Percular Clownfish Care

[lewiss]

PERCULA CLOWNFISH
Amphiprion Percula ​

The Percula Clown is one of the top 10 marine fish on the market mainly due to it's staring role as Nemo in the popular pixar film, Finding Nemo. This fish has become one of the most worldwide recognisable fish for marine keeping. The Percula comes from the Pacific Ocean and is classed as one of the most hardy saltwater fish in a marine aquarium. The percula clownfish have amazing trates and are known for being very overly protective. They will usually form a symbiotic relationship with an anemone, or piece of coral. Although an anemone is not required to keep clownfish, they help an anemone to survive, by performing several roles. They clean, and feed the anemone in order to for them to host the anemone. You can watch a clown rub themselves up the anemone and frolic in its tentacles. If no anemone is present, the percula will happily take to a piece of coral and adapt this behaviour.

QUICK CARE STATS

Care Level :Easy
Min Tank Size :25 Gallon or more
Temperament :Semi-Agressive
Feed :meaty foods, and marine flakes/sticks
Reef Safe :Yes
Adult Size :females are aprx 3-3.5 inches in size, males are aprx 2-2.5inches in size​

Common names are A. Percula, Clownfish, a Nemo fish , or an anemone fish

Minimium tank size is 25 Gallon or more

Temperament is semi-aggressive - the percula is very territorial, especially if they are hosting a coral or anemone. The clownfish is likely to attack and fight in order to protect its host. This includes your hand or any part you put near it. Percula's have very small teeth and it does hurt! It is especially aggressive towards other species of clowns and/or damsels (damsels are closely related to the clownfish) You should not keep more than one type of clownfish in the same tank as they will almost certainly fight till the death.

Eats meaty foods It's diet should be comprised of marine flakes/sticks, krill, mysis and brine shrimp. They should be fed at least once per day.

Temperature should be keep within normal range of about 73-80 degrees.

Reef Safe? Yes completely

Size for a female fully grown adult percula will reach 3-3.5 inches. Females will normally grow bigger than the males. A fully grown adult male percula will normally reach 2-2.5 inches.

Hardiness? Very Hardy

Type of species is Clownfish

Compatable Anemones are H. Crispa, Ritteri, Carpet, and Giant Carpet Anemone

Breeding is likely in a marine aquarium provided the percula's feels safe. If bought as juveniles the clowns should pair, but spawning is not guaranteed. The percula is not born as male or female. They change their sex when in a group or pair. The most dominant clown will become the female. The female will become the bigger clown fish, and the more aggressive one. Unless cared for the fry (baby clownfish) will be eaten by the other inhabitants of the tank.

FISH OF THE WEEK PAGE : CLOWNFISH​

Thanks to StandbySetting for his additional information for this page.

 

[StandbySetting]

The percula is not born as male or female.

This isn't accurate, see below:

Histological examination of gonads indicated that all juveniles start their life as male and subsequently changes into females as they reach larger sizes and mature.

Taken from: Madhu, K and Rema, Madhu (2006) Protandrous hermaphroditism in the clown fish Amphiprion percula from Andaman and Nicobar islands. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 53 (4). pp. 373-382.

Also the size varies, 8Cm is common but obviously it depends on the gender, as this species is sexually dimorphic, you may want to mention the differences in size and quote actual lengths in relation to gender.

 

[lewiss]

The percula is not born as male or female.

This isn't accurate, see below:

Histological examination of gonads indicated that all juveniles start their life as male and subsequently changes into females as they reach larger sizes and mature.

Taken from: Madhu, K and Rema, Madhu (2006) Protandrous hermaphroditism in the clown fish Amphiprion percula from Andaman and Nicobar islands. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 53 (4). pp. 373-382.

Also the size varies, 8Cm is common but obviously it depends on the gender, as this species is sexually dimorphic, you may want to mention the differences in size and quote actual lengths in relation to gender.

cheers mate, i thought they started as male but every source on the internet that i found said different. I'll go with what i orginally thought and you agree with then. Most of it on the net is prob outdated.

8cm is 3.15 inches. i've commented on gender/size differnces. It's my understanding that the average size for a female is 3.5 inches, males are slightly smaller at around 3 - 3.25 inches.

for your help! There's a few more you could read for me and give me your comments!

 

[StandbySetting]

From experience Females tend to achieve 3-3.5 Inches, where as Males tend to achieve 2-2.5 Inches.

 

[ALW]

I wouldnt class them as very hardy. Would say hardy. They are less hardy than A. ocellaris. It is worth noting that clownfish will do fine without a host anemone in captivity.

Edit: Agreed females are around the 3inch mark with males an inch smaller.

 

[lewiss]

Amended with thanks.