Clownfish pair for semi aggressive fowlr recommend

Martini5788

Martini5788

New member
So I am starting up a 210 gallon, and I want a pair of clowns. I want something unique, not typical nemo. The other tankmates would be 2 striped burrfish, powder blue tang, purple tang, flame angel, coral beauty angel, rock beauty angel, 3 yellow tail damsels, pair of orchid dotty backs, 3 halichoeres wrasses. That is just a proposed stocking list but what clowns do you think will go well with them? I really like clarki and am leaning towards them even though I know they get mean but I feel like the fish can handle themselves with the stock list above. What do you think?
 
Martini5788 said:
So I am starting up a 210 gallon, and I want a pair of clowns. I want something unique, not typical nemo. The other tankmates would be 2 striped burrfish, powder blue tang, purple tang, flame angel, coral beauty angel, rock beauty angel, 3 yellow tail damsels, pair of orchid dotty backs, 3 halichoeres wrasses. That is just a proposed stocking list but what clowns do you think will go well with them? I really like clarki and am leaning towards them even though I know they get mean but I feel like the fish can handle themselves with the stock list above. What do you think?
Click to expand...

You are headed in the right direction with the clarki complex, but I would go with something a bit more interesting - chrysopterus or bicinctus would be my vote.
 
Clarkiis are actually not as mean as many think. I had several pairs of them and when it comes to attacking other fish they were no worse than some of my percula or ocellaris.

There are also many of the clarkii lookalikes, some of them are rather rare.
 
I would reconsider the dottybacks. Most all of them are VERY aggressive. Beautiful fish but there are other choices similar to them that aren't as mean. I'd really hate to see them all the time attacking those two beautiful babies you have :(
 
All clowns have potential to be aggressive or territorial, especially after they mature and start to spawn, some tend to be higher up on the aggressive list, clarkis have a rep of becoming very territorial most of the time.
I also agree dottybacks can be very mean
 
Yeah I have been reconsidering the dotty backs as well. What should I replace them with though? I don't want something that the puffers are going to end up eating. If I am going to order a pair of clowns, I think that they will be one of the last additions to the tank. Where is a good place to order clarkii and the similar ones online?
 
Royal gramma was the original choice, I was gonna do a harem of them. I'm just not sure they
Will be able to hold their ground with the more aggressive fish in the tank
 
Martini5788 said:
Royal gramma was the original choice, I was gonna do a harem of them. I'm just not sure they
Will be able to hold their ground with the more aggressive fish in the tank
Click to expand...

That's why you put in the least aggressive fish first and proceed through the most aggressive last. This gives them time to get comfortable in the tank without interruptions.
 
Dkuhlmann said:
I would reconsider the dottybacks. Most all of them are VERY aggressive. Beautiful fish but there are other choices similar to them that aren't as mean. I'd really hate to see them all the time attacking those two beautiful babies you have :(
Click to expand...

I would stick with the fridmani (orchid dottybacks) - they are nice.
I have a pair of them in my tank and they are no more aggressive than any other reef fish. Also, as a pair or harems group they will be too busy with each other to care about other fish.
I had other, larger and reportedly more aggressive dottybacks and they were the same: not too much of a hassle when kept as a pair.
I feel most of the reported aggression comes from single individuals that have no outlet for their extra energy and then turn to bully others.
 
Aren't you looking for something aggressive enough to hold up to your other fish?
I think most clowns will hold their own against what you have on your list, most are not too bad really.
Any dottyback may make keeping inverts a challenge.
throewer is probably about the only person I have seen call clarki's not aggressive, not the norm from my experience and countless posts I've seen here over the years, not mature clarki's anyway.
 
The burrfish will be more than HAPPY to have the inverts for dinner :D will save you on dental bills of having their teeth ground down LOL
 
Dkuhlmann said:
The burrfish will be more than HAPPY to have the inverts for dinner :D will save you on dental bills of having their teeth ground down LOL
Click to expand...


Haha yup. I go down to the water and give them oysters and stuff to wear their teeth down. I catch
Pistol shrimp and crabs as well
 
Dkuhlmann said:
I would reconsider the dottybacks. Most all of them are VERY aggressive. Beautiful fish but there are other choices similar to them that aren't as mean. I'd really hate to see them all the time attacking those two beautiful babies you have :(
Click to expand...
Orchid Dottyback are fine. They do not bother other fish. I love them in my docile reef tank. The only down side to this fish is unless you have good water and great food, then tend to loose color. Taken great care of them and you will have a very peaceful pair of bright purple fish.

In fact Orchid Dottyback are so peaceful that in your proposed tank, they need to go in first.
 
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