Is it possible to have 3 pair of clown fish in a 5 feet tank

P

Pran

New member
Hi All,

Before for 2 years I had 2 black and onyx clowns and two regular clown fish in my 5x2x2 reef tank without any issues, I put all 4 at the same time and each pair for at each end of the tank.

Now I do not have any clown fish and I would like to put 3 pair of clown fish, 2 blacks, 2 onyx, and 2 regular clown fish in the same at the same time.

Can you please give me your advice/experience with this?


thanks
Pran
 
I don't think anyone can really answer that for you. All fish have their own personalities, and some clowns are more receptive to sharing than others. The clowns you're interested in are some of the more peaceful ones, so that will help your chances, but there is always a chance that they will fight each other over territory.
 
Like stated before, it's a risk. I have 2 types of clowns in my 180 a yellow striped, and 3 percs. They are issues at feeding time but besides that they tend to stay on opposite sides.
 
It's a bad idea. Clownfish are territorial (they are damselfish, after all). They may get along initially, but once a pair forms they will most likely turn on the others and try to drive them out of their territory. Since the subordinate fish have nowhere to go, the result is stressed, torn-up, and eventually dead clownfish. The best advice, and the advice you'll get from experienced clownfish keepers, is to keep just one pair of one species per aquarium.
 
velvetelvis said:
It's a bad idea. Clownfish are territorial (they are damselfish, after all). They may get along initially, but once a pair forms they will most likely turn on the others and try to drive them out of their territory. Since the subordinate fish have nowhere to go, the result is stressed, torn-up, and eventually dead clownfish. The best advice, and the advice you'll get from experienced clownfish keepers, is to keep just one pair of one species per aquarium.
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I will actual second guess your advice, I have had my 2 differen species of clownfish in my 180 for 3 years. I have had no major issue's or deaths. My wild caught percs are a mated pair also. Like stated above the only time they mess with each other is during feeding time, then they go there separate ways. In now way am I starting something, it's just the fact that it can be done. Also I am not telling the person to go out and do it, I took a risk and knew what could happen and actual succeed with keeping these 2 different clown species together.
 
usmc121581 said:
I will actual second guess your advice, I have had my 2 differen species of clownfish in my 180 for 3 years. I have had no major issue's or deaths. My wild caught percs are a mated pair also. Like stated above the only time they mess with each other is during feeding time, then they go there separate ways. In now way am I starting something, it's just the fact that it can be done. Also I am not telling the person to go out and do it, I took a risk and knew what could happen and actual succeed with keeping these 2 different clown species together.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you technically have one pair(trio)of clownfish and a single clownfish. How is your situation similar to adding three pairs of clownfish? If you added another "yellow striped" clownfish to your tank and they were to pair up, you would start to see more aggression. I agree with velvet Elvis do not add more than one pair of clownfish to your tank.
 
Rippinfrags said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you technically have one pair(trio)of clownfish and a single clownfish. How is your situation similar to adding three pairs of clownfish? If you added another "yellow striped" clownfish to your tank and they were to pair up, you would start to see more aggression. I agree with velvet Elvis do not add more than one pair of clownfish to your tank.
Click to expand...

If you haven't tried then you can't state if it can or can't be done, yes books say it can't be done, but I actual tried it anyway. No it's not the same as 3 different pairs. If you would actual like to know before I recieved orders to Maryland I had 3 percs and 2 yellow stripes which were paired within the same tank. The smaller of the yellow striped clowns died due to the move from 3 states. So yes I did have two types in there which were paired, and no I would not add another yellow stripe to the tank not knowing how it would act. It is a huge risk to add 2 pairs let alone 3. Would I add another or do it again no simply because of the issues I had 3 years ago when I first attempted.
 
..I have seen it done.

It was actually pretty impressive. I picked up a pair of Clarkii's from another reefer who had a gorgeous 180 gal. ( & pairs/Trios of EVERYTHING) multicolored angels/Anthias/Dottybacks/Tangs(?)... He was breaking down the tank and he had in the upper left-handed corner a pair of onyx clowns & Nem on the top of the rock work.
in the middle back portion he had a 1/2 broken pot with a pair of maroons and in the far right corner he had the pair of clarkiis/Nem... it was actually a very diverse scope of fish and coral , but worked.
 
usmc121581 said:
If you haven't tried then you can't state if it can or can't be done, yes books say it can't be done, but I actual tried it anyway. No it's not the same as 3 different pairs. If you would actual like to know before I recieved orders to Maryland I had 3 percs and 2 yellow stripes which were paired within the same tank. The smaller of the yellow striped clowns died due to the move from 3 states. So yes I did have two types in there which were paired, and no I would not add another yellow stripe to the tank not knowing how it would act. It is a huge risk to add 2 pairs let alone 3. Would I add another or do it again no simply because of the issues I had 3 years ago when I first attempted.
Click to expand...

With your logic I should attempt to add several tangs into my 58 gallon tank? Research says it won't work, but I should give it a chance anyways.
 
I think its not a question of "if" they'll get along, its more a question of "how long" before they kill each other. You might get a few minutes, you might get years, its hard to say as each fish has thier own personality.

I had a pair of maroons on one end of a 6 foot tank and a pair of breeding oscallais on the other end for over 2 years with a single nip at each other. Then one random day the female maroon decided "eh, I've had enough" and went over and slaughtered the 2 oscellairs
 
This isn't directed at anybody in particular--including the original poster in this thread--but I would love it if we could go at least a couple weeks on this forum without someone posting the eternal "How many clowns can I put in my tank/Can I put X number of clowns in my tank?" question. I sympathize with newbies looking for advice, but... :deadhorse:

Maybe we could make up a sticky addressing it?
 
Pran, I just want to add that you sound like a conscientious aquarist who's giving this issue careful consideration, so I hope I didn't offend you. Best of luck. :)
 
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