Percula or Ocellaris?

[Omar Torres]

Looking to ID this fish. Purchasing a tank mate this week. Want to make sure I get the right one.

 

[rockhead51]

With that coloration, only way to tell is the number of dorsal spines, and none of these pictures is 100% clear. 10 is percula and 11 is ocellaris. But even that isn't always true (each could have one less). Percs also usually have a shorter back of the dorsal. My GUESS is perc.

 

[Rjramos]

Nowadays, it is very difficult to tell, especially with a fish that has a dark iris around the pupil. In addition, there are many inter species breeding between occ and perc, hence the name percularis. I have some Occ/Perc pairs at home, and they will spawn. Just make sure if you plan to sell or give to someone they know they are getting a hybrid. Some people out there have hybrids and don't even know it. I have seen occ and perc eyes out of sibling offspring. These days a lot of the newer designers have a hybrid parent somewhere in the blood line.

 

[Omar Torres]

He was sold as a black ocellaris to me. The only thing that makes me wonder was he was a little smaller when i grabbed him from petco. I honestly didn't expect a lot out of him because I had fish dying after a while in my tank. I then realized it was my damsel killing everyone over night..... after getting rid of the damsel.... I was left with this guy and he has made it with no issues. I also suspect he is ocellaris because of the shape of the fin. Just wanted more opinions.