Multiple Clownfish Pairs

[ponokareefer]

I am looking for people with experience with putting more than one clownfish pair in a large system. I have an 8 foot long 240 gallon tank. I have 3 anemones, Sebae, Haddoni and Gigantea right now and 1 ocellaris pair. The ocellaris exclusively hang out on the right side in a Sebae anemone.

I would start by putting the new pair in a small floating tank inside the tank to observe the aggression. I wouldn't release the new pair if there was signs of aggression. I'm thinking of going with another less aggressive species like pink or a different colored ocellaris.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get this to work?

 

[Tkieu78]

From my experience. No established pairs. Got 26 all baby clowns, mixture of Snowflakes , onyx , Darwins. In a dsa 110 60inch tank. With 3 rbta 1 haddoni 2 gig , 1 sebae and LT nem. Everything was good for 4 months. Then they started claiming territory and also pairing off. Slowly they started fighting each other till I pulled all out besides 3 snowflakes.
Just my experience



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[ponokareefer]

From my experience. No established pairs. Got 26 all baby clowns, mixture of Snowflakes , onyx , Darwins. In a dsa 110 60inch tank. With 3 rbta 1 haddoni 2 gig , 1 sebae and LT nem. Everything was good for 4 months. Then they started claiming territory and also pairing off. Slowly they started fighting each other till I pulled all out besides 3 snowflakes.
Just my experience



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The 3 get along and hang out?

 

[ThRoewer]

If they can see each other they will fight.
To make things worse you have a less than ideal anemone combination. The gigantea is a natural host for ocellaris and the clownfish that prefer haddonis are some of the nastiest (polymnus, sebae and several of the clarkii complex).
In the wild clarkii and periderion are sometimes found to share an anemone (magnifica).
BTW, sebae is not a valid common name for any anemone, but rather an "I don't know what the heck this is" description for malus and crispas.


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[ponokareefer]

If they can see each other they will fight.
To make things worse you have a less than ideal anemone combination. The gigantea is a natural host for ocellaris and the clownfish that prefer haddonis are some of the nastiest (polymnus, sebae and several of the clarkii complex).
In the wild clarkii and periderion are sometimes found to share an anemone (magnifica).
BTW, sebae is not a valid common name for any anemone, but rather an "I don't know what the heck this is" description for malus and crispas.


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It's a crispa.

 

[Cthehentz]

I had two sets in my 210 for about four months until they decided to single one out, I moved her to my 90 and those three get along great. Must be a clown thing..

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I tried two pair in a 240 with 13 Rbtas and it didn't work out,if they can see each other they will fight.

 

[ponokareefer]

Sounds like I would need to create a large barrier in the middle of my tank of live rock covered in corals if i want to consider this.

 

[ponokareefer]

Got my wall up.

Just need to get a Magnificent Anemone on the top and it will be completed.

 

[ThRoewer]

The wall is only one thing you need as a barrier.
To keep them from crossing it you will need a mean fish that keeps them from ever leaving their anemones.
Without that the larger or less fearful pair will play Columbus and explore the other side of the divide - and we know how that worked out for the natives...

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[Sweitz1972]

Lmao!

 

[OrionN]

If two females see each other they will fight. As long as something that block the view of the clowns, in a 8 foot tank, you can have three pairs if you have natural hosts for them. This wil keep the clowns from wander and run into each other.
I am only experienced with smaller docile species namely Pink Skunk, Ocellaris and Percula. These three species will never wander more than an few inches from tehir anemones, especially if you have large fishes in the tank. My tangs are large, I also heve a Harlequin Tusk which, I am sure, are very intimidating for the clowns.

 

[Mad Marine]

There are no rules, it depends on the set-up and your specimens, and some luck.

I had Fiji tomato clowns with a bubble tip and Perc's with a ritteri in a 4 1/2 ft tank before (one at either end) with no issues. If you look at clowns in the wild you can find different species in different anemones within 2 feet of each other and no aggressiive behaviour displayed. If you put sebae or saddle-back clowns in your system they will host the haddoni and shouldn't blink an eyelid at the ocellaris. Perhaps go with Amphiprion akindynos (Barrier reef anemonefish)
A. bicinctus (Two-band anemonefish) for the Gigantea. It can be beneficial to have a larger fish in the system, this will keep the clowns well close the anemone and look out for themselves rather then show signs of aggresive behaviour towards other clown species.

MM

MM

 

[ThRoewer]

Important is that none of the pairs has much interest in the other pairs anemone. Tomato clownfish are quite particular towards BTAs while percula prefer giganteas (or magnificas), so this is a pairing that may work. Most clownfish of the clarkii complex are much more flexible in their anemone choices. Some will even take non host anemones and species from the Atlantic as their (sometimes rather unwilling) hosts. With these fish it will be difficult to keep two pairs in a normal home tank.
Best is probably to start with juveniles, so that they slowly grow into this setting. It's probably also best to make sure that the more aggressive pair starts out smaller.

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[ponokareefer]

I'd love to get a maroon pair but don't think I'd risk them with how big and aggressive they get. Might try some different colored perculas.

 

[ponokareefer]

Going to try an odd ball pair. The brown one should turn black.

My existing pair chased the frostbite clown away from their anemone, but now just leaves it alone on this side of the tank.

 

[ponokareefer]

Does anyone know how to get google photo's to link in here? I am trying to get away from Photoshop, but can't figure out how to get the link like Photoshop.

 

[ponokareefer]

Here is the picture from Photobucket.

 

[ponokareefer]

One found its new home.

The other doesn't seem too interested.

 

[havoc79]

I had the same question and here's the answers I have two tanks at the moment and wanted to move all my stuff to my new tank and have two sets of clowns, black and white ocellaris and maroon but now I'm not so sure I want to mix. Both are breeding pairs babies never make it they become fish food. So I think I will sell my maroons not sure they will stay away from each other in a 200 gal tank.