Clown Opinion
- Thread starter herpchat
- Start date
Travis L. Stevens
New member
With A. ocellaris and A. perculas wide color variety it is very difficult to tell their species by color alone. Adam has it right that the count on the dorsal spines is the true, scientific method of determining their species. It's difficult to do, but it's possible.
It's difficult to count the spines on the one in the foreground and couldn't tell you, but you can vaguely see 10-11 Dorsal Spines on the one in the background. Coupled with the light orange coloration and thin black bands, I would guess that it is A. ocellaris without a doubt. The one in the foreground, could be A. percula with that coloration. You'll have to attempt to count them yourself though
Good picture though.
Listing of Clownfish Species (not including Maroon Clownfish)
Amphiprion ocellaris
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11 â€"œ 13. Easily identified by the orange color and three white bands, the middle one widening forward to the head centrally (Ref. 48636). Caudal fin rounded.
Amphiprion percula
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11 â€"œ 13. Overall orange with three black-bordered vertical white bands. The fins also orange with black edges. Dorsal count of 9 spines (Ref. 48636).
It's difficult to count the spines on the one in the foreground and couldn't tell you, but you can vaguely see 10-11 Dorsal Spines on the one in the background. Coupled with the light orange coloration and thin black bands, I would guess that it is A. ocellaris without a doubt. The one in the foreground, could be A. percula with that coloration. You'll have to attempt to count them yourself though
Good picture though.Listing of Clownfish Species (not including Maroon Clownfish)
Amphiprion ocellaris
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11 â€"œ 13. Easily identified by the orange color and three white bands, the middle one widening forward to the head centrally (Ref. 48636). Caudal fin rounded.
Amphiprion percula
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11 â€"œ 13. Overall orange with three black-bordered vertical white bands. The fins also orange with black edges. Dorsal count of 9 spines (Ref. 48636).
Travis L. Stevens
New member
You can swab their slime coat and do a DNA test
:lmao:I hate to say it, but that might be what you have to do. You could also use a little Clove Oil to knock it out so it can be still.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Do you already have Clove Oil or something? Where did you get yours at?
herpchat
New member
You live you learn;
I found this post on MS-222
We have stayed away from using MS-222 because of its
carcinogenic nature although it is widely used in industry. We have used both 2-phenoxyethanol and tertiary amyl alcohol to anaethetise fish:
2-phenoxyethanol has a narrower range of tolerance than tertiary amyl alcohol so we now use the latter almost exclusively. We use a 1% solution and find it works beautifully for goldfish, brook trout, charr & salmon.
It can be obtained from any chemical company (e.g. Sigma); the only downside is that it is becoming somewhat expensive. If you need further information please contact me at: Y7GX@UNB.CA
Maybe Clove Oil is a better choice
I found this post on MS-222
We have stayed away from using MS-222 because of its
carcinogenic nature although it is widely used in industry. We have used both 2-phenoxyethanol and tertiary amyl alcohol to anaethetise fish:
2-phenoxyethanol has a narrower range of tolerance than tertiary amyl alcohol so we now use the latter almost exclusively. We use a 1% solution and find it works beautifully for goldfish, brook trout, charr & salmon.
It can be obtained from any chemical company (e.g. Sigma); the only downside is that it is becoming somewhat expensive. If you need further information please contact me at: Y7GX@UNB.CA
Maybe Clove Oil is a better choice
Travis L. Stevens
New member
It seems many people use MS-222, but I don't have any experience with it.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
That one spine could be the difference in a species. While A. percula and A. ocellaris might readily breed together, it might not be Gerald's intention to have a A. percula x A. ocellaris hybrid fry.
herpchat
New member
It matters to me, I am a purist, I will not let 2 species breed that are not the same*. Not only that they would not be BAPable under the OKAA BAP rules and since I chair it I have to follow its rules as well as enforce them.
*Domestic Bettas already contain genes from wild species other then splendens and I have made hybrids for research purposes.
*Domestic Bettas already contain genes from wild species other then splendens and I have made hybrids for research purposes.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
While I understand and respect the OKAA BAP rules, isn't the underlying goal of the BAP education? While hybridization isn't normally found in the wild in clownfish, but it is sometimes, wouldn't even a milestone of breeding a marine fish suffice? It's difficult enough as it is. Is a pure bred really that sacred? Just speculating. Not trying to confront or rag on anyone or anything
herpchat
New member
Your answer is yes. "Pure breeds are sacred"
Despite all the goal is conservation. That would mean preserving the species in their "pure form"
Hybrids are used for research purposes only and once the research is completed must be destroyed or rendered non breeding. (I often don't exactly follow the protical here but will farm them out as pets provided they are not spawned.) If someone spawns them then they must destroy them or be blacklisted. We have had a few problems with Mahachai and I have been a bit militant in handling them but we have 100% pure Mahachai stocks. See my article Betta in Peril: The Mahachai Situation. http://www.okcaa.org/articles/mahachai.pdf
Despite all the goal is conservation. That would mean preserving the species in their "pure form"
Hybrids are used for research purposes only and once the research is completed must be destroyed or rendered non breeding. (I often don't exactly follow the protical here but will farm them out as pets provided they are not spawned.) If someone spawns them then they must destroy them or be blacklisted. We have had a few problems with Mahachai and I have been a bit militant in handling them but we have 100% pure Mahachai stocks. See my article Betta in Peril: The Mahachai Situation. http://www.okcaa.org/articles/mahachai.pdf
