I'm ready for some clown fish!

rbtwo4 · 08/13/2007, 09:17 PM

Ok need advice on which clowns to get. I have no idea what the difference is between true percs false percs and yadda yadda yadda. Thanks for the help!

kkyyllee · 08/13/2007, 09:18 PM

perculas have more black and are smaller than ocellaris

ChrisKil · 08/13/2007, 09:58 PM

Ocellaris are less territorial than true perculas. If you're going to get clowns at different times (often not recommended) Ocellaris are less likely to have a problem with the new clown. If you want to see the visual differences look at any online retailer that sells both, they should have good pictures.

ChrisKil · 08/13/2007, 10:02 PM

Ocellaris

Ture Percula/TP (tank bred)

/

Mavrk · 08/13/2007, 10:35 PM

I am about to put a couple clowns in my tank as well. I am opting for the wild True Perculas. The tank raised true percs (i.e. captive breed) often do not have complete white lines (see picture above). Most of the Oscelaris are tank raised and look really nice as well. Here are some of the differences from what I have researched (by the way there is a forum dedicated to this subject and is well worth looking at):

Number one thing is not to mix species.
If you want a mated pair, it is easier to have one bigger than the other to help establish dominance without much fighting (the larger one will be the female).
Oscelaris have thinner black lines than true Perculas (also have one less dorsal spine, but that doesn't matter).
You can mix orange Oscelaris and black Oscelaris since they are the same species.
Captive bread true Perculas do not always host as easily as wild ones.
Captive bread tend to be less aggressive.
Captive bread are easier to feed (I don't know is easier is the right word, but they are used to the food we give them).
Maroons are a little more aggressive.
Oscelaris tend to be a little easier/hardier to keep and are often recommended for a beginner.

I have not really researched all the different clowns, because I know I really like the look of the wild true percs. But one orange and one black Oscelaris sounds pretty cool too. This list is by no means complete, just some things off the top of my head that I have read.

rbtwo4 · 08/14/2007, 04:10 AM

Thanks Mavrk that was LOTS of help!

Mavrk · 08/14/2007, 09:09 AM

No problem. Definately check out the clown fish forum. There is a lot of information there.

der_wille_zur_macht · 08/14/2007, 09:21 AM

If you want more than one, then definitely keep just one pair of one species, unless you have a very large tank with several potential hosts for each pair.

"False Perculas" aka ocellaris, are probably the most common and easiest to keep. Honestly, the differences between them and true percs, wether tank raised or wild, will be few. One slight advantage to tank raised fish is you know (or can find out) the source, which means you can get a very good idea of age, and also if the fish are related (important consideration if you want to breed - make sure the fish don't have the same parents!)

If you do want a pair, get the fish at the same time, and get two small ones. Getting one large and one small one is risky IMHO, since the large one will likely be a female, but the smaller one might, too. Buying clowns from a large holding tank is the safest way to ensure you end up with juvies, and two juvies alone will have very good chances of growing into a true pair together.

08/13/2007, 09:17 PM	#1
rbtwo4 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 747	I'm ready for some clown fish! Ok need advice on which clowns to get. I have no idea what the difference is between true percs false percs and yadda yadda yadda. Thanks for the help! __________________ I am completely ADDICTED!!!! Current Tank Info: 30G Rimless Deep Blue, AI Sol, 120 SWC Skimmer, Apex controller, MP10

08/13/2007, 09:58 PM	#3
ChrisKil Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruston, LA Posts: 152	Ocellaris are less territorial than true perculas. If you're going to get clowns at different times (often not recommended) Ocellaris are less likely to have a problem with the new clown. If you want to see the visual differences look at any online retailer that sells both, they should have good pictures. __________________ Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Show a man a reef tank, bankrupt him for life. Current Tank Info: 125g mixed reef w/ 30g sump

08/13/2007, 10:02 PM	#4
ChrisKil Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruston, LA Posts: 152	Ocellaris Ture Percula/TP (tank bred) / __________________ Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Show a man a reef tank, bankrupt him for life. Current Tank Info: 125g mixed reef w/ 30g sump

08/14/2007, 04:10 AM	#6
rbtwo4 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 747	Thanks Mavrk that was LOTS of help! __________________ I am completely ADDICTED!!!! Current Tank Info: 30G Rimless Deep Blue, AI Sol, 120 SWC Skimmer, Apex controller, MP10

08/14/2007, 09:21 AM	#8
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	If you want more than one, then definitely keep just one pair of one species, unless you have a very large tank with several potential hosts for each pair. "False Perculas" aka ocellaris, are probably the most common and easiest to keep. Honestly, the differences between them and true percs, wether tank raised or wild, will be few. One slight advantage to tank raised fish is you know (or can find out) the source, which means you can get a very good idea of age, and also if the fish are related (important consideration if you want to breed - make sure the fish don't have the same parents!) If you do want a pair, get the fish at the same time, and get two small ones. Getting one large and one small one is risky IMHO, since the large one will likely be a female, but the smaller one might, too. Buying clowns from a large holding tank is the safest way to ensure you end up with juvies, and two juvies alone will have very good chances of growing into a true pair together. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

08/13/2007, 09:18 PM	#2
kkyyllee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: rescue ca Posts: 963	perculas have more black and are smaller than ocellaris

08/13/2007, 10:35 PM	#5
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	I am about to put a couple clowns in my tank as well. I am opting for the wild True Perculas. The tank raised true percs (i.e. captive breed) often do not have complete white lines (see picture above). Most of the Oscelaris are tank raised and look really nice as well. Here are some of the differences from what I have researched (by the way there is a forum dedicated to this subject and is well worth looking at): Number one thing is not to mix species. If you want a mated pair, it is easier to have one bigger than the other to help establish dominance without much fighting (the larger one will be the female). Oscelaris have thinner black lines than true Perculas (also have one less dorsal spine, but that doesn't matter). You can mix orange Oscelaris and black Oscelaris since they are the same species. Captive bread true Perculas do not always host as easily as wild ones. Captive bread tend to be less aggressive. Captive bread are easier to feed (I don't know is easier is the right word, but they are used to the food we give them). Maroons are a little more aggressive. Oscelaris tend to be a little easier/hardier to keep and are often recommended for a beginner. I have not really researched all the different clowns, because I know I really like the look of the wild true percs. But one orange and one black Oscelaris sounds pretty cool too. This list is by no means complete, just some things off the top of my head that I have read.

08/14/2007, 09:09 AM	#7
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	No problem. Definately check out the clown fish forum. There is a lot of information there.