Q & A
Here you will find answers to questions submitted via the "Ask Aquaworld" web form by viewers of the Aquaworld Aquarium web site. If you have a question you would like us to answer, go to the Ask Aquaworld web form.
Black Ocellaris (aka Black Percula) Clownfish
Dear Aquaworld,
How many different kinds of clownfishes are there? Does a black percula clownfish and a nemo clownfish have the same information about them? Are there any books about black percula clownfishes in the ottawa public library? In which website can I find lots of information about a black percula clownfish?
Maisha
Ottawa, Ontaro, Canada
Dear Maisha,
A pair of Black Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) with a Ritteri Anemone (Heteractis magnifica). These fish are often incorrectly called Black Percula.
There are 28 recognized species of clownfish. The Black Percula is a commonly used incorrect common name for the Black Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris). I have also seen the Black Saddleback (A. polymnus) being incorrectly sold under the common name Black Percula. Most Black Ocellaris sold in the hobby today are tank raised and are the same species as the normally wild caught orange version. All Ocellaris Clownfish no matter what the color variant they are prefer the same host anemones (Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, and Stichodactyla mertensii). If you are looking for a book on care for clownfish I would suggest "Clownfishes - A Guide to Their Captive Care, Breeding, and Natural History" by Joyce Wilkerson. A good book for clownfish and host anemone identification is "Anemonefishes and their Host Sea Anemones" by Dr. Daphne Fautin and Dr. Gerald Allen.
Other web page info to check out:
Clownfish and their Host Anemones in the Aquarium - You can click on the scientific name of the anemone or clownfish in this article to see more info.
Pairing Clownfish with Anemones
Ocellaris, or False PerculaI hope this helps.
Tony Griffitts