Mixing Clowns from different species Advice

[reefkeep3r]

Hello all,

I am starting my first SW tank. It is a 29g Biocube, drilled and will have a fuge/sump attached.

I am starting to plan my stock list and ran into a snag.

My fiance really likes Ocellaris (lets face it so do I), however my research tells me that a BTA should be my first nem as well as suited for the tank. It also tells me that getting a Ocellaris and BTA hosting is a shot in the dark since they aren't natural host. So I had a thought after reading about pairing of clowns.

I know mixing multiple clowns are bad. Also I have seen mention about multiples from other species being bad, but I can't find anything about a getting 1 fish from 2 species to form a pair. This is my plan if it is possible.

1. Get a tank bred Clarkii as first fish in tank.
2. Let it mature a 1-2 months and turn female
3. Introduce small tank bred Ocellaris, I believe it should turn male from what I understand.
4. After tank is mature and ready for a nem, I will put a BTA in.
5. The Clarkii should instinctively host in the BTA and from what I understand since the Ocellaris is male it will fallow.

Please let me know what everyone thinks. Am I totally wrong, has it been tried? Is it well known that you can't have a mated pair of different species.

If this isn't going to work can someone suggest a good nem for a rookie and that tank that a Ocellaris will host in.

Thanks

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Won't end well mixing them, especially so in such a small tank. Ocellaris and Percula's are the only two species you can usually get away with pairing together.

No way to guarantee with certainty that they'll host the BTA, mine did after a few weeks. For a beginner I'd stick with the BTA its the easiest of the hosting type nem's.

 

[accordsirh22]

i would not even think about attempting this in a tank that small. just my .02

 

[FTDelta]

Having an anemone is by no means a sure fire guarantee your clowfish will host it. If they're tank bred, most likely they won't host it. However, I have read they will host other corals - Frogspawn, Torch, Mushrooms, Duncans. Save your money on an anemone. Definitely do not keep different species of clownfish in a tank - even larger tanks. One species pair will be suffice.

 

[BlueFyre]

Those 2 species will likely not work out. Also hosting has NOTHING to do with tank bred vs wild caught. It depends on the anemone host and the individual clown. I have had tank bred true percs and occelaris host bubble tips without issue. It just took time.

 

[D-Nak]

Those 2 species will likely not work out. Also hosting has NOTHING to do with tank bred vs wild caught. It depends on the anemone host and the individual clown. I have had tank bred true percs and occelaris host bubble tips without issue. It just took time.

Agreed. Tank bred clowns not using an anemone as a host is a myth that's widely spread. Clowns find their hosts via smell and this sense is instinctual and not lost in the breeding process.

I personally would not try to mix clown species. Most of the time it ends in one dead clown, which typically isn't the behavior we like to promote. This isn't Thunderdome. :lol:

 

[reefkeep3r]

Well seems like there is a theme going on here. It seems I am better of getting 2 Ocellaris and a BTA and hope one day they host. At least both are very interesting to watch even if they don't host.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Last question: A Macrodactyla doreensis would probably be to much for a newbie to take on correct. Or is it similar care wise to a BTA.

 

[Buldrhm]

I don't think LTAs are more difficult, in fact I think they are much easier. I have had mine for about a year under a single T8 flourescent light and nitrates over 160. I don't seem to have had any problems.