How much do designer clownfish cost?

Reviewed by the Fast Aquatics husbandry team · Updated May 2026
Quick answerDesigner captive-bred clownfish cost $50-300 for popular morphs (Snowflake, Frostbite, Black Ice, Wyoming White) and $300-2,000+ for premium grades (DaVinci Grade A+, Picasso, Lightning Maroon, Platinum).

Full answer

Designer clownfish are captive-bred lineages with selectively-bred color and pattern morphs. Pricing reflects breeding difficulty + grade + lineage. Mid-tier designer ($50-300): Snowflake (heavy white striping), Frostbite (extra white speckling), Black Ice (gradient black), Wyoming White (full white body), Domino (extra white blob), Storm (broken stripe pattern). Premium ($300-700): DaVinci Grade A (extra messy striping), Picasso Grade A, Black Snowflake, Onyx Percula. Ultra-premium ($700-2,000+): DaVinci Grade A+ with show-grade spots, Lightning Maroon (rare lightning pattern), Platinum (full white with thick black margins), Limited ORA show-grade releases. WYSIWYG photos guarantee you receive the exact specimen pictured.

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Aquarium-keeping fundamentals

Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.

Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.

Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.

Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.

Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.

What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.

How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.

Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.

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