2 pairs of clownfish?

[mcliffy2]

I have wanted a pair of clownfish w/ an anemone for a while now. A couple months ago I bought a pair of onyx percs (tank-raised). I finally decided to go for the anemone (green w/ pink-tip BTA) and yesterday I added it to the tank. The anemone appears happy and all is well, except that the clowns have shown no interest. I know percs don't host BTAs in the wild, but my research indicated almost any species hosts a BTA in captivity. So I have a few questions:

1) How much chance is there they'll discover the anemone if they haven't in the first 24 hours?

2) If they don't, I'm thinking of adding a second pair of a different type of clown - maybe a black saddleback or a pink skunks. My tank is 238g and my thinking is this is big enough for 2 clown pairs to exist, considering that the onyx percs are still pretty small and aren't the most aggressive of clown species. Am I right?

3) If I pick up another pair, how do I increase the odds they host? Buy a pair at the LFS that is hosting at the store?

 

[saltyboy84]

well i would say 50/50, but my question to you is, have the clowns gone near the anemone, and from what iv been told they are not aggressive, and you said your tank is 238g. hmm i would think that a tank that size is more than enuf room for 2 pairs but idk how they would get along, and im not the best person to anwser this but i would like to have a pair of clowns myself so i have been doing some research on them as well, but give it a week and if they dont host then try another anemone or a different pair of clowns.

 

[yongwooi]

some clowns took like 6months+ to host. Its all depend on your fish.

 

[Lmecher]

As stated above, all depends on your fish. IMO a week is too early to give up, they're still settling in and getting used to their surrounding. I have had an onyx perc together with a rbta for a few weeks, we'll see how long it takes for it to host, if ever. My ocellaris took a year. My brother's perc took a week or few (not exactly sure but pretty quick) to host his bta. I'll post when and if mine decides to host, don't hold your breath though, may have a long wait. You could do another pair, your tank is large enough. You may have some agression, the new pair is hosting already then they will claim the anemone and your percs won't have a chance to host. Good luck : )

 

[WrinkleFreeZone]

I have a pair of Amphiprion percula and a pair of Amphiprion ocellaris in my tank. Overall, they get along. I have two large Heteractis magnifica at opposite ends of my reef which only the ocellaris have the opportunity to host. The percs attempt to host it but the female of the ocellaris pair is the biggest of them and claims both anemones as her territory. She won't give them a chance to move in. If I had to do it over, I would select a pair with a female closer in size to the established pair of the system. This would have allowed the second pair a better chance to host, but may have caused longer aggression issues. The way it is now, it quickly dissolves because of the size discrepancy.
-B