How many pairs of clownfish on a 400g tank?

[kmu]

Hi guys, Ive had my mating pair of perculas for almost 9 years now, they started in a 5g nano for almost 3 years, then on a 20g solana cube, then a 66g solana 48x18x18, later I upgraded to a 240g cube a 48x48x24 system where they spent the last 3 years.

Now I have a 400g 72x36x36 tank and was wondering if I could add a pair of snowflake clowns to my system with the mating pair of perculas.

Can it be done on a tank this big?

Here are the only pics I have from them when they where on the 240g Cube

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Where have they set up their territory in the 400g tank? If they are on one end, you might be able to introduce another pair on the other end. The problem is, if the new clowns get anywhere near the existing pair, it's likely going to end badly.

 

[kmu]

Where have they set up their territory in the 400g tank? If they are on one end, you might be able to introduce another pair on the other end. The problem is, if the new clowns get anywhere near the existing pair, it's likely going to end badly.

They clowns are actually on a friends tank, my 400g just finished cycling z couple of weeks ago but haven been able to introduced them to the 400g, I currently have 6 yellow tangs, 10 blue cromis, 5 bangaii and 4 anthias

 

[dalilgriffith]

One pair per tank. There is a 700 gallon setup at a popular pet store that they put 10 clownfish into. Needless to say, only 2 clownfish are in the tank a year later. Anything otherwise is the exception, not the rule.

 

[kmu]

One pair per tank. There is a 700 gallon setup at a popular pet store that they put 10 clownfish into. Needless to say, only 2 clownfish are in the tank a year later. Anything otherwise is the exception, not the rule.

I was wondering at what size tank the one pair per tank rule wouldn't apply, I guess my 400g is still not large enough

Thanks for the heads up

 

[JJ Ocean]

I have a very similar sized tank -76x36x36. My Chrysogaster pair's magnifica anemone is in the back right corner. They stay around there most of the day, but they roam the whole tank several times a day and pause in certain sections for 10-15 minutes at a time. There's absolutely no way they'd tolerate any other clowns in the tank. Their territory is clearly the whole tank.

I have other clown pairs, but they are all in separate tanks.

 

[kmu]

I have a very similar sized tank -76x36x36. My Chrysogaster pair's magnifica anemone is in the back right corner. They stay around there most of the day, but they roam the whole tank several times a day and pause in certain sections for 10-15 minutes at a time. There's absolutely no way they'd tolerate any other clowns in the tank. Their territory is clearly the whole tank.

I have other clown pairs, but they are all in separate tanks.

Thanks, do you have any build thread?

 

[MachPilot]

Have 4 pairs of clowns in a 210. Maroon, skunk, allardi, saddle.

Depends on space, anemones and competition, introduction to tank etc. Ive done it. The most aggressive clown out of the 9 in the one tank is the female skunk.

 

[OrionN]

I got a Breeding pair SnowOnyx in a 100 gal cube. Being a breeder I got a lot of babies. I added 4 babies in that tank. Two Onyx and two SnowOnyx. The breeding pair stressed the 4 babies. Two of the Onyx jumped into the overflow box and was removed. And the two SnowOnyx eventually live with the adult pair as a group of 4 clownfish. Clearly Female, male and juveniles. That tank had 3 Gigantea in it at the time there also was a huge Frogspawn that the clowns used as hosts.
I don't think you can have two adult pairs but adding juveniles may be OK. Be careful and watch them. The two adult could have easily kill the babies.

 

[OrionN]

MarchPilot
Do you care to show picture of your impossible arrangement?

 

[JJ Ocean]

Thanks, do you have any build thread?

I don't have a build thread on RC. It is on my local reefer forum - Atlanta Reef Club in the SIG - Large Tanks section.

Anyway, here's 2 shots of it from my build thread "¦

 

[Anemone12]

lol i new your username sounded familiar. I think you can get away with two pairs if you add ALOT of anemones... You should ask on ARC to.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Have 4 pairs of clowns in a 210. Maroon, skunk, allardi, saddle.

Depends on space, anemones and competition, introduction to tank etc. Ive done it. The most aggressive clown out of the 9 in the one tank is the female skunk.

How long have all of these clowns been together in this tank? This is definitely a recipe for disaster.

 

[Anemone12]

One of my old friends has 3 pairs in a 120. Saddleback-Maroon-Clarkii. Hes had them for almost 2 years together. But i would not encourage that.. LOL

 

[FTDelta]

Have 4 pairs of clowns in a 210. Maroon, skunk, allardi, saddle.

Depends on space, anemones and competition, introduction to tank etc. Ive done it. The most aggressive clown out of the 9 in the one tank is the female skunk.

My money's on the Maroon clownfish pair that they will kill off the others. A 210 isn't big enough to sustain a healthy environment for the other clownfish.

 

[Anarchy18]

Interesting topic. I pretty much just went through the same thing last week. I had a 20g tank at my office with one black clown and one snow onyx. At home I have a 150g with two false percs. I was scared to introduce the black clowns thinking the percs would beat them up. I had no choice since I was breaking down my office tank. When I put them in the big tank as soon as they saw each other that started swimming around each other and nipping. I was really scared throughout the night. Next morning they were all swimming together and sometimes switch pairs. (I think there swingers lol). Still as of now they seem to me one big happy family.

Occasionally I see one that's excluded and three are together. Is odd numbers better than even numbers of clowns in a tank?

 

[FTDelta]

Occasionally I see one that's excluded and three are together. Is odd numbers better than even numbers of clowns in a tank?

No. Once a dominant pair is formed, the third clown will be killed off.

 

[OrionN]

Juvi ocellated and percula can live together to form a harem. Same with Pink skunk. Maroon and clarkii and saddleback are vastly different. They are a lot more aggressive.

 

[mos90]

i have 1 pair of false percula that are hosted by a xenia and 1 large tomato on the other side of my 8' 300g that is hosted by my group of rbta's. i wouldnt dare to add more,when the tomato wanders to the other side they fight. mostly with the female.

 

[ChaliceKing]

I have a 400 with 3 pairs which one currently spawning every ten days. No aggression what so ever