Can I host two pairs different color clown fish in the same tank?

P

Popytoys

New member
Hi,

I would like to ask if it is ok for me to keep two pairs of different "color" clownfish in the same tank? One pair is the regular ocellaris clown, and another kind if the black/white/yellow (it is Seaxxxx something I can't remember how to spell).

Would they become one family? or they would host/spawn their own?

Also...different questions... I have a bubble tip anemone...and I also get another anemone...which is red color and longer "tentacle"... anyway, my clownfish never like to get any closer... Is it normal?

Thank you.

Popytoys
 
I believe you usually only keep one pair per tank, I think the pairs will fight over territory, or possibly get aggressive when trying to spawn. The fish would eventually beat each other up from the research I've done looking into it.. Will let others comment with more experience though ^_^
 
In my opinion you should not try this and just so you know "different color" clowns arent necessarily different species. With ocellaris it is hit or miss whether they will take a liking to bubbletips and long tentacles. I had 3 ocellaris in the past that wouldnt touch my anemones I now have a pair of clowns that both host my bubbletip one is an ocellaris the other is a percula. All that being said it is not advised that you try to make a "family" of clowns unless you try a harem of clowns which requires a bigger tank and usually has about 20 clowns in it but that is more advanced stuff.

Keep it simple and easy and stick with two clowns in your system.
 
I've got a 350G with 3 pairs of clowns, the regular oscellaris, the black and white variety and finally the black, orange and white. Was a little rough at first but they all get along now, even hosting in the same coral, something that looks like a hairy mushroom. It's funny, because when now I see some fighting (which is infrequently) it is usually within the same species or colour combination.

Now, I have a big tank with a lot of other fish. Don't think this would work if either of those were not the case.

Andrew
 
Getting young, juvenile fish of the same complex can work. In a 54g I take care of, I have a pr of black ocellaris with a pr of regular ocellaris that have been cohabitating without issue for over 2 yrs.

In another tank, a 90g. There is a mixed pr of black ocellaris and reg ocellaris hosting right next to a pr of skunk clowns. These, too have been together over 2 yrs.
 
eatbreakfast said:
Getting young, juvenile fish of the same complex can work. In a 54g I take care of, I have a pr of black ocellaris with a pr of regular ocellaris that have been cohabitating without issue for over 2 yrs.

In another tank, a 90g. There is a mixed pr of black ocellaris and reg ocellaris hosting right next to a pr of skunk clowns. These, too have been together over 2 yrs.
Click to expand...

Do you recommend doing so?
 
Not recommended generally. Some manage to keep multiple pairs with at least one anemone per pair in the tank. That way each pair stays in a designated area. Clowns do not deviate far from their anemones. I have seen it work in person with two pairs in a 2x2 tank that belongs to another RC member. However, it's a rare occurrence and not something that can be done easily or often. If you really want two pairs you can set up a nano-tank in addition to the tank you have.
 
Clownfish that are sexually mature "protect" a space around their "home" that is directly proportional to their adult size. (Joyce Wilkersen in her book Clownfish) So, GSM clownfish tend to protect about 50 gallons of tank space, etc.
 
snorvich said:
Clownfish that are sexually mature "protect" a space around their "home" that is directly proportional to their adult size. (Joyce Wilkersen in her book Clownfish)
Click to expand...

Great book. It is often recommended for people interested in breeding clowns but I think it's great for anyone who wants to keep clownfish. I have a copy of the book on my phone :)
 
I have a 400g tank - So take that into account. I have a trio of percs who have been spawning for the past 6 months (at least) and take turns hanging out as a 3some. I don't have any anemones. The clowns have been spawning underneath a massive Aussie elegance. And the last batch of eggs (eggs hatched on Saturday) they actually laid them on the elegance skeleton.

In addition to the trio I have a pair of black percs, a pair of midnight percs and a single misbar onyx perc. The midnights and black percs switch up with who is hanging out with who all the time. They also spend some time in pairs and some time as independent fish. They host in xenia, duncans and alveapora which are all across the tank. The little misbar is the only one who stays in one particular area of the tank.

Because of the size of the tank and the entire back wall of the tank is covered in live rock it's pretty difficult for me to tell if any of the other clowns are actually spawning in the tank.

Dave B
 
o2manyfish said:
In addition to the trio I have a pair of black percs, a pair of midnight percs and a single misbar onyx perc. The midnights and black percs switch up with who is hanging out with who all the time.
Dave B
Click to expand...

Interesting you mention this. The author of the book that Steve referenced above wrote that having multiple clowns in one tank presents challenges in trying to form a bonded/mated pair of clowns. Thus she recommends just have one pair per tank for breeding purposes. Doing so speeds up the bonding process and leads to eventual spawning. Otherwise, size of the tank is pretty much the only limit for keeping multiple pairs of clowns…which in your 400 gallon it's not an issue :)
 
snorvich said:
Do you recommend doing so?
Click to expand...

I do recommend it. The very nature of clowns makes it quite easy to do so. They are colonial fish, with a colony being made up of a large female, a male and multiple juveniles. Getting young, immature specimens facilitates this being successful in aquaria.

Though breeding prs certainly do stake out a territory, the smaller species stake out a significantly smaller territory than the gsm and tomatoes.

In thewild a colony will be made up of one species, but in aquaria members of the same complex will be accepted quite readily. If the social dynamics allow for it juveniles within the colony can separate from the sexually mature pair and become their own pr, but this will only happen if there is the space for it. If there is not enough space then they remain as subordinates within the colony.

This is where all of the captive bred variants come in handy as they are usually very small when offered for sale.

Everytime I have tried multiple prs in a tank I have never had aggression issues or any deaths, even tanks as small as 50g. I also am using only specific species by staying away from maroons, tomato complex and clarki complex.
 
Seen it done in the somehwhat longterm but wouldnt recommend it. Worked at LFS with a 300 gallon display tank with a pair of Percs and a pair of skunks hosting two different anemones on 2 different sides of the tank. Fish had to been together for years with no issue and then one day out of nowhere the skunks decided they wanted the huge green carpet the percs were hosting. Been war ever since with both parties sporting frayed fins constantly. Rockwork was rearranged multiple times to divert aggression to no avail.
 
I just got a mismatched pair of occelaris. An orange female and a smaller black misbar male. That may be a better way to satisfy your desire for different color clownfish.
 
The OP mentioned the second pair was "it is Seaxxxx something I can't remember how to spell" which, if they are truly a pair of Amphiprion sebae, there is no way I would risk mixing them with another pair. First, they are fairly rare, second, when/if they start to spawn, they will most likely take out the other pair.

Now, if they are a A. Clarkii or A. polymnus (( sometimes confused for A. sebae )), they will still take out the pair of ocellaris. Personally, I am never a fan of mixing pairs, but if one is going to attempt it, this would not be the combination to try.
 
I wouldn't chance it.I tried the two pair in a 8ft tank,didnt work out.Had to remove one pair.I also tried the group of juvies,about 3 months old.Started with 7 and two of them started chaseing and killed three before I could remove them.So it is really hit or miss when it comes to trying to mix clowns.
 
i think you would have to put all of them into the tank at the same time and it would have to be a larger tank, say 150+. just an opinion though
 
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