Really a black percula?

[ChunksInClemson]

The LFS had what they called a black percula. It didnt have the body shape of a percula or ocellaris at all. It looked more like the body shape of a saddleback. Here's a pic I found on the internet that resembles it....

What do you guys think?

 

[OrionN]

The fish pictured is a A. polymnus AKA Saddleback clownfish

 

[stykthyn]

it's the black variant of A. Polymnus, or the saddleback clown. the black morph is commonly called a black perc

 

[stykthyn]

ahh minh, you just beat me to it

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Ok, thats exactly what I thought! I guess I'm getting better at seeing falsely labeled fish at the LFS. They swore up and down that it was a black perc but I knew better. What kind of things can I say that will change their mind?

 

[phender]

They are just going from what is on their invoice from whatever wholesaler or transhipper they use. I think if they actually cared that it was a black saddleback clown (A. polymnus), they would already know.

If you really feel compelled to convince them (even though I think it would be a waste of your time), grab a copy of Wilkerson's or Fautin/Allen's Clownfish books (hopefully they have at least one of those for sale at the LFS) and show them the difference in the body and head shapes of polymnus vs. percula.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

I guess it doesn't really matter...whatever...

 

[edwing206]

nice fish tho

 

[dantodd]

I've pointed out a few mislabeled clowns at one LFS around here and I've noticed it happening much less recently. On my last trip to the same store there was a polymnus that was labeled "black percula" and one of the employees had crossed out percula and written sebae. It was still wrong but at least they are obviously trying harder!

 

[Sacrifice]

i have the same one, it is not a black percular.

 

[Dman]

In the trade it's commonly refered to black and white percula. (check fishindex.com) Yet the Latin name is for saddlebacks. Are you looking for black and white occelaris? (see even liveaquaria can't get it right)
I believe they are collected in Australia and wild caughts are not to found here in NA.

 

[OrionN]

Live Aquaria actually got it right in this case. They ID the picure by their Scientific name as Amphiprion ocellaris. The common name is Black and White Percula. That is why using commmon name is such a poor way to write or talk about your fish. Some of the common names are very good like Purple tang or Yellow tang, while other common names like Seabe anemone can actually mean any of three or four species of anmeones.