Sorry for a noob question...but what clownfish

[fyrfytr]

Other then the obvuius look...what are the real differences in clownfish? I am putting a 55gal tank together for the family...which inclides a 3yr old (whose first word just happened to be fish) and a 5 month old. With that in mind, I am sure a nemo will be a requirement in the tank. I guess I am just wondering what the real difference was in like the true and false perc, ocellaris, and even the clarkii.

Thanks in advance, sorry if it is a truly silly question that if i spend more time reading I would know and understand

 

[rssjsb]

Common names are annoying because they don't provide much information.

Amphiprion percula is the "true perc." A. Ocellaris is sometimes sold as a "false perc." The two species can look a lot alike, and they most resemble "nemo." Both are widely available as tank-bred specimens. The tank bread percs come in a lot of different variations - onyx, snowflakes, picassos, etc. Ocellaris are available in black and white. Other than that, I don't think there's a lot of difference in their care or behavior.

Clarkii's belong to a different family, and are bigger and more aggressive than perculas or ocellaris. They're pretty fish, but can limit tankmates in a 55.

Another aggressive clownfish that you're likely to see in your LFS is a maroon. These are the red clowns with gold or white stripes. They're very pretty, but are the most aggressive and territorial clowns. Tomato clowns and fire clowns are in the same "complex" and will eventually claim every inch of a 55 gallon tank for themselves, making it really hard to add other fish.

Hope that helps.

 

[FishNutty]

Don't forget Dory! My little sister is always bugging me to get a hippo tang for my tank, no matter how many times I tell her they get too big for a 12 gallon tank!

Robin already covered a lot, so my two cents is--do you want the full 'Nemo' experience, complete with an anemone? Some species host better than others, and the anemone species is also very important. If you really want that, preplanning the clownfish and anemone species now could be very helpful later.

One other note of interest-black Ocellaris bear an uncanny resemblance to killer whales/Shamu, which the kids might like, and will pair with normally colored Ocellaris easily.
Good luck!

 

[ssgtgonzo]

Percs are slower growing compared to occys. They are also more sensitive. Most sources will steer you toward occys as your first clown.

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[10galclowns]

I would definitely recommend the occelaris clown. They look like the most to nemo.


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[10galclowns]

For a Halloween clown you can get a platinum clown. They look like a ghost. Lol


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[reeffreak75]

Ocellaris are nemos..not the true percs,...

 

[reeffreak75]

Ps..I believe true percs are much higher class...lol

 

[fyrfytr]

Not looking for class or the true "nemo" experience....there isnt enough visual difference between them that a 3yr old will be able to tell the difference. I am looking for the fish that is the easiest to work with and the onet hat will give me the most options down the road.

As for the true expereince, I think I am going to stay away from the anemone at this point....too new to saltwater to jump in that much

 

[OrionN]

Not looking for class or the true "nemo" experience....there isnt enough visual difference between them that a 3yr old will be able to tell the difference. I am looking for the fish that is the easiest to work with and the onet hat will give me the most options down the road.

As for the true expereince, I think I am going to stay away from the anemone at this point....too new to saltwater to jump in that much

This show that you have a lot more sense than some of the advisers you see here.

Ocellaris (the most popular clownfish) or Percula would be the classical clownfish most non-reefer thinks about. They are about the same in behavior, ease of care or size. I doubt that many people can tell the different between the two. IMO, mature Percula is more beautiful than Ocellaris. They are a little more expensive but the mature fish have more black in compare to Ocellarist, however, there are Percula that have no black at all just like Ocellairst. The only way to tell them apart is by counting rays on the dorsal fins or looking at the eye. There is supple differences between the two species that can be seen in coloration around the eyes.

You cannot go wrong with either species

 

[ssgtgonzo]

Keep in mind that clowns have been known to associate with much easier to keep hosts such as big leathers and euphyllias. And, you could always try an artificial nem...less rate of success with regards to a clown associating with it, but 0% chance of it dying and bombing your tank!

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[fyrfytr]

From what I have been able to see...all kinds of the clown are pieceful species and should not limit too much my future choices of fish and inverts.

LOL although it already has. My all time favorite fish is the lion fish (dont ask why, I have always been captivated by them)

 

[ssgtgonzo]

I wouldn't say they ate all peaceful. Maroons and others in that complex can be downright vicious. And some larger ones dentation can be scary! They can easily draw blood!

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[ssgtgonzo]

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39623502@N02/7837001228/

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[OrionN]

If you want Lion fish in the tank then larger clowns are what you want but the large clowns can be very aggressive. Maroon clowns (Premnas biaculeatus) in in a different genus than the rest of the clowns.
The link below is a very good free ebook by Dr. Fautin who is an Scientist well know and well regard. Her file of expertise is Host Anemones and clownfish. Although it is a older book, it has great informations

http://www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html

 

[Timber77]

I had a mature female tomato clown that really knew to bite the top of my hand on the vein in the same spot every time I had to put my hand in the tank. Drew blood...Its been 10 years and still have a sore spot... my other tank had big eels, triggers, lions and I would rather put my hands in there than in the reef tank with the dracula clown.

the Ocellaris are probably the easiest to keep and best temperment for a new reefer, you wont be limiting your other fish choices as much