Name
Tangerine Albino Percules Clownfish.

Scientific Name
Amphiprion percula

Description
Sea & Reef is proud to present the Tangerine Percules Clownfish, which is a hypomelanistic wide bar percula clownfish first produced by Sea & Reef. This is only the second time a hypomelanistic (Tangerine) mutation has been seen in Amphiprion percula. The first one was our Tangerine Picasso A Clownfish. Hypomelanism is a genetic mutation that results in reduced pigmentation. This is especially noticeable with any black pigmentation. However, an effect can also be seen to the red body coloration, which turns lighter orange, hence the name Tangerine Clownfish. Sea & Reef is the leading producer of numerous hypomelanistic (Tangerine) clownfish variations including Tangerine Ocellaris Clownfish, Tangerine Storm Clownfish, Tangerine Snowflake Ocellaris, Tangerine DaVinci A Clownfish, Tangerine DaVinci A Clownfish, Tangerine Solar Storm Clownfish, and the Tangerine Picasso Grade A Clownfish. The Tangerine Perculesis only the second Tangerine clownfish variations of the species Amphiprion percula. The Tangerine Picasso Grade A Clownfish was the first. The hypomelanistic mutation of our Tangerine Percules was caused by a similar, but independent, mutation. There is a complete lack of black pigmentation except for the pelvic fins, which appear smoky. Some black pigmentation also remains in the eyes, which appear more brown than black. The body coloration of the Tangerine percules Clownfish is a bright yellow-orange color. This Sea & Reef signature designer Clownfish was released on April 26, 2024.

Creation and Naming the Tangerine Percules Clownfish
The Tangerine Percules Clownfish was created by selectively breeding Percula Picasso clownfish with wider than normal stripes (bars). One of our Percula Picasso Clownfish breeding pairs on a rare ocasions produce offsping with wider than normal stripes (bars).  Through several generations of selective breeding we created a stable line of Wide Bar prodicing Percula Clownfish. During this selective breeding process a hypomelanistic mutation happened, which created the oppurtunity for this new Tangerine Clownfish. Visually the Tangerine Percules Clownfish resemble our Wide Bar Gladiator Clownfish due to the wider than normal bars. However, the Wide Bar Gladiator Clownfish is an Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and the Tangerine Percules Clownfish is a Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion percula). The two species are fairly closely related and the most reliable way to tell the difference is by counting the number of spines in their dorsal fins. Percula Clownfish have 10 spines in their dorsal fins (on a rare occasion 9) and Ocellaris Clownfish will have 11 dorsal fin spines (on a rare occasion 10). Another way to tell the difference between the two species is eye color with Percula Clownfish in general showing more orange coloration and Ocellaris Clownfish showing more Black coloration. Our staff named them Percules to combine the name Percula with the the hero and fighter Hercules from Greek & Roman mythology. This keep the gladiator theme in the wide bar clownfish since the Wide Bar Ocellaris clownfish are named Wide Bar Gladiator Clownfish. To pronounce the name Percules think Hercules but with a P. 

Temperament & Captive Care
The temperament and captive care requirements of the Tangerine Percules Clownfish is very similar to that of the regular percula clownfish. It is a relatively peaceful and hardy clownfish. They thrive in saltwater aquariums with or without an anemone present.

Feeding
Most clownfish are omnivorous feeders, meaning that they will consume a variety of different food types. In nature the diet of clownfish consists of crustaceans (such as copepods and amphipods), algae, polychaete worms and leftovers from the anemone’s meal. Our captive bred fish are conditioned to eat a variety of aquarium diets including pellets, flake food, frozen Mysis shrimp and frozen brine shrimp.

Aquarium host anemones
This new designer clownfish will readily accept a wide variety of host anemones and many hobbyists keep it with the popular and hardy Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) . As a reference the natural host anemones of the regular ocellaris clownfish are Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica), Sebae Anemone (Heteractis crispa), and Giant Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea).