True Percula and Black Percula (pairing?)

[FishKid]

I'll keep this short and sweet, I remember reading that true percs and false percs will pair up, will a true perc pair with a black perc (same species as a false perc, just a color morph)? that'd be a cool duo!

mark

[Ninong]

It is possible for any Amphiprion percula to pair up with any A. ocellaris, provided they aren't both mature females. Several species of clownfish can cross-breed.

You should avoid common names, especially when asking this particular question since it is obvious that you are probably referring to the black A. ocellaris from the area of Darwin, Australia. These fish are commonly called Black Perculas, even though they are really Ocellaris Clowns. C-Quest in Puerto Rico has actually established a black line of A. percula in captivity; also a bright red line. So people may not know if you mean the real black perculas from C-Quest or the black ocellaris from Darwin.

Anyway, the answer is yes, it is possible to cross A. percula with A. ocellaris and the resulting "Percularis" clowns will be fertile.

Ninong

[Reefland]

I searched for the black A. ocellaris from Darwin sometime ago prior to acquiring my current A. Ocellaris clowns. Are they more readily available now? Got a link for C-Quest? Any other possible suppliers?

Scott

[Ninong]

Scott,

The URL that Joyce Wilkerson gives for them doesn't work anymore (www.c-quest.com). She lists their address as:

C-Quest
P.O. Box 1162
Salinas, Puerto Rico 00751
Phone: 787-845-2160
Fax: 787-845-3929
Orders: 888-703-4747
Captive-bred marine fishes. Wholesale only.

I'm sure you remember Mermaid, right? She lives about 36 miles from me in Baton Rouge. She breeds three or four different species of clownfish, including black ocellaris clowns from Darwin. Personally, I don't like the looks of them. Hers are all black with a slight bluish tint at the edge of the white bands. She keeps trying to breed Maroons, but so far she can't get them past metamorphosis.

Ninong

[SurfsUP]

I have a pair of A. percula with a A. ocellaris. They have not mated yet and have been together for almost 1 year. I have them by themselves in a 12g reef tank. Here is a pic of them:

[Ninong]

SurfsUP ~

Nice pics!

How are they behaving towards each other? Is either one defending a "territory?"

It may never happen or it may happen a year or two from now. I would be interested to know which one progresses to "female" first.

Ninong

[srgtkoons]

Sorta odd question, why are A occelleris and A percula considered seperate species, I was under the impression that the definition of a species was the ability to breed and produce fertile offspring. I might have missed something but to me that just seems odd.

[Ninong]

Originally posted by srgtkoons
I was under the impression that the definition of a species was the ability to breed and produce fertile offspring. I might have missed something but to me that just seems odd.

That definition works with mammals but not with fish. If you cross a horse with a donkey, you get an infertile mule. Many, many different species of fish cross-breed and produce fertile offspring.

Ninong

[srgtkoons]

Thanks Ninong, thats what i thought but was just curious.

[FishKid]

i was talking about the ocellaris ones, I saw a pair of them at the aquarium, and was entrigued! so it is possilbe, as long as they are not hostile to each other? the perc i have i am pretty sure has changed to female. so the hostility wouldnt be bad (if i get a juv.) I am going to look a little more into it. what would the juv. look like?

So, technically, one could get a perc to pair up with a clarkii? that would be a cool pair!

mark

[SurfsUP]

Ninong-Thanks. They're pretty much nice to each other. The true percula is getting larger about twice as large as the smaller ocellaris male. Sometimes the female bully's the male but no harm is done. I have a bubble tip for them but the female percula stays in it most of the time and the male ocellaris goes in once in awhile but swims around the tank most of the time.

I just came back from a surf trip down to San Diego and stopped by Jeff's on the way back and picked up a couple more true A. Perculas. These clowns are my favorite and I picked up 2 more from Jeff's and another 2 more at another store in Monterey Park. All 4 are in my 46g reef right now. Maybe I might get another pair from this setup as well.