Adding a 2nd pair of clowns?

[Shia]

So 2 weeks ago I added a pair of bonded ocellaris clowns. The female is about 2.5" and is super aggressive, the male is laid back. I know it is not recommended to have more than 1 pair/tank. I have a 155 gallon BF. I want to add a young pair of lighting maroons, they are about 1". I have 2 BTA and the ocellaris refused to be hosted by it. They do hangout where the anemones are attached and I have seen the female touch it, but she has no desire to actually sleep in it or completely go in. Do you guys think the ocellaris will attack the maroons? I know maroons are known for getting aggressive and big.

 

[laverda]

I think your asking for trouble and some dead fish. If you want your clowns to host your anomone, I suggest you try taping a photo of clowns hosting an anomone on the tank where they hang out. Good luck!

 

[shaginwagon13]

I’m pretty sure you’ll get fighting in your tank and the weaker clowns will be killed off. That’s just my opinion.

To get them to host, try this method:
https://youtu.be/g7pGnlGdP-E

 

[Shia]

Doesn't really bother me that the ocellaris*don't host, I've always wanted lightning maroons and know they are naturally hosted by BTA. Was stating the ocellaris*are not being hosted to provide background information, and see if that would improve my odds of keeping the maroons.

 

[davocean]

As the maroons mature they will most likely become aggressive, and that's if your already aggressive female doesn't decide to go after them right away

You are correct in BTA being a natural host to the maroons, if that's what you want maybe rehome the occs.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I had a mated pair if marrons and a mated pair of occalaris in a 7' long 400 G tank. The marrons hosted in a RBTA on the far left end of the tank and the others on the right end. The large female would go to the other end of the tank to harass the other clowns.

 

[davocean]

Yeah and there's room to run on 7' long tank.
Maroons are piggies, they will take every nem in tank as theirs usually.

 

[Shia]

I had a mated pair if marrons and a mated pair of occalaris in a 7' long 400 G tank. The marrons hosted in a RBTA on the far left end of the tank and the others on the right end. The large female would go to the other end of the tank to harass the other clowns.

That does not sound very promising. How long have you had the 2 pairs? Which was added first? Is the aggression a one way street from your maroons?


I am thinking of setting up a 16 gallon tank. Then add the maroons to the display, if things are not going well then move the ocellaris to the smaller tank.

 

[davocean]

While that sounds like an ok plan, the problem is often when the more aggressive clowns mature or especially if they begin to spawn the change can come over night, many times people wake or come home to badly beaten or already dead clowns.

While the maroons are typically more aggressive the size difference could swing the other way, pretty much all clowns will be somewhat territorial and all species will usually claim territory, usually, unless they are a group of clowns from the same clutch.

 

[biecacka]

Usually not worth the risk. As stated even in his 400 gallon issues can arise. I have 6 in my tank, but they are all from the same clutch so it's "easier". But one is clearly becoming g more dominant.

Corey

 

[heathlindner25]

Won't end well.

 

[laverda]

Much safer to move the other clowns first.

 

[windlasher]

Just askin for a bloodbath. ALL Clownfish are evil, Maroons, especially so.

 

[biecacka]

They ARE damsels......

Corey

 

[bearpeidog]

Gotta agree - I have 3 clowns in my 180. The saddle back is a bully. Weird thing is my magnificent lo keeps the piece. When he starts to bully the other clowns, he races over and raises his fins and pushes off the saddle back. The Lo is a cool fish ��

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

The maroons were the last to go in.
The female eventually got to about 4" in size.
Talk about evil. She would attack my hand when I was cleaning the tank. Literally took a chunk out of it and I started bleeding.
The Maroons spawned on a regular basis. But she bullied the male maroon so much, one day he jumped out of the tank.
even after I got rid of the maroons, the ocallaris would attack my hand when I was cleaning the tank.
Funny thing was my Moorish Idol didn't mind me being in the tank.

 

[Uncle99]

"Nemo" type fish can take up to 6 months, ( and sometimes more) to host an anenome assuming it is the correct anenome for the fish. (Although there is some flux in type). One thing for sure, I have never had a single, or a pair, not eventually host the nen. Two pairs is pushing it even in a long tank especially Maroons which are notorious in defending real estate acquired. All nemos claim an area which is roughly 1 meter by 1 meter and they do not stray far from this home safety, and in many cases will defend to the death.
1 pair per tank is the recommended on these fish (or clutch from the same spawn).
Will eventually end badly I think

 

[biecacka]

Mine finally took to my nem.....4 years after it was introduced to the tank.


Corey

 

[Uncle99]

Exactly...wow...4 years.
Seems people expect if ya put the nem with the nem fish..then presto....hosting.

 

[Shia]

I am going to heed the advice given about multiple clowns. Will hold off on the 2nd pair of clowns right now.