Do Percula Clownfish absolutely need an anemone to survive?

No, they do perfectly fine without an anemone in a home aquarium. While it is a natural behaviour, many captive-bred clownfish will happily adopt a coral, a rocky crevice, or even aquarium equipment as their 'host'.

How do I tell the difference between a Percula and an Ocellaris Clownfish?

True Percula Clownfish generally have thicker black outlines around their white stripes and typically possess 10 dorsal spines. Ocellaris Clownfish have very thin black outlines and usually feature 11 dorsal spines.

Can I keep a small group or 'school' of clownfish together?

It is not recommended in standard-sized aquariums. Clownfish naturally form a strict pair bond, and the dominant male and female will typically become highly aggressive towards any other clownfish in the tank, often resulting in fatalities.

Why is my clownfish frantically rubbing against a powerhead or corner of the tank?

In the absence of a host anemone, clownfish instinctually seek shelter and will attempt to 'host' whatever they find comfortable. This rubbing behaviour is them adopting the object as their safe space.

How large do Percula Clownfish grow?

Females are the larger of the two sexes and can reach up to 8 cm in length, whereas the males typically remain considerably smaller, usually around 5 to 6 cm.

MarineMarineBeginner

Percula Clownfish

Amphiprion percula

The quintessential marine fish, the Percula Clownfish is renowned for its striking orange, white, and black bands and fascinating symbiotic relationship with sea anemones.

List this species for sale Find Percula Clownfish near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 14 – 21 dGH
Salinity: 1.02 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 5 – 8 cm
Minimum for a pair: 75 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 20 years
Diet: Omnivore
Water flow: Moderate
Preferred setup: Live rock with plenty of hiding spaces; a host anemone is natural but entirely optional.

About the Percula Clownfish

Often confused with its close relative the Ocellaris Clownfish, the True Percula possesses noticeably thicker black margins around its three white bands. It is a highly popular, hardy marine species that adapts remarkably well to aquarium life, making it a fantastic choice for beginner aquarists. Belonging to the Pomacentridae family, this iconic fish brings vibrant colour, engaging waddling swimming patterns, and dynamic behaviour to any reef or fish-only system.

Find Percula Clownfish

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check Percula Clownfish against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Percula Clownfish comes from

Native range

Western Pacific Ocean, Melanesia, Great Barrier Reef

Countries / regions

Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

Habitat

Shallow coastal reefs and lagoons, invariably found in association with host anemones.

Restricted heavily to the western margins of the Pacific, rarely overlapping in the wild with the closely related A. ocellaris.

Similar species

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Maroon Clownfish
Premnas biaculeatus
Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Coral Beauty Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
A peaceful dwarf angelfish that occupies different areas of the rockwork and will completely ignore the clownfish.
Great
Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
Slow-moving and peaceful, they share similar water parameters without competing for the clownfish's territory.
Great
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Mixing different species of clownfish in a standard aquarium almost always results in severe territorial aggression and fatalities.
Not recommended
Volitan Lionfish
Pterois volitans
A highly predatory species that will easily swallow a Percula Clownfish whole once large enough.
Not recommended
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
While generally compatible, older Six Line Wrasses can become extremely aggressive and harass smaller, less mobile tankmates.
Compatible with caution

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all Percula Clownfish listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for Percula Clownfish in this market yet.

Looking for Percula Clownfish?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search Percula Clownfish listings Post a wanted request