Help a novice

JTL

New member
I would like to get either a pair of Onyx or black and white Ocellaris or black Percula's. What is the difference between the bnw and the Perc? I see the name used interchangeably.
John
 
They are two different species. Onyx are Perculas, the black and whites are Ocellaris. Black and white perculas don't exist.
 
Black percula = A. percula with black connecting between all three bars in adult form. They typically come from the Solomon Islands.

Onyx percula = Same as "black percula" but from a specific captive bred lineage.

Black ocellaris = A. ocellaris that originate from Darwin, Australia or local waters. They will be all black in their adult form except for their bars. As juviniles they typically are a dark brown with a light brown mouth.
 
Black Onxy Percula clowns carry the name Onyx because they have they have an abnormal amount of black coloration on their body as opposed to the majority orange of the common True Percula Clownfish. The Onyx Percula Clownfish will have black coloration connecting the first two vertical white stripes that are characteristic of the Percula Clownfish. Onyx Percula Clownfish tend to be rare mostly found around New Guinea.

The Black and White Ocellaris Clownfish, also known as the Black Perc, Black Percula Clown Anemonefish, or Black and White False Percula Clown and is normally found in association with anemones on the reefs of the Coral Sea.
 
......

The Black and White Ocellaris Clownfish, also known as the Black Perc, Black Percula Clown Anemonefish, or Black and White False Percula Clown and is normally found in association with anemones on the reefs of the Coral Sea.

They shouldn't be known as "Black Perc, Black Percula Clown Anemonefish" because they are not Perculas, but are Ocellaris.

IMO, no Ocellaris should ever be referred to as a "XXXX Percula" or false perc, it just adds to confusion.
 
Tangient Time. I apologize in advance.

Tangient Time. I apologize in advance.

I would like to get either a pair of Onyx or black and white Ocellaris or black Percula's. What is the difference between the bnw and the Perc? I see the name used interchangeably.
John

They are two different species. Onyx are Perculas, the black and whites are Ocellaris. Black and white perculas don't exist.
This is accurate. To ellaborate...
Black percula = A. percula with black connecting between all three bars in adult form. They typically come from the Solomon Islands.

Onyx percula = Same as "black percula" but from a specific captive bred lineage.

Black ocellaris = A. ocellaris that originate from Darwin, Australia or local waters. They will be all black in their adult form except for their bars. As juviniles they typically are a dark brown with a light brown mouth.

Choose what you like more, they are one of the harder fish
I vehemently disagree.
...assuming Todd was wrong about the "i."

I am guessing that s/he left out an " i " and meant "hardier"

And if that is the case I don't agree, depending on where the fish come from.

You're either kidding or looking for a rediculous debate.
I'll pee first. I know... I know... the first ****er never stands a chance.
So, you'd consider an O or a perc to be one of the less hardy fish when compared to say a nigripes or a chrysopterus?

I've kept:
biaculeatus (white maybe a gold juvie)

ocellaris (WC/CB orange and WC Darwin - CB and WC) *several hundred of each
percula (orange and black) *several hundred of each

clarkii (several varieties)
chrysopterus (1 pair)

frenatus (2-3 probably CB)
barberi (2)
melanopus (3-4)

chrysogaster (7)
latezonatus (6-7 total)
polymnus (black and brown varieties) > or = 8
sebae (2-3)
polymus/sebae hybrids (2)

akallapisos (2-4)
sandaracinos (4-6)
perideraion (3-4)
thiellei (2)
leucokranos (3CB - 4WC)
nigripes (12-17)

Most were sold when I moved or got bored with them. Probably 10-15% (not including the hundreds of Os and percs which I sold) have died.

Unless you're throwing species comparison to the wind and referring solely to shipping and collection practices from origin to consumer, I'm not sure where you're coming from. Those are the only factors that would make either of those two fish difficult for a novice.

Black Onxy Percula clowns carry the name Onyx because they have they have an abnormal amount of black coloration on their body as opposed to the majority orange of the common True Percula Clownfish. The Onyx Percula Clownfish will have black coloration connecting the first two vertical white stripes that are characteristic of the Percula Clownfish. Onyx Percula Clownfish tend to be rare mostly found around New Guinea.

The Black and White Ocellaris Clownfish, also known as the Black Perc, Black Percula Clown Anemonefish, or Black and White False Percula Clown and is normally found in association with anemones on the reefs of the Coral Sea.
Much of this is flat wrong. I'm amazed at how well the vendors have succeeded in confusing the crap out of the general population. People don't know whether they're coming or going.
I think it's become convoluted beyond repair.... and now breeders are cross breeding them. Once they ban us from wild collection, nobody will have a clue what they're getting. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with breeders encouraging a trait for the market because at least the blood line is still pure but now that they've started cross breeding species that wouldn't normally cross breed, nobody will know what they're getting anymore. Yes. I know I'm guilty too. It was a mistake on several levels.

They shouldn't be known as "Black Perc, Black Percula Clown Anemonefish" because they are not Perculas, but are Ocellaris.

IMO, no Ocellaris should ever be referred to as a "XXXX Percula" or false perc, it just adds to confusion.
Amen!!! Gotta go by the scientific names or vendors can screw you... and that's not to say it's always intentional.
 
This is accurate. To ellaborate...




...assuming Todd was wrong about the "i."



You're either kidding or looking for a rediculous debate.
I'll pee first. I know... I know... the first ****er never stands a chance.
So, you'd consider an O or a perc to be one of the less hardy fish when compared to say a nigripes or a chrysopterus?

I've kept:
biaculeatus (white maybe a gold juvie)

ocellaris (WC/CB orange and WC Darwin - CB and WC) *several hundred of each
percula (orange and black) *several hundred of each

clarkii (several varieties)
chrysopterus (1 pair)

frenatus (2-3 probably CB)
barberi (2)
melanopus (3-4)

chrysogaster (7)
latezonatus (6-7 total)
polymnus (black and brown varieties) > or = 8
sebae (2-3)
polymus/sebae hybrids (2)

akallapisos (2-4)
sandaracinos (4-6)
perideraion (3-4)
thiellei (2)
leucokranos (3CB - 4WC)
nigripes (12-17)

..............

First, try to make a post without having your words censored out.

Even though you know more then 99% of the people here, perhaps I will surprise you again. :rolleye1:

I was referring to if they were wild caught or not. That is why I put "depending on where they come from", the initial care is more difficult with WC.

But, I really do believe that this will be my last reply to you, it just isn't worth my time anymore.
 
They shouldn't be known as "Black Perc, Black Percula Clown Anemonefish" because they are not Perculas, but are Ocellaris.

IMO, no Ocellaris should ever be referred to as a "XXXX Percula" or false perc, it just adds to confusion.

I completely agree with you. It confuses people.I know I was when i first started looking at clowns.
 
I didn't mean to start a war. Here is the deal. I have very few fish in my reef tank, just a couple of chromis, and two blennies and a coral beauty. I think it would be nice to have a couple of interesting clowns. I actually have a pair of what are probably O clowns although I don't know for sure. They are now in my 35g tank that I plan to use for QT. A friend of mine can get me a pair of wild caught Onyx for $125. I am not sure that WC is the way to go. Seems to me they may be more likely to have some disease and then there is the price.
 
I didn't mean to start a war. Here is the deal. I have very few fish in my reef tank, just a couple of chromis, and two blennies and a coral beauty. I think it would be nice to have a couple of interesting clowns. I actually have a pair of what are probably O clowns although I don't know for sure. They are now in my 35g tank that I plan to use for QT. A friend of mine can get me a pair of wild caught Onyx for $125. I am not sure that WC is the way to go. Seems to me they may be more likely to have some disease and then there is the price.

It had nothing to do with you. I'll PM him if there's a problem in the future.

To get this thread back on track.... While Os and Percs are among the easiest to care for in captivity, it is accurate that WC are more of a risk. Albeit a very small increase. Only you can decide whether that risk is worth the price. WC "onyx" are not uncommon and really shouldn't cost you so much. Just keep an eye out at the LFS if you have good ones in your area.

If you need an ID on the clowns you currently have, post a pic here or on an new thread. Most of the time it's very easy to distinguish them apart.

Good for you on using quarrantine. You will be far more likely to be successful if you do decide on the WC "onyx." All I was saying about that is that "Onyx" is to melanistic/black A. percula what "ping pong" is to table tennis. It's a brand name for lack of a better term. The most famous of which are Rod Bueler's. If memory serves, he got his from another breeder. That bloodline bears the name "onyx." There are percs from Solomon Islands that look just as good and do not bare the heavy price tag. That said, Rod (if he's still breeding them) went the extra mile and kept them for much longer than many commercial outfits would typically go. As such they were worth more money for the additional handling.
Melanistic perculas take a very long time to develop their stripes and black coloration. Melanistic Os are very dark from the get go, develop their stripes much faster and have fewer mis-bars outside the normal borders.
Here's some pics to demonstrate.

These are melanistic A. ocellaris adults.
IMG00150-20091111-1848.jpg


These are melanistic ocellaris juviniles.
4.jpg


These are melanistic, sub-adult, Solomon Island A. perculas. They can get darker than these. You'll notice the black between the second and third bars is not yet touching on the female. In the males it often doesn't.
Jan200940.jpg


These are Solomon Island juvies. They can vary quite a bit from one to the next. A good breeding pair will yield a higher percentage of melanistic babies.
Jan200937.jpg
 
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