Clownfish Cross-Breeding Likelihood

[damjenjen]

Hello All!

I recently started a 29 gallon tank, which is doing quite well. I currently have a mocha clown, black ocelaris clown, red scooter blenny, tuxedo velvet pin cushion, a purple anemone and the usual clean up crew (red hermit, turbo snail, emerald crabs, banded coral shrimp and some nassarius snails). I don't plan on adding too many more fish since I want this to be primarily a simple coral tank when the tank has matured some more (which may require removing the anemone), but I just want to know the likelihood of my clowns breeding. They are showing signs of courtship but are quite young and no where near to full size. I want to know what you all suggest I should do if they do lay some eggs in the future if they can breed at all. Of note, they are not paired up with the anemone so, does this have affect?

Thanks!

 

[Sk8r]

I hate to say, but peace will not reign too much longer. First object of concern actually is the red dragonet: he cannot get enough pods to live in a 29 gallon. Their consumption is astronomic, and he would take a 100 gallon tank to have a chance of living. Suggest you trade him to the fish store for a small blenny like the tailspot or signal blenny, either of which is quite amusing on its own. As for your clowns, ocellaris clowns are not as rowdy as some, but if they do decide to mate, they will get aggressive. They probably will ignore the anemone, particularly if they themselves are tank-bred: they willpick a spot they like, which could be most any coral that's fluffy. Or a rock. They're unpredictible in that regard. My guess is they'll all be ok, PROBABLY will not produce any offspring that survive the pump and circulation. But I would sincerely, and with regret, suggest trading off the scooter. He's not really a blenny, but a dragonet, and is very, very difficult to provide for. Other fishes that might get along well are like the highfin-redstripe gobies, which are very small, on a scale with your tank. They burrow, and as a pair are very entertaining.

 

[Crooked Reef]

Just adding that mocha clowns are just a color variation of an ocellaris clownfish. They are the same species and would have no issues breeding. The fry would take special care and likely their own tank to be successfully raised.