Mix of clowns (don't freak out!)

[Wolverinegreg]

Hi guys,

I am currently planning my new baby, a 220g, 6'8 tank. I currently have a mated pair of ocelaris in my 65g that I will eventually move to the 220. I know you are not supposed to mix different species of clown, but was wondering if in a much bigger tank, it would be thinkable to add a couple of Balck & white ocelaris or Orange skunk, assuming they each couple can find its own spot in the tank?

 

[flameangel9]

I got away with this in a 6 ft 180 with true percs and Black O's however the 2nd time I tried it with snowflakes and onyx clowns it did not work and they had to be seperated. I really think its a crap shoot.

 

[Guy340]

I've seen one guy get away with 3 pairs in a 120g, but I wouldn't necessarily do it even with a 220g tank. You could try it and let us know how it goes though.

 

[bues0022]

In that size of a tank, you should be able to get away with two pairs as long as you provide adequate hosting anemones on opposite sides of the tank, and lots of rockwork for hiding.

 

[davocean]

Well, even if you got lucky and got nems to stay at one side of the tank(challenge itself) chances are as they mature there will be aggression.

 

[bues0022]

A 220 ga. tank is pretty big though. Often times you can create separate sides of the tank with a rock barrier in the center to visually create two sides. Nems don't stay put from luck, they stay put when you provide them with the necessary requirements to keep them happy.

 

[davocean]

A 220 ga. tank is pretty big though. Often times you can create separate sides of the tank with a rock barrier in the center to visually create two sides. Nems don't stay put from luck, they stay put when you provide them with the necessary requirements to keep them happy.

After a while even a 220g is not all that big, it's still just 6' of seperation, actually not even that when you consider nem circumferance and location, probably more like 3-4' of seperation.
I see alot of exp people do their best to provide what makes a nem happy, and often they still move for reasons we don't always know.
Also, the rock barrier, if you can do that w/out disrupting flow/creating dead spots, while blocking visual, it still isn't going to keep the scent of other clowns away.

 

[Fishamatank]

I've seen skunks and tomatoes in a 175 completely oblivious to each other. I'd be willing to try it.

 

[dh350twin]

i have a mated spawning pair of maroons in my 150 and a pair of ora caramels in my 40 breeder i often wonder if i could keep them all in the fully stocked 150 reef.......

 

[Wolverinegreg]

oki doki... that's kind of what I thought, but I might wait beofre trying it. I will keep the 65 anyway, so worst come to worst I can separate the 2 pairs, if I ever go that route.