Clownfish Compatibility and Aggression

[chshwong]

Hey Guys,

I have a 120-gallon reef. In there, I have:
- Flame Hawkfish
- 4 Orange Oscellaris Clownfish (2 larger, 2 smaller).
- Diamond Goby+Tiger Pistol Shrimp
- Fromia Star
- Load of hermit crabs, few Urchin

I have most of them for quite a few years. Everything's been great.

I recently saw a Picasso, and I couldn't find anything regarding compatibility between that and Oscellaris.

So I took the chance and bought it. It was a mistake. They keep attacking the Picasso.

The new Picasso was a gutsy one. It kept swimming back to the crowd's territory just to get attacked. Finally, I moved it to the sump. Great kid, started eating pellets the second day, it was tank raised afterall.

Anyway, I found a buyer for this fish. However, I really love it.
My question is, would I be able to keep it in my 120-display with some tricks? For example, if I get more clownfish of different kinds in, would that control the aggression?
Maybe 1 extra picasso, 2 black, 1 maroon(lol)?

Cause in my 75-gallon african cylclic tank, it is recommended to overload to control aggresion. Since they'll be too busy to protect their own territory, and that aggression would be shared. It's been great for last 5 years.

I wonder if the same could apply to clownfish?
Thanks!
Thanks!

 

[saltwaterguy718]

Short answer is no. 120 is not large enough to house multiple clowns. I'm surprised your ocellaris didn't start picking each other off till there was just one pair in the tank.

 

[chshwong]

That bad? Cant have 4 in 120gal? They were together for 2 years in my previous 55-gallon corner.

 

[shifty51008]

In theroy, as soon as 1 pair of clowns pairs up in a tank they will most likely kill any other clowns in the tank