Clown Identification Question..

[Hypostomus]

First of all, is the clown in this picture an ocellaris clownfish? I can't quite tell (though I'm pretty sure it is) and I need to know for when I buy another clownfish. This fish is pretty old (~5 years, I think), and I'm aware that it has a cut out of its dorsal fin.

Secondly, are the "black and white percula" clownfish A. ocellaris or A. percula? I ask because I see them sold as "black and white percula," but sometimes the scientific name is listed and it's A. ocellaris. Do they both have black and white forms?

Thanks for any help.. =)

 

[badgergoth]

I think it's an ocellaris. I'm pretty sure that perculas have fewer dorsal spines.

 

[christssoldiers]

Black ocellaris:

There's black ones.
A percula is brighter orange and has thicker black stripes around the white. Your pic is an ocellaris. No clue about the dorsal fins.

 

[Hypostomus]

If that's the case, how do you tell the black percula (http://fins.actwin.com/pics/Amphiprion_percula_black.jpg) from the black ocellaris? I can't imagine counting black dorsal fin spines while they're swimming, though at the site the above photo is on it says A. ocellaris has 10 and A. percula has 11.

However, their pictures of "regular" perculas don't show the later spines very well. (ex. http://fins.actwin.com/pics/Amphiprion_percula3.jpg)

If you squint kind of closely at the picture they offer it does look like it has 11 rather than the 10 on mine, so I'd say ocellaris sounds right. Tyvm guys.

 

[Anonymous]

Talk to John Brandt or David Mohr, theyd be able to pretty much make a sure ID (their best ID given the picture) Those two guys seem to be really good at making ID's on plants and animals

 

[Baianotang]

YES...

 

[Hypostomus]

What are their usernames..? =)

 

[DaisyPolyp]

Amphiprion percula (northern Queensland and Melanesia) is nearly identical, but has 10 (rarely 9) dorsal spines compared to 11 (rarely 10) in A. ocellaris; the spinous (anterior) part of the dorsal fin in A. ocellaris is taller (its height fits about 2.1-2.9 in the head length compared to 3.1-3.3 in A. percula).

Looks like ocellaris to me.

 

[ChrisRD]

Yup, according to Joyce Wilkerson's book the percs usually have 9-10 and the oscellaris 11 dorsal spines (although she mentions this is not always true). I had to look it up - I always seem to get that backwards going from memory...

 

[krullulon]

YES...

baianotang, i hate to say it, but 49 times out of 50 your responses don't make a lick of sense to me. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Screen names are John_Brandt and David Mohr

John Brandt is a part of the RDO Taskforce too you can find his name in the RDO Taskforce link at the top of the page

 

[fishfanatic2]

I say OCellaris, you cna make sure cuz i think ocellaris have 9 dorsal spines, rarely 10, and percs have 10 dorsal spines, rarely 11. The overall body shape makes me 99.9% sure its a ocelarris.

 

[ricky1414]

YES...

baianotang, i hate to say it, but 49 times out of 50 your responses don't make a lick of sense to me. :lol:

:lol: