how can you tell what type?

[hammcd]

i have a clownfish that i purchased several months ago...it is quite possibly the smallest clownfish ive seen at a LFS which is why i love it..it is the perfect size for a biocube 14...it was sold to me as a true perc clownfish

once upon a time someone told me the only way u can tell a true perc from an ocellaris is by the number of spines on its dorsal fin..is this true..is so, which type is this (mine)

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also..im looking for another clownfish, but for variety id like a semi-different color...are there any other types of clowns that get along well together.
do any types of other clowns breed with true percs?

thanks

 

[jennm]

I think it's dorsal spines and number of teeth or something very hard to see They are very closely related, so close in fact that they will hybridize.

Typically I don't suggest more than one specie per tank. You could possibly add another (A. ocellaris or A. percula) but since the one you have is already established, there is a risk that your existing fish won't tolerate another.

Jenn

 

[crew]

the differences are with dorsal spines (11 and 10) but the easier way is to look at the black lines.

Percula = thick black lines
Ocellaris = thin or no black lines

 

[hammcd]

so does mine have thick black lines..thus a true perc?

 

[jennm]

Unfortunately with all the designer breeding for traits, IMO you can't rely on the thickness of the black borders on the stripes anymore, unless it's a wild-caught specimen.

Article I found stated that A. percula has 10 (rarely 9) dorsal spines, and A. ocellaris has 11 (rarely 10) dorsal spines.

I *think* I see 10 in your pic, but my eyes aren't what they used to be.

Jenn

 

[crew]

you have a percula.

 

[crew]

Jenn - I counted 10 as well

 

[hammcd]

i also counted 10...thanks for the help, guys...do you think a black ocellaris would be a good match with him/her?...i saw some tiny maroons at the LFS yesterday but supposedly they grow huge and mean

 

[gixxer600]

I thought you could alos tell by the color of the eye. Orange being true and black being false.

 

[crew]

everyone that I know that has a maroon clown has said they are extremely mean, I haven't owned one.

 

[superclown]

What about a picasso, or a snowcasso true perc