3rd clown in the tank?

[CaliReefer12]

quick question.

Im currently treating my flame angel for ich in my 10 gal FOWLR which I usually have 1 small occelaris clown in. I obviously took the clown out and I have him in a breeders box in my 40 gal main tank.

The only thing is I already have a pair of Occelaris clowns in the tank, one is about 2" long and the other about 1.25". The small clown is only about .5". The pair dont seem to pay any attention to him, they spend all their time in their gigantea carpet anemone. Im just wondering if you think I should keep him in the breeder box or if you think it would be ok to put him in the tank atleast until im done treating the flame angel??... so about a month.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Think it would be a huge pain to get it out of the tank once you are done with the angel.

They may be ignoring it right now, and might even for a couple of months, but I would expect that once the existing pair starts to spawn (( or even way before that )), they would start to pick on the new guy -- to the point of death.

 

[myxsptlk]

Acrylic separator?

 

[CaliReefer12]

there is really no part of my tank that I could separate to give him ample room without moving a few rocks around. Also If I did so it would mess up the flow situation

 

[PRDubois]

I say let him swim. They should be fine.

 

[CaliReefer12]

well I tried it. He was doing fine and hosting one of my RBTA's until he noticed the other clowns in the carpet. He went over and was acting submissive but they kept bumping into him. For his sake I put him back in the breeder box on the other side of the tank. Im going to get a piece of acrylic to divide the tank tomorow so he can swim freely without being bullied for about a month. I will use a koralia on both sides to keep the flow decent.

 

[OrionN]

I used to have 3 Ocellaris in my large tank with H. magnifica. The third clown will be able to get into the anemone at night and if there is threat in the tank (like my hand) The two Ocellaris usually will not kill the third, if you have a reasonable size tank

 

[CaliReefer12]

well its only a 40 gal. and he seems to want to try to stay near them. so I willl try the separator