The Breeder's Registry© Information contained in this report is taken from submitted observations from aquarist unless noted otherwise (see comments). Information may be reproduced providing the Breeder's Registry is cited.
Breeder ID: AMPPER-031894-BROSTA-001 Date received: 3/18/94
Identification: Amphiprion percula (Lacepède, 1802) Geographic origin: Indo-Pacific
Taxonomy: (after I.C.Z.N.)
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Osteichthyes
Order Perciformes Superorder Teleostei
Family Pomacentridae
Genus Amphiprion
Species percula (Lacepède, 1802)
Description: Bright orange with three (3) complete vertical white bars on the body; one located just behind the eye and extending over the preoperculum; one stripe at mid-body which approximately divides the dorsal fin. Mid-body the bar extends forward. The third bar is at the base of the caudal fin posterior to the dorsal fin. The bars are often bordered in black which varies in width and may extend from margin to margin replacing much of the orange coloration in some specimens. (A. Ocellaris does not have a thick black margin around the white bars) A. percula typically has 10 dorsal spines (9 is rare) and the spinous portion of the dorsal fin (anterior) is shorter than A. ocellaris (which also typically has 11 dorsal spines (10 is rare). The two species do not have overlapping ranges.
Duration male(yr):
Broodstock notes: Pair owned by other aquarist. Larvae were transferred upon hatching..
Physical differences: Female is larger, more robust. Male is smaller.
Adult diet: Mainly flake food and frozen foods.
Pre-spawning activity: Both cleaned site at base of anemone. Pair spawned in a heavily populated community tank.
Time spawning began: not indicated
Area spawning occurred: At base of Heteractis magnifica
Frequency of spawning: sporadic Egg Description: not described
Approximate quantity: ~ 200 Incubation: 9 - 10 days
Time of hatching: after dark Egg changes / development: Turned silver just prior to hatching
Newly hatched appearance: Dark bodies, silver stomachs, reflective eyes. Swim "head-up" in water column.
Transfer / removal method: Dipped out with a glass and poured into a bucket and transported
Spawning tank size (liter): 375 Sides of tank covered? No
Lighting & photo period: 4 110-watt VHO flourescent daylight. 14 hours
Filtration: Wet / dry , Skimmer
Additives and dosages: none
Water temperature: 76 F Specific gravity: 1.026 pH: 8.3 Nitrate: < 1 ppm
Fry development / changes: Day 4; body darkening with silver stomachs. Day 6; "wagging" swimming motion, tail beginning pigmentation. Day 11, metamorphosis. Head bar visible
First Food Offered: rotifers with microalgae
Second Food Offered: newly hatched Artemia, copepods day 7
Development description: Day 12, Center bar visible, orange coloration . Day 13,; juveniles. Day 15; Eating pulverized flake food. Day 27 ; moved to grow-out tank.
Rearing tank size (liter): 2.5 Sides covered?: Yes, black
Lighting & photo period: ambient (14 hours)
Filtration: none, rigid airline with slow stream of bubbles. 10% daily water changes via IV drip
Additives & doses: none. Instant Ocean ASW
Water temperature: 76-78 F Specific gravity: 1.026 pH: 8.3 Nitrate: < 1 ppm
Comments: Grow-out was accomplished using Lustar (# F-210) breeder's "baskets placed into "reef" type tank. Several larvae were mis-barred (incomplete, spots, missing). 9 - 13 mm at 60 days.
Amphiprion percula was also described by Lacepede, 1802 as Lutjanus percula, which was validated by Allen in 1991 as Amphiprion percula. The original description appeared in Hist. Nat. Poiss. :194, 239, V. 4. The description was from specimens collected at Port Praslin , New Britain (now Paua New Guinea).
Word origin: Amphiprion is from the Greek roots amph, -i, -o, meaning Around, on both sides; double, and -prion which means a saw. The genus percula is from the Greek root perc, =a, -i , meaning an the Perch; and the Latin root -ul , =a, =e, =un, =us meaning little. Likewise, there is also the Latin root -cula, =a, =um, =us which also means little. Other combinations of roots exist, however the translation seems less connected.