The first ever captive bred clarion angelfish is such a special fish, we’ve tracked it from the initial post larval successes, to its birthplace, and all around the world as this historic fish changed hands a number of times. The captive bred Clarion is special on a number of levels; it’s probably the rarest reef aquarium fish ever reared in captivity, it’s the first Holacanthus angelfish and the first of the species to be reared, and it’s probably the most expensive tank-raised fish ever sold.
The saga of this clarion angelfish is a long one, with the first reports of metamorphosis trickling out of Bali Aquarich as far back as April. A few months later we visited the farm in North Bali and we got to see first hand the stunning and tiny juvenile clarion angelfish, and even got to fondle the bag in which one was sent to Tropical Marine Centre in the UK.
From England’s TMC the captive bred clarion angelfish eventually found its way to North American partner Quality Marine in Los Angeles, and then to the country’s most prestigious dealer of reef aquarium fish, LiveAquaria in Rhinelander Wisconsin. Last night, this particular and very special Holacanthus clarionensis was offered up for sale in the Diver’s Den for the paltry price of one dollar under $5000 and it promptly sold to a hobbyist who will care for and continue the legacy of this now very famous little fishy.
