Max Clowns In 120g

[neogenix]

Hey Guys,

So, I know multiple clown pairs in a tank are a bad idea, but is that a complete rule, or a rule of thumb for smaller tanks?

 

[jt_milstead]

in a 120 gallon I would stick with one pair in 150+ ive had perc and skunk pair at opposite ends of the tank. I would never mix any other skunks with Maroons.

 

[neogenix]

I'm thinking perc's, and two pairs is what I had in mind.... Bah!

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I tried a pair of percs and occs with rbtas at each end in my 240,I figured a 8' tank would be ok.Boy was I wrong,they would meet in the middle and fight like crazy.I removed the percs back into a 28 nano.

 

[Raceimage]

I have 2 pair in my 120 with no problems. They were all purchased when they were small and added within 2 weeks of each other. 1 pair percs and the other pair black ocellaris. There aren't any nems in the tank. Occasionally they hang out in the various LPS corals but most of the time they dig a hole in the front corner and 3 of the 4 hang out there together.

 

[travis32]

Not to mention the LFS's usually have a bunch of clowns in a 30 gallon tank all together as one big.. most likely unhappy family. Usually tank raised, and so on, obviously not maroon clowns.. or tomato clowns...

 

[neogenix]

Hey,

So currently I have a pair of wild caught fake percs that I've had in my smaller tank (55G) for around a year, and a friend of mine just got a pair of juvenile semi picasso ora clowns. I'm about to start moving everything to my 120G, and was wondering if I could muster both 'pairs' in the new tank... There just doesn't seem to be any hard and fast 'this works, that doesn't' around this?

 

[SkullV]

With the second pare being a "semi-rare" pair I wouldn't risk it personally. Although I would never put 2 pairs in the same tank anyway. Just didn't have a good experience with it.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I wouldn't attempt this -- a 120 still isn't all that big.

It may work in the short term, but once one of the pairs starts to spawn, all bets are off. I had a pair of mated pink skunks that were very docile at first -- once they started spawning, all things changed. They became super aggressive, to the point where my dwarf angels weren't safe -- ended up selling them to a local breeder. I don't even want to imagine what they would have done to another pair of clowns.

 

[bues0022]

Listen to Todd, with lots of experience, knowledge, and well-read, his approach is many times some of the best you can get around here.

My thought follows exactly with his, but with one more addition: if you are asking, you shouldn't attempt. (you just don't have enough experience and foresight to mitigate problems when they arise). BUT, it was good of you to ask before rather than this be a "my favorite pair of clowns just got destroyed by my other pair" thread.

edit: remember, "long-term" for success with this is measured in multiple years (3 minimum before I'd accept someone's two pairs as cohabitating well - with at least one spawning or making the motions), not months or weeks.

 

[jt_milstead]

I have 2 pair in my 120 with no problems. They were all purchased when they were small and added within 2 weeks of each other. 1 pair percs and the other pair black ocellaris. There aren't any nems in the tank. Occasionally they hang out in the various LPS corals but most of the time they dig a hole in the front corner and 3 of the 4 hang out there together.

Good luck with this long term. Once those black and whites decided they are tired of the percs it will be on, and those percs will lose.

 

[jt_milstead]

I wouldn't attempt this -- a 120 still isn't all that big.

It may work in the short term, but once one of the pairs starts to spawn, all bets are off. I had a pair of mated pink skunks that were very docile at first -- once they started spawning, all things changed. They became super aggressive, to the point where my dwarf angels weren't safe -- ended up selling them to a local breeder. I don't even want to imagine what they would have done to another pair of clowns.

Glad im not the only one who thinks that this is a bad idea long term.