Ocellaris vs. Percula ID Help

[macphoto]

I posted this in my journal thread, but this particular question might get lost in the lengthiness of my postings there...

The lady at the LFS said that the clowns we just bought are tank-raised Perculas, but I thought they looked more like False Perculas. Can anyone confirm based on this close-up?

--Mike

 

[mogurnda]

It looks like ocellaris. I count 10 first dorsal spines. Plus the color looks like an ocellaris

 

[macphoto]

It looks like ocellaris. I count 10 first dorsal spines. Plus the color looks like an ocellaris

Yes, I thought the lighter color and the thin black stripes were ocellaris-like. They really look identical to some clowns I saw at Petco several days ago, which were labeled as "Percula Clownfish" but the fineprint said "amphiprion ocellaris".

--Mike

 

[mysis]

Yes there definately ocellaris, 10 dorsal spines as mogurnda, and the colour is the same as many ocellaris.

 

[macphoto]

Yes there definately ocellaris, 10 dorsal spines as mogurnda, and the colour is the same as many ocellaris.

So, if 10 dorsal spines = ocellaris, how many = percula? Also, what spines do you count (I think I see 11 or 12, unless I'm not supposed to count those)?

--Mike

 

[mogurnda]

It's 10-11 for ocellaris, 9-10 for percula. I wasn't sure about #11, but I think you're right. #12 may actually be the first ray of the second dorsal. Nice to have such a clear photo to look at. You might look at www.fishbase.org to see if there are any other features that might help.

 

[macphoto]

It's 10-11 for ocellaris, 9-10 for percula. I wasn't sure about #11, but I think you're right. #12 may actually be the first ray of the second dorsal. Nice to have such a clear photo to look at. You might look at www.fishbase.org to see if there are any other features that might help.

Neat, thanks for the help!

--Mike

 

[mysis]

Ocellaris is supposed to have 11 dorsal spines and percula is supposed to have 10 usually.