Adding a peaceful clown pair

[tfrechette]

Have a 120 reef tank. In the future would like to add a peaceful clown pair.

1. Would like to add an anemone at the same time?

2. Would you quarantine the clowns and anemone together?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[kduen]

If it were me I would add the anemone to the display tank while the clowns are in QT. It will give the nem a chance to get situated to its new enviornment with out the hassling of the clowns. I personally wouldn't QT the nem but that is up to you. If you do decide to QT the nem then do not put the clowns in the same QT tank with it as they could very well (depending on the type of anemone) become a tasty snack. You will get other opinions and advice from the anemone/clownfish forum if you post there as well.

 

[snorvich]

If it were me I would add the anemone to the display tank while the clowns are in QT. It will give the nem a chance to get situated to its new enviornment with out the hassling of the clowns. I personally wouldn't QT the nem but that is up to you. If you do decide to QT the nem then do not put the clowns in the same QT tank with it as they could very well (depending on the type of anemone) become a tasty snack. You will get other opinions and advice from the anemone/clownfish forum if you post there as well.

Excellent advice. I don't know if there is any such thing as a pair of sexually mature "peaceful" clowns.

 

[tfrechette]

Excellent advice. I don't know if there is any such thing as a pair of sexually mature "peaceful" clowns.

On Divers Den I see pairs of clowns some are semi-aggressive and others peaceful. So you're saying don't expect them to be peaceful tank mates?

 

[snorvich]

On Divers Den I see pairs of clowns some are semi-aggressive and others peaceful. So you're saying don't expect them to be peaceful tank mates?

That is correct. When clownfish are sexually mature, they can go from mildly aggressive (such as A. ocellaris) to exceptionally aggressive (such GSM clowns). I am talking about a bonded pair or especially one that has spawned. The relatively peaceful ones will want to "control" about 25 gallons of tank space; the more aggressive ones may want to control about 50 gallons of tank space.

 

[snorvich]

And I forgot. You must match anemone fish with the proper anemone. Even then, they sometimes will not associate. But a previous poster is correct. Give the anemone time to establish before adding the clownfish.

 

[kduen]

And I forgot. You must match anemone fish with the proper anemone. Even then, they sometimes will not associate. But a previous poster is correct. Give the anemone time to establish before adding the clownfish.

I was going to add this but forgot as well. Here is a link to the NATURAL clownfish/anemone relationship. The one at the bottom named anemone FAQ, then scroll down about half way.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1381958

 

[alton]

Pair of Clownfish and peacefull should not be used in the same sentence.

 

[kduen]

I kind of disagree to this ^. It really depends on the species of clowns, even while spawning my SI Percs were no more agressive to their tank mates then before they were spawning. Tank size also has a direct corelation to their agressiveness as well. A pair of spawning percs will be way less agressive in a 100 gal. tank then they would be in a 40 simply because the other fish have more room to stay out of their territory.

 

[snorvich]

I kind of disagree to this ^. It really depends on the species of clowns, even while spawning my SI Percs were no more agressive to their tank mates then before they were spawning. Tank size also has a direct corelation to their agressiveness as well. A pair of spawning percs will be way less agressive in a 100 gal. tank then they would be in a 40 simply because the other fish have more room to stay out of their territory.

As I said, clownfish will control 25-50 gallons when spawning. If you impact this territory they are aggressive. If not, you may be fine. Still I would not use the term peaceful for sexually mature clownfish.

 

[kduen]

As I said, clownfish will control 25-50 gallons when spawning. If you impact this territory they are aggressive. If not, you may be fine. Still I would not use the term peaceful for sexually mature clownfish.

I completely agree to what you were/are saying, I was refering to Alton's comment as there is a big difference in agressiveness between a bonded pair of clowns and a sexually mature spawning pair of clowns.

 

[jbax]

the level of aggressiveness from a mated pair and spawning pair is slightly less. when my clowns have layed eggs they put every fish on notice to stay away. there is a bite mark on the side of all my fish. but when they are in between clutches, it's a hippo sandwich. they are good with tank mates but they hate me with a passion.

 

[alton]

My two Occ Pair where the nicest things the first two years I had them, after that anything swam near or above there frogspawn home got attacked in my 300.

 

[small alien]

My pair of naked ocellaris are spawning. And they're still very chill. Basically, they never leave their anemone which is an rbta. I actually often forget they're even in there because they blend so well with the nem. I'd go captive bred ocellaris hybrid of some kind knowing its possible you'll need to pull them in the future. Luckily, they're not too hard to catch. I would add the anemone to the tank prior to introducing the clowns. I think you'll likely be fine. Good luck.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Before thinking about adding an anemone...

What lights do you have?
Current parameters -- with numbers please
What do you have for flow?
Looking for a sandbed, or rock dwelling anemone?
What other livestock do you have in the tank?
How long has the tank been set up?

 

[SDguy]

My percs are model citizens, even when spawning.