I'm fairly new to the reef aquarium thing and have a dumb question probably. Can a false percula and a ocelleris clownfish mate? I purchased the false percula about 8 months ago and my wife purchased me a ocelleris clownfish about 2 weeks ago. They fought like crazy for about 4 days and now they are pretty much inseparable they rub against each other constantly and do some weird quivering thing.
False percula and ocelleris clownfish?
- Thread starter BradHall
- Start date
Not all biologists agree on how to divide up clown species. Some species, I think latezanetus one, are thought to be common hybrids. Hrybrids between species are very, very common in wild clowns, and the offspring are all fertile.
Other biologists argue that the DNA between clowns is very close, and that clowns may in fact be one species with different breeds, much like domestic dogs are all one species. Strange as this sounds, you take any two clowns, breed them, they will have fertile offspring.
Biologists argue a lot though. They still haven't settled whether fungus are plants or not. I do feel that they will make some changes in how they classify clowns though. till then I am content with 29 species.
hotrodolds
New member
maybe ill get a perc instead of another occ next week to join my lil misbar occ.
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elegance coral
They call me EC
Can you post a link to where you got the info about ALL hybred clowns being fertile? Not arguing. Just asking.
1geo
1geo
In the book "Clownfishes" by Joyce D. Wilkerson, page 63-65 she discusses hybrid clownfish. She states, "The infertile-offspring test for species seems not to apply to clownfish, however, because clownfish known to crossbreed in aquariums do produce fertile hybrid offspring. Hybrid clowns appear capable of reproducing regardless of their heritage. You can, for instance, easily cross Amphiprion percula and A. ocellaris clowns and produce fertile 'Percularis' clowns. With patience and persistence, you can create your own unique hybrid by crossing different species." There is a lot more in the book but this gives you the idea. 1geo
One definition of species is that they produce viable offspring. By this definition clowns are one species. Hybridization in reef environments, principally with corals, is making biologists take another look at how species are defined
my sister is a biologist btw. Talk to one. It is amazing what they know, and don't know. For example, my sister never realized a hermit will kill a snail for its shell or that anemones were motile
my sister is a biologist btw. Talk to one. It is amazing what they know, and don't know. For example, my sister never realized a hermit will kill a snail for its shell or that anemones were motile
Dragonlady
Premium Member
It is possible that A. ocellaris and A. percula are the same fish from different locations. Variants of the same species with different # of dorsal spines perhaps?
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