True Percula VS Ocellaris

[dodo99]

Would either of these co-exist in the same tank? I've recently added a young perc. I understand that the way to tell the difference is by counting the number of spines on the dorsal fin, but they're both always on the move and hard to count 'em. The older perc is almost 2" now, and the juvi is about 1/3 to 1/2 it's size. Since adding the new clown to the tank, they've been inseperable since.

My question is: If the new clown is NOT the same type of clown, would they still be so social with each other? :?

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

DoDo

 

[Anonymous]

When you say inseperable is one chasing the other? or are they just swimming together?

 

[dodo99]

When first introduced to the tank, the new addition was chased for about an hour, then they were always swimming together. The larger one will usually play sheppard and go round up the smaller perc if he strays too far off. The smaller one does a little tail flicking dance once in a while. It looks simmilar to the behavior of my mating damsels, when they were also in the tank. (Oh, just in case it matters, they're the only fish in there.)

DoDo

 

[Anonymous]

You'll go blind trying to count their dorsal spines.

Compare the black that forms the border between white and orange areas. On the ocellaris it is thinner and better defined, on the true perc it is usually thicker and kind of bleeds into the orange.

I've never tried to mix the two, I bet if they are all young they will do OK.

 

[dodo99]

The bigger one's black bands do fade gradually to orange. As for the younger one, the black lines are just strating to form, so it's hard to tell. As long as they're civil...