Different clownfish species together?

[Irishdolphin]

I know the general rule of only one pair of clownfish in a tank. Can this rule be bent / broken if you add different species of clownfish to existing pair? e.g. add skunk clownfish to pair of ocellaris?

 

[ThRoewer]

How big is the tank?
Do you have anemones in there?
In my experience, the only clownfish that may tolerate another species is A. clarkii, likely because it's the one that takes every anemone and is pretty much the most confident. All the others are too insecure to take any chances and usually kill off any possible competition.

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[Irishdolphin]

Tank is 4ft x 2ft x 2ft peninsula. There are easily 15+ BTAs as they keep splitting

 

[Irishdolphin]

Any other input or opinions on this?

 

[ZachsZoo]

if you have anywhere from 3-7 clowns they will most likely fight and kill each other until a single pair remains. But, if you added 10 or more clowns of the SAME species, they should do just fine. Also, what's your current stock list? Adding too many more fish might not be possible in a 120.

 

[phender]

I kept breeding pair of orange skunks (sandaracinos) and percula in a 48" 50gal tank for many years without a problem. However, there were two different species of anemone at opposite ends of the tank. The anemones were natural hosts of the pairs that used them and not natural hosts of the opposite pair of clowns, so there wasn't much competition for the anemones.

 

[Irishdolphin]

...:: Also, what's your current stock list? Adding too many more fish might not be possible in a 120.

Adding 10+ isn't an option as currently have 2 ocellaris, 2 chromis, bicolour angel, yellow tang, valentini puffer, Chalk Goby, royal gramma, Roland's damsel, azure damsel, springeri damsel.

 

[Irishdolphin]

I kept breeding pair of orange skunks (sandaracinos) and percula in a 48" 50gal tank for many years without a problem. However, there were two different species of anemone at opposite ends of the tank. The anemones were natural hosts of the pairs that used them and not natural hosts of the opposite pair of clowns, so there wasn't much competition for the anemones.

What anemones did you have?

 

[phender]

I had a S. gigantea for the perculas and a H. crispa for the orange skunks.

 

[JamesFWB]

The only way I have been able to add larger numbers is to add them all at the same time. It's totally hit or miss though, heck I have two tomatoes now that don't like each other and stay on different ends of the tank

 

[Mad Marine]

I had a similar experience as 'phender' back in 2004, except I had a pair of Tomato's with bubble-tip at one end and a pair of percula's with magnifica at the other end of the tank with absolutely no problems. My tank was 4 x 2 x 2ft. The least aggresive species should be added first, then add the more agressive species a day or a couple of days later or add at the same time BUT YOU SHOULD INTRODUCE CLOWNS BY ALMOST PUTTING THEM INTO THE ANEMONE YOURSELF (try not to let them wander around the tank).

Good luck!

MM

 

[ThRoewer]

I was at the Steinhart Aquarium yesterday and they have actually a whole load of different clownfish species in their 200,000 gallon Philippine Coral Reef.
So if the tank is large enough and you got enough anemones in it it's definitely doable...

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