Experienced Clownfish Harem Reefers

[Kinetic]

Yeah, that's what I'm concerned about. One Magnifica will take up my entire tank at full size. Let's say I put three in there and I can do, let's just say 15 clowns. What happens when all three Magnifica eventually grow, even if I do slow their growth by not feeding them to stimulate more growth?

Well, I don't think you realize that the mag probably won't grow noticeably if you don't feed it. It grows really slow without feeding. It may never get full size. Worse case, just give him to a fellow reefer or trade it into the LFS.

 

[Zagzoo71]

Bigger the tank the better, give them room to spread out. I have 55 different percula family clown fish (darwins, helmets, picasso grade A & B, and platiums) each species of them came from the same clutch from local breeder; in a 180g tank with 24 BTA's. They are spread out across tank.. more the bta the marrier!!

Mine are spread out evenly across tank, aggression is way down (if any). Also, all of them shot straight into the BTA from the net when I introduced them to the tank. Check out my thread in this forum:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2651161

 

[monkeybiz]

It has been way too long, but I am about to set up a clownfish harem, and I'm looking for those experienced with harems.

From what I gather, maroon clowns are not recommended, but I'd be interested to see if anyone has ever done it or at least attempted it. I'd love to, but I won't do it if anyone has not had any positive experience doing it.

Details on my build. I have an established 75 gallon currently that I am planning on moving from my basement to the main level to start the harem tank. It has a 25 gallon sump with a large skimmer (reef octopus formerly used on around 200 gallons worth of tank and the sump). I also run an algae scrubber that produces quite a bit of algae. Some of the rock will be swapped out for dry rock, but most will be established rock (I'm also setting up a 110 gallon at the same time). I plan on having probably around 100 lbs of rock in the tank. It will be at least 60 established. I plan on doing a 4 bulb HO T5 for lighting and want to have one central island with a "flat" top to get the nems closer to the light. The tank is 24 inches deep (so the nems will probably be about 10-12 inches from the top of the tank and lighting can be placed at any level from the top of the tank since I won't have anything else in the tank except the fish and clean up crew), 36 long, 18 wide.

I plan on doing green bubble tip nems, and I'm still deciding on which clowns I want. My wife decided she didn't like pink skunks which is what I wanted, but basically I would prefer something that is naturally hosted in a bubble tip.

this tank belongs to someone in my area (Mobert). i haven't read the thread for a long long time, but they document their experience of having a harem of clownfish and a bunch of anemones. it a great thread with a lot of information. they also provide a ton of pictures and video as well. i would recommend starting from the beginning.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660686&highlight=clownfish

 

[lifeoffaith]

this tank belongs to someone in my area (Mobert). i haven't read the thread for a long long time, but they document their experience of having a harem of clownfish and a bunch of anemones. it a great thread with a lot of information. they also provide a ton of pictures and video as well. i would recommend starting from the beginning.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660686&highlight=clownfish

Thanks! Great read.

 

[lifeoffaith]

Anyone have experience with Fire Clowns? I'm up to six nems now, but plan on at least 10. I've decided to go with a 110 gallon instead of the 75 and still plan on about 20 clowns, but thinking Fire Clowns now. I know they're in the tomato family but have seen video from a reef in Indonesia I believe where they were hosting bubble tips. It seems like they tend to live in larger groups than some others in the wild, so I'm thinking it should work.

 

[eppersonm16]

I've had groups of occellaris and percula clowns living together for years with no issues, however, I would be a little leary of putting a bunch of tomato clowns together..... from my experience they tend to be much more aggressive as adults.

 

[lifeoffaith]

So the concept of keeping clowns in a harem comes from their natural tendency to do this in the wild. Some clowns are more prone to this than others based on what I’ve seen in my research. The reason that I chose the Fire Clown is that they are supposed to be one of the natural harem clowns and also are natural bubble tip hosters. That said I am not familiar with Fire Clowns from personal experience, so I was hoping someone would have some insight into them specifically.

 

[maxheadroom]

Click the pic to see the video

 

[lifeoffaith]

For some reason the video won't play. I saw the picture before the video though. Looks like you have a bunch of occelaris in there! Did you have anemones as well, or just the fish?