Biota bluestripe clown

[BryanCaruso]

I'm thinking about maybe one or two. I know they get rather large. Do clowns to better in pairs. I have always had a pair except for when I had a tomato. Would this be too much bioload as my first addition if I get 2. Or should I not make one or 2 as my first For territorial reasons

 

[maxxII]

What size is the tank they'll be going in?
Chrysopterus clowns get BIG......and they get ornery. I dont know if they'd be my first additions to a tank.

 

[ThRoewer]

Keeping anemonefish as singles is just plain wrong. Keep them as a pair/group or not at all.
I never had chrysopterus so I can't say if they are more or less aggressive than other Amphiprion. But I know that they are getting large.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[maxxII]

Just to play Devil's Advocate here for a moment...

What basis do you have that statement?

 

[BryanCaruso]

I was wondering the same thing

 

[BryanCaruso]

I still haven’t added anything yet. The rocks are turning green but zero hair algae to add snails. And I don’t know which fish to add

 

[ThRoewer]

It's really not just Anemonefish but all species that are generally found always in pairs (or harem groups) in the wild.
But Anemonefish demonstrate a particularly strong and close pair bond and are easy to pair. Research has shown that they recognize each other.
I never even entertained the idea of keeping any anemonefish as single, but I have seen it at friends tanks how singles start acting strange. It's just sad to watch.

I have however kept damselfish and dwarf angels as singles and could clearly link the lack of a partner or harem group to excessive aggression or extremely neurotic behavior. For example, single C. argi will swim loops all day long like maniacs but you won't see this behavior when they are in pairs or harem groups. And single damsels will often get mean and aggressive towards everyone while pairs and harem groups are usually too busy with themselves to pay much attention to other fish.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[maxxII]

So you are basing this on anecdotal personal observations and not any actual scientific data.

What size tanks were the C.argi kept in while displaying this behavior? What else were they kept with in these tanks?

Your observed behaviors with multiple damsels is more likely to be an example of territorial aggression among con-specifics in the same location. Damsels are aggressive and territorial to begin with. If they are defending their territory from each other, they dont have time to fight with other tank mates. There are recorded examples of Damsels attacking scuba divers in the wild.

Generally, I agree with you that certain species of fish do better with harems or pairs, but alot of that depends on space. Trying to do a harem of pygmy angels like C.argi in a 30 gallon is more than likely not going to work very well. Trying to do a harem of C.argi in a 180 is more likely to be successful.