Lightning Maroons Sighted in Portland area Clownfish Hatchery

Random Lightning Maroon Clownfish shown in a Portland, OR aquarium. Photo courtesy David Durr

It’s with very mixed feelings that I report on this exciting development in the marine fish breeding world. On a trip to Portland, Oregon last week (I was speaking at PNWMAS), I was floored by what I found while visiting the fishroom of a local clownfish breeder. It would appear that David Durr, proprietor of Clownfish Northwest, a regional supplier of captive bred clownfish to area fish shops, has been holding out on the marine aquarium hobby and industry. So much for The Lightning Project!

Durr is already well known in breeding circles and his local club for owning a true “Clownfish House” – an outbuilding at his suburban home where clownfish are propagated by the hundreds. Along with MBI Founder Tal Sweet, David Durr is credited with the public revelation that Platinum Percula clownfish can originate from Picasso Percula offspring. His ongoing work with this phenomenon may shed new light onto the genetic basis for Picasso and Platinum Perculas and will no doubt aid future ornamental clownfish breeders.

Mixed bag of Ornamental Percula Clownfish Variants; Platinums, Picassos and standard Percs, all from the same parents. Photo courtesy David Durr

Regarding the few Maroon Clownfish demonstrating “Lightning” patterning, Durr was understandably (but frustratingly) tight-lipped about this recent development. Pretty much all he was willing to convey was that the mutation was hardly as prevalent as something like the Platinum Percula (as evidenced by the accompanying images he was reluctantly willing to share with me for ReefBuilders). No word on if, or when, Durr will be releasing Lightning Maroons to the hobby. We can only hope that Durr is forthcoming with his insights into Lightning Maroon genetics when the time is deemed appropriate.

I’m still completely stumped as to how Lightning Maroons “randomly” showed up out of a Maroon Clownfish pairing in David Durr’s hatchery. There was a section of broodstock tanks that I was not permitted to see, being told that the fish were sensitive and would routinely abort spawns if overly disturbed – I am guessing that the parents to the above maroon clownfish were under lockdown back there. It’s my working theory that David Durr may have acquired the other Lightning Maroon Clownfish that was reported on here at ReefBuilders one year ago today. That would likely explain where these mysterious Lighting Maroons came from.

And sorry to say…if that last link didn’t tip you off big time – April Fools!

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Matt Pedersen

Matt Pedersen is an interactive software developer and part-time fly fishing guide originally from Chicago, IL and current living in Duluth, MN, USA. Additionally, Matt has experience as a professional orchid breeder and certified fly rod builder. Matt has been a marine aquarist for 23 years, and an aquarist for 28+. After spending time on every side of the aquarium industry (retail, commercial and private maintenance & installation, wholesale, hatchery), he currently considers himself a "professional hobbyist". Most recently, Matt has currently spawned 22 species of marine fish, successfully raising 8 of them to date including one worldwide first (the Harlequin Filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris), as well as attempted another 6 invertebrate species to date. Most all of this was accomplished with less than 100 gallons of total working capacity, and all in closed culture. In 2010, Matt Pedersen was selected as the breeder of choice to work with the now famous "PNG Lightning Maroon Clownfish" from the SEASMART program, and chronicles the efforts to propagate this one-of-a-kind fish online at The Lightning Project. Matt Pedersen is credited with starting MOFIB (Marine Ornamental Fish & Invertebrate Breeder's Association) and writing for multiple publications including Coral, Koralle, Practical Fish Keeping, Reef Hobbyist Magazine and Reef Builders. Matt has spoken at numerous aquarium clubs and events from coast to coast. He currently sits on the MBI (Marine Breeding Initiative) Council, a project dedicated to bringing the concept of a unified Marine Breeder's Award Program to hobbyist organizations across the country and around the globe. In 2009, Matt was awarded "Aquarist of the Year" honors by both IMAC West and MASNA in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the marine aquarium hobby. Last updated October, 2010.