false and true percula breeding

[Roman09]

Hi guys my question is that if true perculas can breed with false ones. Because i really like the true percula clownfish and then i saw i realy nice false black clownfish. Are they compatable? has anybody had success in mating or even just keeping them together?

[Amphiprion]

The answer is yes. They can and will interbreed quite readily. This can also make identifying some tank raised specimens fairly difficult. The fish will possess characteristics of both. Very dissimilar species will also interbreed, like A. ocellaris (ocellaris or "false percula" clownfish)and A. frenatus (tomato clownfish). There have been others, as well.

[BoCoMo]

Does this create any interesting coloration's?

[Amphiprion]

Having trouble finding good pictures. Google only wants to pick up whitebonnet clowns (A. leucokranos), which are a naturally occurring hybrid. I'll try to see if I can't find some more pics. The colorations can be very interesting.

[BoCoMo]

Having trouble finding good pictures. Google only wants to pick up whitebonnet clowns (A. leucokranos), which are a naturally occurring hybrid. I'll try to see if I can't find some more pics. The colorations can be very interesting.

Yeah, I would like to see - did the same google search and having no luck.

[Amphiprion]

Yeah, I would like to see - did the same google search and having no luck.

I didn't find the same tomato x ocellaris pics I had seen years ago (absolutely no photoshopping--saw them firsthand).

Anyway, I did find an official study that had done this as well. The funny thing is that they get credit for it, despite the fact that people had been doing it for many years before: http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20073204064

[BoCoMo]

very cool. may have to "try this at home" when I get my salty set up! Thanks for the link (wish there was more info)

[Roman09]

it is kinda cool but pure breed is pretty sweet

[Roman09]

maybe cross a true percula with a maroon clownfish

[Amphiprion]

maybe cross a true percula with a maroon clownfish

That's probably the one cross that won't happen, I'm afraid. They've diverged too much. Not to mention that it has been attempted many a time and has never succeeded.

[Roman09]

Maybe a true with a black clownfish (false) then?

[Amphiprion]

Yes :)

[Roman09]

i went to petco fisrt yesterday to check em out and they had a real nice black clown for like 35 bucks! i was like wow! pricey! they were all false i think except the maroon? anyhow then i went to this place in ontario called global aqautics and they had 2 true perculas..which i was gonna get both but one had a "parasite" coming out right under the eye...is it "hole in the head"? i wanted both but didnt want to deal with any illnesses. it looked fine though