I had no idea clowns were this much fun!

[ACBlinky]

I have a 9-5, but I work p/t at a LFS to support my hobby. Over the last year or so I've heard more kids screaming about Nemo than I care to remember, and have resisted clowns because when I look at them it's all I hear.

I relented a while back and tried a maroon, who laid absolute waste to my tank; a 2" fish that was laid back at first, then turned mean in my 30g and meaner still after she was moved to a 65g, many bites while cleaning the tank and three very pricey dead fish - that was my introduction to clowns. Needless to say, after I traded her in I wasn't eager to try again.

Friends encouraged me to try a less agressive, more 'traditional' clown like percs or ocellaris, but I just... didn't... want... NEMO!!

Well. Today I walked into the fish room and saw a tank full of tank-bred ocellaris clowns, all about 3/4" long, and just melted. I decided I don't care about stupid Nemo, I'll get over my neurosis and finish off stocking my 65g with a pair of gorgeous orange fish. I got a fantastic deal from the manager (2 for 1), brought them home, and realized they're going to get the snot kicked out of them if I put them in with my 3" halfblack angel, so they're in a little 5.5g for now until I can work out a bigger grow-out tank for them.

They were playing in the drip bucket. They tussled in the tank when I introduced them, and then when the lights went out they went diving headlong, roly-poly, and jumped right into the open brain. One of them is asleep in the coral as I type; earlier I checked on them and s/he woke up, they goofed around for a while, and then went back to resting/sleeping - they're like little kids! I'm riveted, I'm completely hooked, I'm rediculously in love with these nutty little fish!

Here's a pic from just after lights out - the colour's off because the flash was on:

 

[stykthyn]

congratulations, clownfish are great. With any luck they will eventually spawn for you.

 

[OCDP]

The reason I got into setting up a tank was for clowns. When I first bought them, acclimated.. etc.. and watched my very first saltwater fish swim around... I was breathless. The personality, colours and everything about them was just amazing. I have had many other fish since being in this hobby. No matter what... clowns are my #1 choice for SW fish. They are THE best

 

[IslandCrow]

Agreed, I love my clown. . .I even have a moroon, and she's not aggressive at all (though a bit territorial around her anemone).

 

[ACBlinky]

I wish mine had been like that - maroons are gorgeous, and I've seen some really laid back ones, unfortunately mine was a holy terror. I made sure the LFS put her on her own (that was easy, all I had to do was tell them she'd killed ~$200.00 worth of fish) and asked them to please inform the next owner about her 'past'.

Here's another picture of my little guys, they LOVE the brain coral and only leave it for a few seconds at a time. Do juveniles host? Is this hosting or are they just looking for a safe place to hide? These guys are tank bred, if that makes a difference. I have so much to learn about clowns...

(BTW, they're in the pico because they're too small not to be eaten alive, I'm working on a bigger 'grow out' tank for them and eventually they're destined for the 65g)

 

[travisurfer]

youve inspired me to break away from the nemo thing....i may try regular ocellaris in my next tank

 

[ACBlinky]

They really are endearing once you get over the whole Nemo thing - I love that movie, but it really made me hate the sight of ocellaris clowns for a while!
I just watched the lights go out on their tank, they dove into the brain and snuggled in together. Whodathunk a fish could be THAT adorable?

 

[deepblue68]

yes they are a great fish. i just bought a pair of skunks that are doing quite well as we speak and i look forward to buying a pair of ocellaris for another tank after there out of qt.i also think ocellaris have great color and markings. some people prefer percula clowns.