Ocellaris Clownfish vs True Percula Clownfish

The same axes for both animals, taken from the same care guides, so this is a like-for-like comparison rather than two articles written months apart. Neither animal is the right answer on its own — the question is which one fits the space, the budget and the routine you actually have.

Saltwater Fish
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Difficulty
Beginner
Lifespan
6-10 years
Adult size
7-8 cm (3 in)
Minimum space
75 L (20 US gal)
Company
Fine alone or with company
Daily time
Daily feeding; weekly water testing/changes
Running cost
Medium
Habitat
Aquarium 75L+ / 20gal+
Diet
Omnivore (marine pellets, frozen, algae)
Suits you if
First-time marine aquarium keepers. Reef tanks (reef-safe). Keepers wanting a hardy centrepiece
Watch out for
Adding fish to an uncycled tank. Assuming they need an anemone to survive. No lid - clownfish jump

Full Ocellaris Clownfish guide

Saltwater Fish
True Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Difficulty
Beginner
Lifespan
10-20 years (exceptionally long-lived)
Adult size
6-8 cm (2.5-3 in); female larger
Minimum space
75 L (20 US gal)
Company
Fine alone or with company
Daily time
Daily feeding; weekly water testing and changes
Running cost
Medium (designer morphs cost much more)
Habitat
Aquarium 75L+ / 20 gal+ for a single fish or a bonded pair
Diet
Omnivore (marine pellets, frozen mysis/brine, algae)
Suits you if
Reef tanks (reef-safe). First or second marine fish, if captive-bred. Keepers wanting bolder markings than an Ocellaris
Watch out for
Wild-caught stock - Brooklynella-prone; insist on captive-bred. Paying Percula prices for a mislabelled Ocellaris. Buying a demanding anemone the fish does not need

Full True Percula Clownfish guide

How to read this

Every row is filled from the same field of the same care guide for both animals, so nothing here is cherry-picked to favour one of them.

Minimum space is the figure from each species' housing guidance, converted to one unit. It is a floor, not a target.

What this does not tell you: your experience, your household, your climate, or which animal you will actually enjoy. Difficulty is our judgement, not a measurement. Read both full guides before deciding — and if the honest answer is neither, that is a good outcome too.