What makes an Onyx?

Tron87

New member
What is the differentiation between Onyx and True Perc? Is it just the extent and formation of the coloring on the fish?

My LFS just got Four awesome looking True Percs. They are fat and healthy and about 2" or so. They have heavy black coloration. The space between the first and second stripe is completely black almost right to the dorsal fin base. THere is also a lot of black between the second and third and on the tail.

Does this make them Onyx or maybe Psuedo-Onyx-ish?



Also. I've had a 1.25" True perc for about two and a half weeks now. It is more slender than the ones in the LFS and rather manly looking by clown standards. (meaning it looks girly to us):p Should I resist trying to pair it with one of the larger ones at the store.

Everyone says to go big then little but I'd rather pick up a fatty that a smaller one because I find their health to be more precarious in most cases.

Also, my clown lives with two large damsels. He remains rather cowed by them but they do not harm him. Since he has been kind of "on his toes" since moving into my tank, would this increase the chances of him submitting to a larger newcomer?

I also plan to completely rework my rock and substrate soon. This can be planned to coincide with the new clown. Should I plan for it to thow everyone out of wack and give them all a fair start.

P.S. if the damsels start any trouble they are gone baby.:mad2:
 
touchy subject hehe

basicly Onyx is the Black morph of A. Percula they are colected in the soloman islands.
the controversy starts at the naming of the onyx who named it and whether only descendants of his clowns are true onyx.

as for for the Clowns you have try and find a larger percula to pair it with double its size would be best
good luck
 
To be refered to as onyx, a true perc (A. percula) should have all three of its stripes completely connected by black "bridges". The thicker and darker the bridges the better.

You would probably be safe in getting a 2" clown to pair with yours. The chances of your 1.25" clown has changed to a female is pretty slim, IME.

FWIW: I have found that pair a perc that already has an established territory in a tank is not always easy. Rearranging the rocks a bit might be helpful.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9484977#post9484977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phender
To be refered to as onyx, a true perc (A. percula) should have all three of its stripes completely connected by black "bridges". The thicker and darker the bridges the better.

You would probably be safe in getting a 2" clown to pair with yours. The chances of your 1.25" clown has changed to a female is pretty slim, IME.

Agreed
 
Holy crud. The fish were marked as coming from the Solomon Islands. I think there are solid onyx from the descriptions. Short of coming from Rod's Reef I they are as onyx as it gets, about.

If somebody does't instantly talk me out of it I thik I'll be taking a trip to the LFS to get the biggest one I see.

And I might be ditching the Damsels at the same time.
A bit of a shame to see then go though. I've had one for like 7 years.
 
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