True Percula Clownfish, Amphiprion percula

Percula Clownfish are beautiful and iconic marine fish, found on reefs in the Indo pacific Ocean. They are instantly recognizable, due to their amazing orange bodies and prominent white stripes. Clownfish are extremely popular in the aquarium trade. As a result, they are ideal as first fish in new tanks.

Clownfish form strict hierarchies, in which, the dominant fish is female. In the absence of a matriarch, a larger male Percula Clown will change gender and also become the new boss. When it is time to lay eggs, the breeding pair will clear an oval shaped space for brood to go. The male Percula Clownfish take up the job of guarding and fanning the eggs. Success of the brood depends on how attentive the subordinate males were.

Famously, Clownfish share a symbiotic relationship with anemones. The Anemones offer the clownfish protection against predators. This is so, because anemones have stinging cells called nematocysts. Clownfish have protective mucus coats, which prevents the host from stinging them. In return, the Percula Clownfish brings in food and keep the Anemone free from parasites.

Clownfish are omnivorous, so they will eat some algae and small meaty foods, such as zooplankton or larvae.