Melanopus in a FO w/out a nem?

[SDguy]

A LFS has some GORGEOUS melanopus. Can they be kept in a FOWLR with no nem, and mostly butterflies and a few angels? Tank size of 240g (8')...

 

[SDguy]

This is their color scheme, from melanasia: http://www.qualitymarine.com/Products/Fish/Wild/Clownfish/Amphiprion-melanopus/Melanopus,-Flame

 

[elegance coral]

Sure they can. They don't need an anemone. They can get aggressive, as any clown can, but beyond that I see no problem.

 

[Winwood]

Get em! I want to see pics! You might be able to keep a BTA in that tank with them. Melanopus can be awfully fiesty and capable at keeping the butterflies at bay. Even without a nem they'll be fine though.

 

[SDguy]

Get em!

And so I did Pics to come...

 

[SDguy]

 

[mr9iron]

Man, those are beautiful. Great find on your part. Do you plan on breeding them? :beer:

 

[Winwood]

I love them! A couple years ago one of the lfs got some of those in along with the anemones they were collected in. I still kick myself for not getting them. Congratulations on your pickup.

 

[SDguy]

Thank you! They are absolutely lovely! I only wish I could keep a nem with them...

 

[SDguy]

Man, those are beautiful. Great find on your part. Do you plan on breeding them? :beer:

I've never bred clowns before, so not likely. I doubt they will breed in a tank full of butterflies and no nem....

 

[elegance coral]

I think they can hold their own against the butterflies, and they don't need an anemone to spawn. If they're young and healthy enough, and you feed them well, I see no reason why they wouldn't spawn. How big is that female? BTW, they're gorgeous!

 

[Jerry W]

Gorgeous clowns! I kept one years ago in my 120 FOWLR that had a couple butterflies in it. No problems other than some occassional posturing .

 

[Whip316]

man those rock. i would die for a pair like that..

 

[davocean]

Very nice pair Peter.
I'm sure you probably have some hammer or something in that tank they may reside in.
Have you thought about adding a BTA since you don't have to worry about it wandering into corals?
Not that they need it to be happy or thrive, just a thought.

 

[SDguy]

I could, but I'm just afraid of the stress it might cause, to have a tasty BTA in a tank full of butterflies guarded by some big clowns.

Both clowns are eating PE mysis. The female eats NLS pellets too.

 

[SDguy]

Both are eating pellets very well! The male's black area is expanding like the female's. Here's a quick vid of them:

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZsLeAZKtEH8?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZsLeAZKtEH8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

 

[SDguy]

A couple updated pics. They are tough to get pics of... they see the camera and move into/behind the rocks. Both have equal amounts of black at this point. Both still have more orange dorsal and caudal fin and some anal fin (can't really tell in the pics), with very bright red faces. Both have very blue "white" stripes still. I'm extremely happy with how well they have held their brilliant colors. The pics do them no justice. I did recently catch them mouthing the side of the overflow box.... maybe a nest will come soon!

 

[nanoreefer1000]

One of my fav species, behind the Polynmus. Awesome pair

 

[SDguy]

Thanks! I wish my pics captured their colors better.

 

[sparky45]

Beautiful clowns. I wish the stores around here would get nice fish like they