True Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion percula)

The True Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion percula) is the original Nemo, and the one most people picture when they think of a clownfish. It wears the same orange, white, and black pattern as its Ocellaris cousin, but the black outlines around each white bar are far bolder, and the orange runs deeper and richer. Peaceful, fully reef safe, and famously long lived, it is one of the best first fish for a marine tank. Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock and supplies to build the perfect reef around it.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 20 gallons or larger for a single fish or a bonded pair. Perculas stay small and claim one corner of the tank rather than roaming the whole system.
• Water parameters: 74 to 78°F, pH 8.0 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.026, dKH 8 to 12. Stability matters far more than hitting an exact number.
• Aquascape: open swimming space with rockwork or a host to shelter against. A lid is smart insurance while a new fish settles in.
• Feeding: eager omnivore. Feed once or twice daily on a quality marine pellet plus frozen foods such as PE Mysis and brine shrimp.
• Pairing: clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning every fish starts male. Put two together and the larger, more dominant one becomes the female of a bonded pair.
• Hosting: an anemone is optional. In the wild Perculas favor Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea; in a home reef a bubble tip anemone is the practical, far easier host.

Choose Your Size

Pairing tip: if you want two, take one Medium and one XL Select. The size gap lets them sort out their roles quickly with much less squabbling than two evenly matched fish.

Specifications

Compatibility

True Perculas are model citizens in a peaceful community or reef tank. Excellent tank mates include the Firefish Goby, Royal Gramma, Blue Green Chromis, Pajama Cardinalfish, and cleanup crew inverts like the Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. Keep one clownfish species per tank. Mixing species, or adding a third clown to an established pair, almost always ends in bullying. A settled pair will happily adopt a bubble tip anemone if you offer one, but they are perfectly content without.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Piscine Energetics PE Mysis frozen food
• Xtreme Marine PeeWee Pellets
• Vitalis Marine Grazing Pellets
• Green Bulb Anemone or Snowflake Bulb Anemone host options
• HELLOREEF Clownfish & Anemone Aquarium Kit for a first clownfish setup

FAQ

What is the difference between a True Percula and an Ocellaris?
Look at the black. A True Percula has thick black borders framing every white bar, sometimes so heavy the orange looks like it is outlined in ink. An Ocellaris has thin black pinstripes instead. Perculas also carry 10 dorsal spines to the Ocellaris count of 11, and stay a touch smaller. Care is identical, so pick whichever look you prefer.

Does my clownfish need an anemone?
No. Perculas live full, healthy lives without one, and most captive-bred clowns never see an anemone. If you want the full Nemo picture, wait until your tank is mature and stable, then try a bubble tip.

Can I keep two together?
Yes, and a pair is the nicest way to keep them. Add both at the same time, ideally with a size difference, and they will settle the female and male roles themselves. Do not add a third.

Is it reef safe?
Completely. A Percula will not touch corals or invertebrates. A hosting clown may wallow in a soft coral or a torch, which can irritate the coral but causes no lasting harm.