1st clown

[miniwhinny]

I have a Q or 2 for clownfish folks. I have a 20L tank and would like it to house clowns.

Knowing it's not a large tank I'd like to ask those in the know what would be a better choice.

Would a pair of Percs or Ossc. work or would a single clown (really thinking Maroon) and an anem be better?

Thanks for any help.

 

[joeyg4583]

I'm still new to the hobby so I could be wrong but from what I understand most people do not recommend an anemone in such a small tank and definately not until it is mature. (Six months to year). Also you would possibly be limited on keeping corals and you would need to be sure you lighting is sufficient. As far as the marroons I've heard some say that 20 gallons are fine and I've also heard your tank should be at least 30 gallons. Hope this helps. Maybe someone more experienced than myself can give you more insight.

 

[reefnut1]

What else do you have or are planning to put in your tank? How long has it been set up?

 

[miniwhinny]

It's only been up for a a few weeks (from established rock). It's a 20L, approx12lbs LR. AquaC Remora skimmer, Sunpod 150w 14,000HQI light. INhabitants so far thriving...Sunburst zoas, Bamabm zoas, 2 'shrooms, green zoas, pink zoas, yellow polyps and a green barred goby. Bottom is BB.

 

[miniwhinny]

Can I have a clown or two in a 20...and an anem? Thanks clownies-in-the-know. I know these are such basic Q's. I've tried research but you get so many answers. Asking people who have done it is the best bet.

 

[miniwhinny]

DO I actually need a nem or will the clown/s host my softies?

 

[kimsie]

No - your clowns don't 'need' an anemone... I would say 2 clowns should be fine... If you really want an anemone - you should wait until your tank is about 6 months old - then give it a try. After a lot of reading that is - they're hard to keep and should only be taken when you know what you're getting into and your tank has been stable for 6 months...

 

[kimsie]

Just to clarify - it's a 20 gallon tank - and its a 20 long?

That should be fine to have 2 clowns and someday an anemone... But do wait the 6 months - you'll be happier and so will your future anemone...

 

[miniwhinny]

thanks ( It's a 20L) I appreciate the answers. If they are fine without a nem and nems are really that hard to keep I'm happy without one. Don't really want to buy an animal knowing I'll probably kill it. So I'm taking from your reply that a pair of ossc's or percs. would be a better choice that a single maroon?

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

That is definately not big enough for a hosting anemone, not only that ..it would be too much of a bio load. Yeah a maroon would get too big for your tank. I saw an adult one at my lfs..she is a huge 6 incher. I think even percs and ocellaris would feel cramped in that tank. You are probably better off getting clown goby or dart fish.

 

[miniwhinny]

Sorry..20L...I was trying to say 20 long as opposed to 20 High. It's a standard 20 gallon AGA tank. 30 inches long 12" wide and 12" high.

 

[miniwhinny]

"I think even percs and ocellaris would feel cramped in that tank. You are probably better off getting clown goby or dart fish".

Oh bummer ';-( I was hoping to get a clown or two. Well, good job I asked here where people know because I would have bought one (or two)

Thanks.

 

[kimsie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11684014#post11684014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wicked_NaCl_h2o
That is definately not big enough for a hosting anemone, not only that ..it would be too much of a bio load. Yeah a maroon would get too big for your tank. I saw an adult one at my lfs..she is a huge 6 incher. I think even percs and ocellaris would feel cramped in that tank. You are probably better off getting clown goby or dart fish.

I disagree after reading Joyce Wilkerson's Clownfishes book - a 20 gallon tank had been shown to be fine for a pair of percs or ocellaris. They even spawn in much smaller tanks. In nature they occupy a very small territory of not much larger than a square foot.

Maroons can get big - but you'd probably still be just fine. But a pair of percs or ocellaris might be more fun to watch!

 

[miniwhinny]

Thanks Kimsie,

I've seen people with perc pairs in 10 gallons but then keeping them and keeping them happy are two different things.

Think I'll skip the maroon and stat looking into some color type of Perc or Ossc. Thank you.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Sorry, I was just going by my experience. I put my ocellaris pair in a 24 gallon and they were acting like it was too small with all the corals and rocks. The female kept knocking my hammer coral over and kicking sand with her tail on everything. This is why I thought a 20 would seem cramped. After all the frustration I put her and her mate in the 120 she seems happier and doesn't sleep at the surface of the tank anymore. Keep your tank good and covered I have read many stories of ocellaris jumping from a shallow tank compare to a tall tank.

 

[kimsie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11684241#post11684241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wicked_NaCl_h2o
Sorry, I was just going by my experience. I put my ocellaris pair in a 24 gallon and they were acting like it was too small with all the corals and rocks. The female kept knocking my hammer coral over and kicking sand with her tail on everything. This is why I thought a 20 would seem cramped. After all the frustration I put her and her mate in the 120 she seems happier and doesn't sleep at the surface of the tank anymore. Keep your tank good and covered I have read many stories of ocellaris jumping from a shallow tank compare to a tall tank.

You know - just based on what you said - I wonder if the female was doing more prespawning behavior rather than being unhappy? fanning sand and moving things out of a spot they like is normal prespawning behavior? Hmm... Interesting. I have read that ocellaris spawn more readily in smaller tanks - so maybe your pair wanted to have babies! Or maybe it was too small for them - so much like you said - is just individual clown and tank specific. I have read that ocellaris like to sleep either on the bottom or the top of the tank - and that percs are more likley to sleep in the middle area of the tank...

 

[reefnut1]

In my tank some of my clowns live in a frogspawn. It took them a few months to decide to go into it but now they seem happy there. If you decide to try to get something to host them an anemone is kind of hard to keep in that small of an aquarium with the things you already have. You might try a 2 or 3 headed hammer or frogspawn.

 

[miniwhinny]

oh please don't be sorry. I've never kept clowns and that's why I came here for answers. If you've actually kept them in a tank bigger than mine and seen a difference in behaviour when introduced into a large tank...that's the kind of info I was after.

I raise miniature horses...I keep mine free on 5 acres. That doesn't mean others can't and don't keep them in small 20' x 30' back yards...but after having mine and seeing how much they move around during the day...well, Yes they can survive their whole lives in a pen but would they be happy or would I ever recommend it and can they live the way a horse should live...absolutly NO WAY !!!!! imo it's animal abuse.

A lot of books/online sites say you can keep percs/ossc in 7 gallons...but I'd rather get the info from people that have experience.

although even with experts...seems there's a difference of opinions LOL.

Are there any other clown species that a 20 would happily house or am I looking at the wrong speices all together?

 

[miniwhinny]

anyone have clowns in a 20 long? I think Kimsie is right about them not moving much from their "area". Perhaps a frogspawn will keep them happy.

Oh what confusion over a couple of fish LOL

 

[kimsie]

Wow! Mini horses! Cool... I've only seen them on the MTV show Rob & Big - and they look so cute!

You also have an african grey? My favorite!! I had one years ago that I unfortunately bought diseased and it only lived a few years... Do you just love yours? I would LOVE another one - but I'm waiting...