Is there anyway to have 2 pair of clownfish in the same tank?

[Reapar]

I have heard that if I get 2 differnt types of clownfish I can have 2 pair.

For example:

2 black and whites & 2 ocelarious

OR

2 Onyx & 2 Percs

Has any one ever heard this?



The plan would be to put them in a 46 gallon bow front.

 

[junio]

Put them together in the aquarium and it might work. I have a black ocellaris couple and a false perc couple. They can't stand each other. Each couple inhabits one side of the tank and anytime they met they bite each other.

 

[Toddrtrex]

[welcome]

The ones you listed in each example are actually the same species, just different color morphs --- there is no real difference b/t 2 Onyx and 2 Percs.

For a 46 gallon (( and for most tanks )) I would suggest only 1 pair, having more may work in the short term, but odds are very good that over time you will end up with just one pair.

 

[rkelman]

I have 2 pair in my 190 but they are both Ocellaris (B&W and Reg) I wouldn't dream of it in a 46g.

 

[1geo]

In Joyce D. Wilkerson's "Clownfishes" she discusses having more then one pair in a tank. Assuming they are all juveniles when they are put in, one will become dominate and one will become her mate the others in the tank will remain juveniles and get along with the resident pair. When you have trouble, is when there are two dominate females in one tank, then you will have to separate them or they will constantly fight. Do NOT buy wild clownfish. Buy only aquarium raise clownfish. Either buy all the same size, small to med, or buy one large and three small; that's your best shot at not having two females in the tank. As stated in a previous post what you want is all the same species. Just because one pair is black and white does not bother the clownfish. They are all Ocellaris and they will readily interbreed and have fertile off spring. 40 gals should be plenty large to keep four clownfish if you only have one female.

 

[noboddi]

I wouldn't advise it. In a small tank like a 46 gallon it probably will not work out in the long run.

 

[hottuna]

I saw it done in a huge tank at the new york aquarium...but there were many large anemones in the tank ...it seemed they stayed close to their anemone and didnt fight much...
but in our world of small tanks (less than 500 gal) its a gamble...