Last updated on June 28th, 2023 at 08:26 pm
A percula clownfish is a type of fish and the only species in its genus. They can be found near Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. They are solitary swimmers that live at depths between 20-40 meters below sea level which means they don’t compete with other fish for food.
The adult percula clownfish’s diet includes crustaceans. They will eat the larval stage of crabs, shrimp, and lobster when they are small before moving on to more grown prey.
Percula clownfish live in sandy or rocky areas where there is a lot of coral growth and these can be found in marine habitats such as reefs, lagoons, and tidal pools.
Origin and description
The percula clownfish is a large and vibrant fish that originated in the Indo-Pacific region. This fish species ranges from 18 to 24 centimeters for males, but females are usually only 15 centimeters long. Males have very vivid coloration on their bodies, most commonly orange with blue highlights around the eyes. Females vary drastically by locality instead of by sex so that their colors will match the dominant color in the area.
The percula clownfish has many different predators and is not currently threatened by extinction. The main predators are groupers, sharks, rays, and moray eels. However, they have adapted to be able to hide from these threats with their ability to change colors.
The percula clownfish has a lifespan of three to six years. It is the most popular saltwater fish for aquarists and can be found in many public aquariums around the world, such as Sea World and Shedd Aquarium. The cost of caring for this animal also varies by country but generally, it costs about $25-$40 per month to keep a single fish properly taken care of.
The body shape of the Percula Clownfish is very similar to many other species in its family, but it has very long dorsal and anal fins that extend above the rest of its body as well as long pectoral fins with sharp tips. The colors on this particular species are very vibrant and unique, the males usually have blue around their eyes but they can also be green or yellow.
The percula clownfish is found in coral reefs near Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The coloration of females varies depending on where it lives because each area has a dominant color that the fish will borrow from.
The percula clownfish can grow up to 18 centimeters in length and is the most popular saltwater fish for public aquariums.
Scientific Name
The scientific name for a percula clownfish is Amphiprion ocellaris. These fishes are called “percula” because of the single black eyespot dotting their white body and tail. When they get excited, this spot expands to form an ‘eyebrow’.
Species profile
- Size of male fish with no fin spine (cm) is 30.0
- The average length for female fish without a fin spine (cm) is 28.0
- Maximum size possible for this species are male 94 cm, and female 90 cm
- Lifespan to the age of maturity is: females live to age 12 and males in the wildlife live at least 22 years
- Diet consists mainly of zooplankton, small invertebrates
- There is currently no evidence that this species has a symbiotic relationship with any other marine organism.
Size
Percula Clownfish are not very big and they don’t get larger than six inches.
The average size of an adult percula clownfish is about five inches. They can reach up to six and a half inches but that’s rare.
Color and appearance
The percula clownfish has a bright orange body with white, vertical stripes. The fins are mostly black in coloration and the fish can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long.
Appearance: Large size; brightly colored oranges, blacks, and whites on their bodies; males have larger heads than females.
Percula Clownfish varieties
Percula clownfish varieties are really interesting because they are not only different in size, but also color. The percula clownfish has a range of colors from orange to red and browns with white stripes. These variations create more variety for fishermen looking at catching these fish when fishing near coral reefs or other structures that provide shelter for the clownfish.
True percula clownfish
The true percula clownfish are known to inhabit the Pacific Ocean (and other oceans nearby) and are most common in reefs of Papua New Guinea. The percula clownfish is found at depths between 15-50 feet underwater, though they prefer to stay closer to less than 30ft deep.
The true percula clownfish have a lifespan of approximately 20 years, though it’s not unheard of for them to live as long as 50 years.
False percula clownfish
The false percula clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is a popular and well-known species in the aquarium trade. It can be found throughout the Indian Ocean, from East Africa to Polynesia.
The false percula clownfish reaches approximately eight inches (20 cm) maximum length. The body is white with three pairs of broad, vertical bands of black-and-white. It has a white head with bright orange markings on the face, and an orange tail band with blue speckles at the base of each spine.
This species is omnivorous and feeds mostly on zooplankton found in open water. The false percula clownfish inhabit shallow lagoons and seaward reefs, where it often forms mixed schools with other Amphiprion species.
Life cycle
The percula clownfish is a tropical fish. They live in warm water because they cannot survive in cold temperatures and have an average lifespan of five years. When they are born, the little ones may be anywhere from one to three inches long but can grow up to six inches when adults.
Their eggs hatch after about thirty days and the fry will stay in the nest until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
The percula clownfish has a diet of plankton, crustaceans, algae, and small invertebrates such as shrimp or crabs. They eat mostly during dusk but can feed at any time as long as the food is available nearby when needed. The percula clownfish, like many other species of fish, will sometimes go into a state of inactivity known as ‘siestas.’
They have been listed on the IUCN Red List since 1996 and are currently not considered threatened. The population remains at healthy levels for now but it could change in the future.
Are they peaceful or aggressive?
The percula clownfish are aggressive and territorial. They will attack other fish that enter their territory through the use of biting, chasing, and spitting out ink into a cloud in order to make it difficult for their intruder’s eyesight.
Percula clownfish care
What they eat
Percula clownfish are omnivorous, eating mostly zooplankton and small crustaceans. They require a diet of high-quality protein for growth as they need to put on their large adult size quickly before they reach sexual maturity at age three; many newly hatched Percula Clownfish eat live brine shrimp and other eggs.
Tankmates
Percula Clownfish are compatible with other species of clowns, but the most common tank mate is the H. ocellaris. They prefer to be kept in groups and can also be housed with damsels or fairy wrasses as long as they have plenty of hiding places such as rockwork, caves, coral crevices, and live corals.
Water condition
Percula clownfish require water conditions that are typically found in saltwater aquariums. This is because they get most of their food from the plankton and other small floating organisms that inhabit marine habitats like coral reefs.
Aquariums with some sand, rocks, or shells on the bottom will be more natural-looking for this type of fish.
Some people would even recommend that you place the aquarium in a room with some natural light for example, near a window or door to create more of an illusion of being out on the sea. But it really depends on personal preference and what other fish are housed in the tank as well!
In freshwater tanks, they need water conditions that replicate natural conditions that would be found in the rainforest. This includes a high level of water hardness, temperature, and acidity. Luckily, some people have come up with easy ways to create these environments without too much effort!
The first one is by using alkaline rocks like lime or calcite which neutralize acidic levels. The other is by using plants like Amazon Sword which takes in carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, reducing the concentration of harmful substances.
Aquariums can also be heated up to a more tropical temperature with an under-gravel heater or heat lamp for example.
Percula clownfish breeding
Percula clownfish lay their eggs in a rock cavity and then the male guards them. The female does not eat while guarding, which may contribute to her death after breeding is over.
Percula clownfish hatch as larvae and live in the open ocean for a short time before settling on coral reefs. The adults spawn about every three days, laying large clutches of eggs which are fertilized by their partner. After spawning they return to symbiosis with one another: each fish’s body provides shelter from predators and parasites to the other fish.
Percula lifespan
One of the more interesting facts about percula clownfish is that they can live up to fifteen years. While this may not seem like a long lifespan for some animals, it’s actually quite impressive in comparison to other fish species!
Parasites and diseases
Some parasites can make a fish sick. Some diseases include white spot disease, external infections such as fin rot and bacterial gill infection or fungus attack on the skin, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) which is spreading throughout North America’s Great Lakes region from east to west, red pest ichthyopthirius (RPX), and the more well-known Ick.
Predation
Percula Clownfish are preyed upon by a variety of large predators including the Panther Grouper. They are also preyed on by both juvenile and adult lionfish, the blue-lined octopus, several species of butterflyfishes such as black banded butterflyfish, speckled butterflyfish, yellow tangs, and a variety of larger predatory fishes including the red snapper, barracuda, black-tailed grouper, and king mackerel.
Does it make good pets?
Percula Clownfish make good pets. They are reef safe and will not bother corals or invertebrates in the tank but they can be territorial around other clownfish of their own kind which should be considered if obtaining more than one percula clownfish, as it could lead to a long-term dominance battle between them that may kill one or both of them.
Signs of a healthy fish
If you want to know if your fish is happy, look for the following signs:
- The fins are erect and motionless. The eyes seem clear. There’s no white mucus around the mouth.
- It darts from one side of its tank or habitat to another with a burst of speed that it seems reluctant to repeat.
- It darts away from your hand as you reach into the water, but doesn’t dart back to its original hiding place.
If these signs aren’t visible, then there’s a strong chance that something is wrong and could be life-threatening for your fish. Here are some other things to look for:
- The body is not erect and motionless
- The fins are drooping or clamped against the body. The eyes seem cloudy, with a white to yellow mucus around their mouth. It may be hiding in one spot, staying unusually still all day long
Conclusion
The percula clownfish is a medium-sized fish that does well in captivity. One of the most important things to be aware of when you purchase this species is they are omnivores and will need feedings from both plant-based foods and meaty fishes like brine shrimp or blood worms.