Is there a listing of clownfish aggression?

[homebrewdude]

How do Clarkii and Sebae compare to Maroons and Tomatoes?


Will a single maroon bully an entire tank of non-clown fish?
120gal tank

Is there a FAQ or website with this info?

 

[Slakker]

There might be something on the FAQ right here in these forums with the information you're looking for. Let me check to see what my Marine Fishes book has to say and get back to you..

 

[Sk8r]

I can tell you anecdotally [while you're waiting for someone who actually has a good link] that in my own experience clarkii and percs are quieter tank citizens than maroons and tomatoes, claim a somewhat smaller territory and are not as rough on the nems. I've also never seen much aggression out of the skunk clowns. But everything tends to be relative to other tankmates, size of tank, condition of tank, etc. I had a clarkii pair that was quite ok with gobies, damsels, wrasses, etc.

 

[Slakker]

According to this book, Clarkiis "will attack other anemonefishes and passive tankmates." Sebaes are listed only as a nickname for Clarkii in this book, but are indeed a seperate species (A. Sebae).

As for Maroons (P. Biaculeatus) "should never be housed with other anemonefishes or small, peaceful fish species." and Tomatoes (A. Frenatus) "prove to be very belligerent when it begins to mature, striking out at peaceful tankmates, especially other anemonefishes."

Though I believe I have seen A. Frenatus referred to as the Fire Clown, and A. Ephippium as the Tomato, so A. Ephippium is "an aggressive fish that will punish other anemonefishes and smaller, more passive tankmates."

However, as I'm sure you know, there are plenty of people in this community alone who have had very different experiences with clowns of any variety.

 

[Sk8r]

Yes. Absolutely agree: my clarkiis were in a 100 g and their breeding activities finally got so large and boisterous and cranky they took over half the tank. They never hurt anything, but they kept all the fish chased to the far end whenever they were mating, which turned out to be about every other week, seemed to me---I ended up selling the pair and their nem for the sake of tank tranquility. That said, they never killed or fin-ripped any fish, never bit anything except me, when I cleaned the glass, and didn't do great damage even at their worst, but they were getting somewhat large and their nip was occasionally painful.

 

[GSMguy]

my maroons are not mean to anything unless it comes into their lil cave