are available through LiveAquaria.com, but they go REALLY fast and that's the only vendor I've seen offer them...

There's actually a pretty significant difference between White Stripe and Gold Stripe Maroons....with Gold Stripe Maroons fetching about $6.00 more per fish. Consider that the wholesale price on A. ocellaris is typically around $6.00...basically you get 27% more money for a Gold Stripe Maroon at retail.

FWIW,

Matt

[mpedersen]

["Umm, fish?"]

[mpedersen]

["Umm, fish?"]

[balanced]

Matt -

I just wanted to thank you for the effort you've put into this survey. It is extremely helpful, and I hope that you find the time to continue repeating it on a semi-regular basis.

Thank you!

Randy (balanced).

[mpedersen]

[mpedersen]

This is the average price for a "Pair"...this could be young, mature, or both, and WC and/or CB. Keep in mind that some might only have young pairs available or listed (ephippium, rubrocinctus) resulting in lower than expected prices, while others might at first appear artificially high (latezonatus). Many have only one occurance (chrysopterus), or may not include earlier data from 2007 on pairs that were briefly avaialble (i.e. several really nice pairs of Akindynos have come through LiveAquaria.com at $229.99 but that was a few months back now...). As with any "average" or "survey", especially in a market situation, prices are going to fluctuate dramatically with availability, demand and quality. All that said, if you were looking for paired up broodstock today, here is what was listed (not necessarily immediately available or in stock) and what the average price was.

PAIRS
Amphiprion rubrocinctus - $44.99
Amphiprion ephippium - $44.99
Amphiprion sandaracinos - $52.49
Amphiprion melanopus - $56.33
Amphiprion frenatus - $56.66
Amphiprion akallopisos - $60.33
Amphiprion perideraion - $65.61
Amphiprion clarkii - $68.99
Amphiprion percula - $81.25
Amphiprion ocellaris - $82.48
Premnas biaculeatus "White Stripe" - $85.58
Amphiprion allardi - $89.97
Amphiprion clarkii "Black" $94.99
Amphiprion polymnus "Black" - $94.99
Premnas biaculeatus "Gold Stripe" - $98.84
Amphiprion clarkii "Blue Eye" - $104.99
Amphiprion akindynos - $136.98
Amphiprion chrysopterus - $144.95
Amphiprion ocellaris "Darwin/Black" - $149.99
Amphiprion percula "Solomon Islands" - $173.31
Amphiprion percula "Onyx" - $174.99
Amphiprion bicinctus - $180.00
Amphiprion tricinctus - $189.95
Amphiprion latezonatus - $717.47

FWIW,

Matt

["Umm, fish?"]

Nice list, Matt! Thanks!

["Umm, fish?"]

BTW, I have set up my browser to one-click all of your links to the clown page on each. (Except for PetCo. Sorry, but I can't even go to their website.) So, if you ever need me to run the research for you, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Let me know....

[mpedersen]

["Umm, fish?"]

[mpedersen]

Here's my holiday gift to all you breeders...A Nov 31/Dec 1, 2007, expanded Survey of Clownfish Prices from Online Vendors. The list of vendors has expanded greatly, which means we're getting closer to a better actual average.

First, the current list of prices for "Small" fish. This includes anything CB/WC where size wasn't listed (presumed to be small then), anything listed as sm., or anying with a size range of 1-2" (i.e. "Nano" / "Tiny" fish, those starting to show up under 1", are not included in these averages). Since what prices to include is always my descretion when looking at the aggregate list, the "old" averages given for Sept. are based on the same "exclusion" list as the current averages. That should explain any discrepencies between the last time I posted the numbers and those same "numbers" being reposted as the old data. Additionally, some prices may have only gone up or down because of NEW VENDORS showing up on the list. Anyway, here is your Dec 1st 2007 snapshot of online retail prices for "small" specimens of given clownfish species / varieties (Sept 9th price is in pahrenteses).

Ave. price for "small" specimens (i.e. the size a breeder would typically sell to a shop)

Perideriaon "Pink Skunk" - 13.80 (15.06)
Frenatus "Tomato" - 14.64 (14.53)
Ocellaris - 15.75 (16.27)
Clarkii (includes many mislabeled as "sebaes") - 16.17 (17.00)
Sebae (True Sebae) - 16.21 (16.56)
Melanopus "Cinnamon" - 16.45 (15.87)
Akallopisos - 16.93 (16.54)
Sandarcinos "Orange Skunk" - 17.93 (16.88)
Polymnus "Brown Saddle" - 19.10 (18.84)
Percula "Solomon Islands" - 19.47 (19.47)
Nigripes "Blackfoot / Maldives Is." - 19.73 (19.73)
Clarkii "Black" - 19.99 (19.99)
P. Biaculeatus "White Stripe Maroon Clown" - 20.40 (20.42)
Melanopus "New Caledonian" - 21.00 (21.00)
Ephippium "Fire / Red Saddle" - 21.05 (20.49)
Percula "True" - 22.33 (21.64)
Polymnus "Black Saddle / Black Percula" - 25.23 (25.23)
P. Biaculeatus "Gold Stripe / Sumatra Maroon Clown" - 27.66 (28.03)
Chrysopterus "Blue Stripe" - 28.31 (24.97)
Percula "Papua New Guinae" - 28.32 (28.32)
Melanopus "Blue Line" - 29.99 (29.99)
Allardi - 30.82 (28.18)
Ocellaris "Teardrop" - 30.99 (31.66)
Bicinctus "Two Stripe" - 31.11 (33.15)
Rubrocinctus - 32.49 (32.49)
Clarkii "Blue Eye" - 39.99 (39.99)
Akindynos "Barrier Reef" - 40.98 (40.98)
Ocellaris "Black & White / Darwin / Black Percula" - 42.87 (49.53)
Tricinctus "Marshall Is. / Three Stripe" - 49.97 (49.97)
Percula "Onyx" (likely PNG)" - 55.00 (57.50)
Percula "Picasso" - 99.99 (99.99)
Leukocranos "White Bonnet" - 114.95 (114.95)
Latezonatus "Wide Band / Blue Lip" - 205.48 (205.48)

Pairs to come shortly...

[mpedersen]

All I'm going to say on this one is that pair prices vary much more, and often pairs are WYSIWYG in and out type of items. I'm including ANYTHING being offered as a "pair", including small pairs marked as "young pairs" all the way to pairs marked as "breeding pairs". These are average price per pair across all vendors surveyed, and include only one or two WYSIWYG type items I distinctly remember in the last week or so...

PAIRS
Melanopus "New Caledonia" - 39.99 (39.99)
Rubrocinctus - 44.99 (44.99)
Ephippium "Fire / Red Saddle" - 49.99 (49.99)
Akallopisos - 60.33 (60.33)
Frenatus "Tomato" - 64.99 (56.66)
Polymnus "Brown Saddle" - 65.99 (no prior)
Melanopus "Cinnamon" - 66.00 (56.33)
Clarkii - 67.86 (68.99)
Peridaraion "Pink Skunk" - 69.21 (65.61)
Sandaracinos "Orange Skunk" - 69.99 (69.99)
Percula (generic True Perc) - 78.58 (81.25)
Ocellaris - 80.54 (82.48)
P. Biaculeatus "White Stripe Maroon" - 89.78 (85.58)
Clarkii "Black" - 94.99 (94.99)
P. Biaculeatus "Gold Stripe / Sumatra Maroon" - 98.84 (98.84)
Allardi - 99.95 (89.97)
Melanopus "Blue Line" - 104.99 (104.99)
Clarkii "Blue Eye" - 104.99 (104.99)
Polymnus "Black Saddle / Black Percula" - 112.49 (94.99)
Chrysopterus "Blue Stripe" - 144.95 (144.95)
Percula "Solomon Island" - 156.64 (173.31)
Akindynos - 164.48 (124.95)
Percula "Onyx" - 174.99 (174.99)
Bicinctus "Two Stripe / Red Sea" - 180.00 (180.00)
Tricintus "Three Stripe / Marshall Island" - 189.95 (189.95)
Latezonatus "Wide Band / Blue Lip" - 717.47 (717.47)

Vendor List next...

[mpedersen]

Surveyed
http://www.phishybusiness.com
http://www.aquaticbliss.com
http://www.liveaquaria.com
http://www.inlandaquatics.com
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com
http://www.reefermadness.us
http://www.aquatictech.com
http://www.exoticfish.com
http://www.petsolutions.com
http://www.premiumaquatics.com
http://www.pets-warehouse.com
http://www.coralreeffarm.com
http://www.vividaquariums.com
http://www.coraldynamics.com
http://www.toofishy.com
http://www.marinecenter.com
http://www.marinedepotlive.com
http://www.saltwaterfish.com
http://www.reefhotspot.com
http://www.aquacon.com
http://www.thatfishplace.com
http://www.petco.com
http://www.tropicorium.com
http://www.oceanproaquatics.com
http://www.freshmarine.com
http://www.tropicalfishoutlet.com
http://www.anythingsaltwater.com
http://www.gatewayaquatics.com
http://www.saltwaterfishshop.com
http://www.poseidonsrealm.com
http://www.dreamaquatic.com
http://www.elitereef.com
http://www.ecoreefaquatics.com
http://www.marinesgardens.com
http://www.mrcoral.com
http://www.all-reef.com
http://www.reefdepot.net
http://www.rods-reef.com

Omitted
http://www.thefishcollection - offline/under construction
http://www.directsealife.com - UK Website...current survey is USA only
http://www.oceanpets.com - list & ID's are too messed up to be considered reliable data

[Jclaas]

[Luis A M]

Prices remaining about the same after SEVEN years?!