Multiple Clownfish

[microlady]

I am fully aware of the usual "one clownfish pair per tank" rule, but I have heard of success in larger tanks. Has anyone tried both a pair of tank-raised ocellaris and a pair of skunks in tank larger than 100 gallons, and 5 feet long? No anemones will be in the tank.

Thanks!

 

[Bogue Chitto]

I think they would be safe, I had two pair in a 20 hex and they fought a little but nothing bad. But with that size tank I don't think you would have a problem.

 

[shifty51008]

I am fully aware of the usual "one clownfish pair per tank" rule, but I have heard of success in larger tanks. Has anyone tried both a pair of tank-raised ocellaris and a pair of skunks in tank larger than 100 gallons, and 5 feet long? No anemones will be in the tank.

Thanks!

Lots of people have tried and failed not to say their hasnt been the few that have had it work. To me once a pair starts spawning thats when the trouble begins. So while it may work out for a little while your chances are slim for long term success.

 

[ThRoewer]

It can work in large tank under the right conditions.
Ideally you have two pairs that have different anemone preferences and give each an anemone the other pair has no interest in.
The other important factor would be to place the anemones as far apart as possible.
Most importantly is to block the line of sight.
It may also help to add a few fish who harass the clownfish and keep them close to their anemones.

Now there is one pairing of different species of clownfish pairs you find sharing one anemone together in the wild: A. clarki and A perideraion.

There is even a scientific article about it:
Coexistence of two anemonefishes, Amphiprion clarkii and A. perideraion, which utilize the same host sea anemone

Synopsis

Social structure and interactions between the anemonefishes, Amphiprion clarkii and A. perideraion, which utilize the same host sea anemone Radianthus kuekenthali, were investigated on a coral reef of Okinawa Islands, Japan. In an 87 × 373 m2 study area, 98 sea anemones were inhabited by both species (32.5%), by only A. clarkii (48.9%), or by only A. perideraion (18.6%). A group of A. clarkii often occupied two or more individual hosts, and group members often interchanged. However, a group of A. perideraion usually used only one host and migration between groups was rare. The larger A. clarkii suppressed reproduction of A. perideraion in cohabiting groups, while A. perideraion suppressed settlement of Juvenile A. clarkii to its own hosts. Juvenile A. clarkii settled on small hosts as well as on large hosts, whereas juvenile A. perideraion settled only on large hosts. Coexistence appears to be possible in part by differences in settlement patterns between juveniles of the two anemonefishes.

Radianthus kuekenthali is a synonym of Heteractis magnifica

Now, if you can replicate this in a home sized tank is of course questionable. But I think to remember that they had something like this at the Steinhard Aquarium in SF.