The beautiful Percula Clown Fish may make a colorful addition to many reef aquariums. This popular fish has also been bred in captivity, and can provide an attainable challenge for marine aquarists wishing to accomplish captive breeding.

Although Percula Clowns usually coexist with an anemone in the wild, in captivity they may be kept with or without one. If you do wish to keep an anemone with your True Percula Clown, a host anemone of the species Stoichactis sp., Heteractis magnifica, and Heteractis quadricolor should be provided. If no anemone or long tentacled coral is provided, a hiding place should be offered for your Percula Clown. Usually overturned flowerpots, seashells, or other partially enclosed items can make good hiding places. Although Percula Clowns do not normally get along well with other clowns, they can often be kept with other reef fishes, particularly when they are small. However, the presence of an anemone may enhance the territorial behavior of a True Percula Clown. True Percula Clowns are generally considered to be quite hardy and not difficult to care for. They are reef safe.

The Percula Clown is normally vibrant orange color, with three wide white bands. The middle white band has a forward curving bulge. These bands are separated from the orange coloration by black lines. These black lines vary in width from specimen to specimen. In some cases they are so wide that the orange is barely visible and the fish appears to be black and white. True Percula Clowns (Amphiprion percula) are often confused with Ocellaris or False Percula Clowns, Amphiprion ocellaris, True Perculas have wider black lines outlining their white sections than do False Perculas. Another way to distinguish the species is to count the dorsal rays of each fish. A True Percula Clown will have ten of these soft spine-like structures, while a False Percula Clown will have 11. Some, but very few, True Percula Clowns may only have nine dorsal rays. True Percula Clowns are much less common in the pet trade than Ocellaris Clowns. They usually grow to be about three inches (seven centimeters) long.

Native to the Indo Pacific, many True Percula Clowns are also available in captive bred types. They are one of the more popular species of captive-kept marine fish.

A single Percula Clown should have an aquarium of 20 gallons or larger. Temperatures between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 26 degrees Celsius) are appropriate. The pH value should remain between 8.3 and 8.4. A specific gravity between 1.020 and 1.025 will work nicely for a True Percula Clown. In a fish-only enclosure, the specific gravity should be in the lower end of this range (below 1.023); however, in aquariums containing invertebrates, like anemones, the range between 1.023 and 1.025 would be necessary for the maintenance of those animals. High water quality is important, as is a protein skimmer and the frequent achievement of partial water changes. The diet of a True Percula Clown should consist of a variety of foods. Both meat and vegetable items should be offered, and many people will also provide formulated foods for their Percula Clowns in addition to fresh items.

Normally, a pair of Clowns is isolated in an aquarium for breeding. In a group of juveniles, pairs will form naturally and may then be isolated. If you are keeping a group of Percula Clowns and the female is removed, the most dominant male will usually undergo a sex change to become female. In the breeding tank, a flat rock or other flat surface should be provided. Spawning normally occurs during warmer months, or periods that have more moonlight, at night. In captivity this can be simulated through a slight temperature change. Normally, the male will chase the female, become more aggressive toward tank mates, and erect his fins to display for the female. The male Percula Clown will then proceed to clean the spawning site. Spawning usually occurs in the morning, and may take less than an hour or a couple of hours. The female Percula Clown will deposit eggs on the nesting site, with the male following to fertilize the eggs. Normally, hundreds to a thousand eggs are laid. Older mated pairs of True Percula Clowns tend to produce more eggs than newly paired fish. True Percula Clown eggs normally incubate for six to seven days, during which time the male guards them carefully. He will also clean the eggs with his mouth, and fan them with his fins. Neither the male or the female need to be removed from the tank in most cases. Before hatching, the embryonic fish may be seen through the egg. After hatching, Percula Clown Fish usually sink to the bottom of the aquarium and then gradually make their way toward the surface of the water. They will remain in a planktonic or larval state for 8 to 12 days. After this time period, the Percula Clowns will begin to develop the coloration typical of their species.