ORA Scroll Coral

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Black Ocellaris; Misbar Clownfish; False Percula Clownfish

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Captive-bred variety

Habitat

Wild ocellaris inhabit shallow lagoon and reef habitats among host anemones in the Indo-Pacific; this melanistic captive-bred strain has no wild population and is raised entirely in aquaculture facilities.

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

1.3 – 3 in (3.2 – 7.6 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Middle

Water

Temperature

74 – 78 °F (23 – 26 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.025 SG

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

Reef care

Colors

Orange, Brown, Cream

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Omnivore

Foods

Pellets, Flakes, Frozen, Vegetables

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Care guide

Overview

Produced entirely through aquaculture, this melanistic Ocellaris strain has no counterpart on the reef. Juveniles emerge orange and darken toward brown or near-black with age, always keeping the species' white bars. Hardy and quick to settle in, it suits a 20-gallon reef kept singly or as a bonded pair.

Care

This melanistic strain of the ocellaris clownfish is bred for its darkening body color, which starts orange as a juvenile and progresses toward brown or near-black with age, while retaining the white bars typical of the species. It is a hardy, adaptable fish that tolerates the usual range of stable reef parameters and does well in tanks as modest as 20 gallons for a single fish or pair. Because it is captive-raised, it settles into aquarium life quickly, typically accepting prepared foods within days of introduction. Territorial behavior around a chosen rock, coral head, or host anemone is normal and should be expected once the fish settles in.

Feeding

Feed a varied omnivorous diet of high-quality marine pellets or flakes as a staple, supplemented several times a week with frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and chopped marine meats. Occasional offerings of nori or other marine vegetable matter help round out nutrition. Small, frequent feedings two to three times daily are preferable to one large feeding, especially for juveniles.

Neighbors

Best kept singly or as a bonded pair, since two unrelated adults introduced together may fight, sometimes fatally, until a hierarchy is established. It mixes well with other peaceful reef fish, gobies, and dottybacks, and is considered reef safe with corals and most invertebrates. Avoid housing with larger, aggressive damsels or predatory fish that may harass or outcompete it for food.

Fragging

Pairs form naturally from a small group, with the dominant fish transitioning to female, and spawning readily occurs in home aquariums once a bonded pair is established. Eggs are laid on a cleaned flat surface, often near an anemone or rock, and are guarded closely by both parents until hatching six to eleven days later depending on temperature. Because melanistic coloration is influenced by both genetics and environment, offspring from these pairings do not always retain the same degree of black pigmentation as the parents.

Pests & problems

Captive-bred stock is generally disease-resistant and less prone to the parasite issues seen in wild-caught clownfish, but shipping stress and poor acclimation can still trigger marine ich or brooklynella. Stable water quality and gradual acclimation reduce the risk of stress-related illness. Watch for fading or blotchy color change, which in this strain is normal, but should be distinguished from true skin lesions or fungal patches.

Sources

1. Captive-Bred Extreme Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish: Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums
2. ORA Extreme Misbar False Percula Clownfish – Captive Bred
3. Extreme Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish: Care,… | SpectrumCare
4. Captive-Bred Extreme Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish

Varieties in the catalog

ORA Black Frostbite Ocellaris ClownfishORA Black Gladiator Ocellaris ClownfishORA Black Snowflake Ocellaris ClownfishORA Extreme Misbar Ocellaris ClownfishORA Extreme Misbar Ocellaris ClownfishORA Gladiator Ocellaris ClownfishORA Midnight Ocellaris ClownfishORA Misbar Black Ocellaris ClownfishORA Misbar Caramel Ocellaris ClownfishORA Misbar Orange Ocellaris ClownfishORA Mocha Gladiator Ocellaris ClownfishORA Mocha Storm Ocellaris Clownfish