Can I add another clown?

[ken6217]

Last Saturday I bought a RBTA and two yellow stripe maroon clowns. The clowns were not a pair, but one was about 2 or 2 1/2 times the size of the smaller one. The larger one took to the anemone and the smaller was not allowed near it and was chased around a bit, but not relentlessly.

Last night the smaller was gone. I mean gone as in nowhere to be seen. I looked and looked last night and this morning and he dissappeared. Died and eaten?

I had wanted to get an additional BTA for the smaller fish, but obvously is is gone. Can I get another BTA with a very small maroon clown and put it in my tank or is this a bad idea? Might it work?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[mfinn]

Are you sure it is not hiding?
Sometimes they will hide because the bigger ones can be relentless when they are beating on a smaller one.

 

[ken6217]

I don't think so. It has been a day now. He didn't seem too scared of him either. He never went out of his way to not go near the anemone even though he knew he was going to get chased. I don't think he was nipped either as I did not see any torn fins etc. If he is truly gone, what is the opinion about trying to add another fish and bta?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[mfinn]

If it is really gone, I would start looking for another clown, but I would look for one that is closer to the same size. Give it a better chance to survive.
I don't see any reason why you can't add another rbta. I've had multiple anemones in my tanks. As long as you don't have to worry about it stinging corals.

 

[ken6217]

From what I heard, same size is a bad idea. From what I read on the forum is to get get two fish with a great size difference.
Ken

 

[mfinn]

I've only had two pairs. The first pair were false percs and I got them at the same time and they were the same size. Had them for about 6 years before passing them on to a friend.
My current pair are GSM's and I got them at the same time/same size again. Had them about 4-5 years.
So, I've only done it twice and added the same size, smalls, so adding another to a established clown that's the same size, may well be a bad idea.
I was just thinking about the new one being able to defend himself. They will have to battle it out somewhat to establish roles, but having another anemone would give the new one a place to get some security until the roles had been determined.

Hopefully someone with more experience will jump in.

 

[ken6217]

I don't know either. I can ask at the store too, but they probably know less than you and I.
Ken

 

[ken6217]

I found him. He was lying on the carpet on the side of the tank. Does anyone think I should try it again and with a second anemone? The maroon clown I have not is about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2". Should I get one that is a lot larger, or a lot smaller, or forget about it?
Ken

 

[davocean]

Alot of people think just having one bigger than the other is OK, but really you need the small one to be pretty small to make sure it's still male.
You could have even had 2 males that were trying to decide who would dominate and become female.
I'd wait a little for the one you have now to adjust, and try adding one really small later.
Don't buy same size, I think Mfinn may have just got lucky w/his.
I have 2 nems in my tank.
I love them, but knowing what I know now I would have stayed w/ just one.
It's tough keeping them from touching corals as they get bigger.

 

[davocean]

Also, I forgot to mention that GSM's are one of the tougher clowns to get to mate.
And when they do, expect them to become VERY territorial.
I've had to get rid of GSM's for this reason.

 

[crabbypatty]

add clown

add clown

ive had a blackocelaris and two rbt anemone can i ad one more and what kind and should it be really small compared to the one i got

 

[ken6217]

Thanks for the replies. I will see if I can find a really small one or maybe I find a pair and trade my fish back to the store, or maybe do nothing. By the way, my RBTA was from someone elses tank that split so right now he is probably about 3-4" across. Can that support two fish? How quickly do they grow? I have him almost a week. I fed him 1/2 of a silverside two days ago and I will feed him twice a week. He did seem more open the day after I fed him though.
Ken