What the difference between true percs and false percs?

[20 20]

Species? Looks?

[MiddletonMark]

They are called that as the two varieties look quite similar, but there are two different species represented.

Amphiprion ocellaris = `false' perc ... probably the most common kind and a joy to keep in my experience.

Amphiprion percula = `real' perc. Never kept them.

The striping is a little different [think percs have wider black bands, mature more slowly] ... but unless you saw them in tanks next to each other it's hard to tell IMO.
Different species of fish, but very closely related species.

[kau_cinta_ku]

mark has about it down to a pat. mainly diff. is the true perc.s will also have a darker orange with thicker black around the white bands. also some say you can also tell from their eyes, not sure about that one though

[20 20]

Thanks for the info!

[MiddletonMark]

Thank Joyce Wilkerson and her `clownfishes' book :)

[Randall_James]

Ocellaris has 11 (maybe 10)dorsal spines/ no black border around the white markings


<--- my rare Clownder is an Ocellaris :D
ref:
http://fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=6509
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Amphiprion&speciesname=ocellaris

Pecula has 10 (maybe 9) dorsal spines W/black border around white markings
ref:
http://fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=9209
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Amphiprion&speciesname=percula

Got a funny feeling that there are a lot of mis-identified or cross bred fishes