False Percula Clownfish - Aquacultured

The Percula Clownfish, a.k.a. Ocellaris Clown or False Percula, is the most recognizable fish when it comes to saltwater aquariums. This beautiful little fish is marked with black outlined white bands across a brilliant orange body. The Percula is a very popular fish and will get along with other Clownfish in the same aquarium, depending on the size of the aquarium. It is also one of the few fish that can easily be bred by the hobbyist, being the first marine aquarium fish to be bred successfully in captivity. They do extremely well in the aquarium and are very peaceful. The Percula does not need an Anemone to survive, but will accept many different Anemones as its host, including corals. Their favorite Anemones to call home are the Carpet Anemones. The Aquacultured Percula Clownfish available from Saltwaterfish.com are bred and raised in captivity, which makes them increasingly hardy when kept in the home aquarium. These fish will accept most fish foods and are perfect for reef tanks. More than one can be kept in the same aquarium and they prefer to be kept in groups.Clownfish and Anemones have an incredible symbiotic ("living together") relationship rarely duplicated in Nature. These fish are commonly found swimming amongst the tentacles of both large and small Anemones at spectacular coral reefs. The reason Clownfish are not found at deeper depths is because of the dependance of the Anemone to be in water shallow enough to feed the zooxanthellae within its tentacles.Anemones have algae-like creatures that live within their tentacles that act as a food source for the invertebrate. These same tentacles that are beautiful and flowing are also deadly. The little poison darts that reside within the tentalces of the Anemone are called nematocysts. The Anemone uses their tentacles to stun and capture their prey. Amazingly, living within those stunning tentacles is usually where you'll find a majestic Clownfish holding down the fort. But how could these little creatures possibly withstand the powerful punch of an Anemone's sting? Many theories have been debated over the years since the discovery of this amazing relationship, but the theory most commonly accepted is that Clownfish build up a protective mucus covering on their scales that prevent the Anemone from being able to sting them. This may be accomplished in one of two ways: by the Clownfish absorbing the Anemones own protective mucus, which the Anemone uses to prevent from stinging its own body, or it may be that the Clownfish produces its own reactive mucus to the sting of the Anemone.Clownfish have a very distinct swimming motion that is different from most fish. This is likely passed on through their genetic makeup from centuries of wiggling within the tentacles of Anemones. As the Clownfish wiggles within the stinging tentacles the Anemone's mucus is likely smeared over the Clownfish's body, which then protects it from additional stings. The reason that this theory is believed over others is the necessity of the Clownfish to re-acclimate itself after it has been away from the Anemone for an extended period of time. When returning to the Anemone it then has to acclimate itself again or else it will be stung.This protective mucus covering, whether removed from the Anemone's tentacles or produced by the Clown itself, allows the Clownfish to stay within the Anemone which in turn gives the Clownfish protection from predators. Likewise, Clownfish are known for their territorial and protective nature of guarding the Anemones from any approaching predators. The little Clownfish will fight off intruders to protect its home at all costs. They will dart out from the tentacles to nip at the intruder and then shoot back into the Anemone for protection. Butterflyfish at the reef are very interested in eating the Anemone and the Clownfish will fight off even the largest Butterfly that approaches. Clownfish will also feed the Anemone with food it has captured in the water. These incredibly beautiful and intriguing fish are commonly orange, red, or pink with head or body stripes of white.These fish are the most common to be aquacultured in the United States. In the wild they live in small groups with one large dominant female, one smaller sexually active male, and a handful of smaller males and juveniles. When the female is lost the largest male will then change sex and become the dominant female with the other Clowns moving up the ladder behind it.Photo by Saltwaterfish.com member, Mark A. Barbieri