FS: (I can't call 'em babies anymore) Clown Pair

[stockham2121]

I have a 300 gallon tank with a lot of rock work and four RTBAs. One of the RTBAs has a pair of Marroon Clowns in it. My tank has a centeral overflow that serves as a divider of sorts so much so I have never seen the clowns on the other side of the tank. There is an empty RTBA in the unoccupied side.
Two questions: Would the Marroons, given as much space and hiding places as would be available would your clowns have a high likelyhood of survival, and does this species of clown ever host in a bubble tip?

If the answer to these questions is yes I would love to give these clowns a home. I have been wanting to get clowns from you for months but have been unable to contact you. For some reason I cannot figure out how to PM you.

Please let me know what you think.

 

[rykwong]

Hey NicoleC,
The boss gave the GO! However, it's totally up to you if you want to hold it for another month. I can certainly pay you now. Thanks!

Rich

 

[NicoleC]

Rich, I will hold these babies for you. No need to pay now.

John, I have PMs turned off... I was just getting too many. You can email me at fishyenta AT gmail DOT come.

In a 200g, you could probably have two pairs. it really depends on how old and aggressive the marrons are. If they are still young, they probably won't attack the new fish and the new ones can live on the other side of the tank safety. If they are big and old, though, it probably won't work. A. ocellaris does not host in BTA's in the wild, but do sometimes in captivity. At least one pair and another juvenile mate for an existing fish from this clutch have hosted in BTAs.

As I said, I have more babies. One has his black coming in well and is almost as big as he ones above with the same mis-bar pattern. (Perfect on one side, bars don't meet right on the other.) Another is catching up fast, but his black isn't well in yet. Those two are certainly ready for a home. They are nipping at each other and tearing fins, so I should probably isolate them to let them sort out their pairness, too.

 

[rykwong]

Thanks NicoleC, from both my girl and I!

Rich

 

[stockham2121]

Great answers to both questions. My maroons are on the younger side, and if there is a chance for Ocellaris to host I will take it.

What to do next? I work in Pasadena so maybe I can swing by Orange?

I'll try to email so we can work out details.

 

[mmoore0803]

Nicole,

I'm confused.....only 2 little clowns in 1 tank? I was in Monacco about a week ago and found this in their public aquarium (amazing place)

now I can count a couple more than 2 :eek1:

 

[NicoleC]

What makes for good show does not necessarily make for long-term health or sustainability.

Clowns have a strict pecking order. The female is at the top, followed by the male, followed by any unsexed juveniles. From time to time, as with all animal packs, fish will try to move up the ladder. In the wild, the loser is chased away and the fights seem to be only rarely lethal. In aquariums, they CAN'T run away and the loser ends up dead unless the aquarist happens to intervene. Or the tank is big enough and designed so that the loser can run out of territory and out of sight of the winner, which simulates the wild.

With young clowns, it may be a long time (years) before this happens. Or not.

On the other hand, in order to prevent infighting -- even among juveniles -- in community tanks, breeders pack their clownfish to about 10 per gallon. Needless to say, this requires serious filtration.

In the above photo, the aquarium likely doesn't care if a few fish end up dead since it's about the show. Even educational aquariums do this to get attention Or, it's possible they have reached the point where the fish are so crowded they won't fight... but it doesn't look packed enough for that.

 

[Fmellish]

Mike, I think I read somewhere that the Monaco aquarium uses all mechanical fish.

Those aren't real fish.

I mean it!

They are robots.

Robots!!

 

[mmoore0803]

Now that I think about it.....they all kind of moved like Jaws.....hmmmmm.....maybe Jaques Cousteau was paid off to never reveal the true secret of the aquarium he designed for the Prince of Monacco

 

[818]

Look at how they punked the bangaiis down to the sand bed...

That must be like bloods chilling in front of some crypts. Territory lined everywhere I bet for those clowns. Their life must suck.

 

[mmoore0803]

I especially liked the single Royal Gramma....like playing where's waldo....the tank was easily 15 feet across and was about 36" tall....octagon shaped

 

[Fmellish]

I'd say its taller than 36". That's only 3 feet. That thing looks more between 4 and 6 feet tall.

Josh