Groups of Clowns?

[Gwynhidwy]

I'm wondering if it is possible to keep a group of clowns in a 155 gallon tank. I would really like to have a trio or more of clownfish that were an established group, as in don't try to kill each other all the time and generally hang out together. I don't care if they breed or not.

The problem is that I fairly often see mated pairs for sale, but never more than the two. If I can't find a larger group to buy that are already established, can I buy younger ones and put them together? Or is that likely to result in a bunch of dead clowns or at the least a clown in each corner? Thanks very much for any replies!

 

[fingerwrinkles]

Gwyn, this can be done with some of the more docile clowns (not maroons or the tomato and clarkii complexes). The best thing to do is find a small family group or buy a bunch of juveniles (pers or acellaris are good for this) and grow them out. Things may not be fully peaceful, but it has worked out for some before.

 

[ozadars]

I am planning to try this in my new tank. I think A. ocellaris would be best to try since they are one of the most docile clownfish and can be found in groups in the wild.

First of all, like all other harem fish, there will be chases in the clownfish harem too. I believe a very big anemone like a big H. magnifica would help a lot about the aggression.

Instead of adding a buch of juveniles, I would go with 4 or 5 different sized clowns. I think that will be better for their hierarchic social order. 1 female, 1 male and the smaller ones.

Before trying this, I think you should also have another tank to place some of the clowns if they start to be too aggressive to each other.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Thanks very much for the responses. I have been looking at the more docile types, I'm leaning towards the black and white ocellaris right now. I love my maroon, but a group of them would likely be hard to coordinate.

 

[Lumamae]

Anyone know of a black ocellaris breeder? A family group of 5 sounds like a great #.

 

[MarinaP]

BWOs are not that docile. I would not try a group unless you can find a WC family of any clown species.

AU breeders produce best looking BWO, IMHO. Your LFS can order a pair.

 

[shred5]

It is very possible. I would have one of the larger hosting anemones to do it though like a magnifica or gigantea.

I would use some of the clowns listed in this thread.

I would start with some juveniles. One will become female, one male and the rest will stay juveniles.

Be ready for some aggression because sometimes a juvenile can be rejected for some reason.

I would also say this should be left up to those with experience esp due to the fact those anemones are the harder to keep ones.
Dave

 

[LargeAngels]

Like Marina said. Unless it is a wild caught family you will most likely have problems. In the end you will have 2 clowns, the male and the female.

I also agree that the TR BWO are better from Aust.

 

[MarinaP]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10749478#post10749478 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shred5
It is very possible.

Have you personally tried?

 

[shred5]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10752200#post10752200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarinaP
Have you personally tried?

No but I have seen others that have had several clowns in a large anemone.

Dave

 

[LargeAngels]

In almost all cases the end result is that there will only be two clowns left. They may get along for a long while, but then there is a trigger (usually mating) that turns into severe aggression/death.

Did these have a breeding pair along with others in the anemone? That would be a very rare case. If it didn't have a breeding pair then most likely it would end with some ending up dead.

 

[Chappy]

I started with 5 ocellaris that were tank raised and all the same size as juvi's. They would not host in the very large BTA. I think they watched Finding Nemo, because 3 of them would jumb in the overflow prefilter and I would have to get them out. Over about 2 months they jumped out of the tank completely and I was left with 2. After about 8 months total, they finally hosted. After about 14 months they have now started to spawn.

Started with 5, ended up with 2.

 

[PupChow]

I tried, details and video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx0ETb6-Rjc

First day the big female chased the new juvs around for about 30 mins and stopped. That night they all snuggled happily in the big RBTA.

Second day the supposedly more "passive" juv started picking on the other one, chasing it out of the anemone.

Third and Fourth day more of the same thing.

Fifth day the big female started to chase the rejected juv around and pin it to the corners of the tank... that's when I traded it away to a member of a local reef club.

Didn't work out for me, but it looked really great the first day!

 

[ginger7286]

I have a group of three Ocellaris clowns. I bought them together as they all shared the same tank and had come to my LFS together. I didn't have the heart to separate them. They get a long great and rarely venture far from each other. They swim, play (in the powerhead current) eat and sleep together. I am so glad I bought the whole brood.