How many clown pairs can I have?

[mtiknoles]

Hello everyone,
I have a 180g tank (72 x 24 x 24) and was wondering how many clownfish can I have without any problems? Right now I have a young pair of onyx clowns and would like to have a pair of misbarred black ocellaris as well. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Tonya

 

[timjoemak]

As I would think of it? They might live together well for NOW, since you said they were young, but on the long run? Chances are, the pair of onyx would be only pair surviving...

BUT at the same time there are exceptions where I've seen 2 pairs of clowns living on the separate areas of the tank.. but they were hosting anemones at the different areas, so they rarely left their "territory"...

Good luck with that mate... But, I'd say no...

Tim

 

[solitude127]

My dad has 3 pairs of clowns in his 72x30x24. All are doing well. He's had them in there for about 6 months now and no aggression towards each other.

 

[rkelman]

In a 180 you may get away with 2 pairs if they have anemone's. Mine stopped mating when I did that though in my 190. They weren't happy about it. I wouldn't be so sure it would be the Onyx left. Blacks can be pretty nasty when they want to be too. One of my customers had my juvies kick maroons out of their bta's. You never know 3 pairs of 1 year old clowns or fully mature clowns solitude127? There is a huge difference. Sexually mature clowns are much more aggressive than juvies.