Multiple clowns playing nice?

[DasCamel]

I know the general rule of only one pair in a tank. How come I see so many tanks with multiple clowns, some with different species doing ok?

Are people only introducing juveniles into the tank to reduce aggression? Is this a ticking time bomb once the fish mature more?

I was looking at Vivid's main tank, they had a few really large Occelaris hanging out together, looked gorgeous.

 

[addictedreefer]

I think size of the tank makes a huge difference. In the wild, clowns have a finite territory surrounding their host anemone. This area varies by species, but is typically relatively small (likely approximately three feet in all directions). Thus, in smaller aquariums (roughly 120 gallons or smaller), the clown's territory is essentially the entire tank. However, in larger aquariums, there is enough space for each clown/pair to establish their own territory as in the wild.

 

[snorvich]

At the LFS a tank full of tiny clowns has no issue since they have not established a territory.

 

[DasCamel]

A) How come in Vivid's large display tank they cluster together? The three that I saw were huge and not wondering from the same area?

B) In my tank would two pairs be pushing it?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

A) How come in Vivid's large display tank they cluster together? The three that I saw were huge and not wondering from the same area?

B) In my tank would two pairs be pushing it?

A) it's 800 gallons. There's plenty of room for the third one to hide should things go south.
B) 150 is a good size but because it's only 4ft long I would not recommend it. 6-8ft long with anemones on each side of the tank...may be. But 4ft? Not something I would personally try.
Like you I am fond of clowns. However instead of trying to put another pair in my 4ft 60 gallon tank I am considering a 25 or 35 gallon cube just for one pair. May be you should also consider a smaller second tank.

 

[DasCamel]

A) it's 800 gallons. There's plenty of room for the third one to hide should things go south.
B) 150 is a good size but because it's only 4ft long I would not recommend it. 6-8ft long with anemones on each side of the tank...may be. But 4ft? Not something I would personally try.
Like you I am fond of clowns. However instead of trying to put another pair in my 4ft 60 gallon tank I am considering a 25 or 35 gallon cube just for one pair. May be you should also consider a smaller second tank.

800 gallons does solve many problems...

The only reason I'm considering it, my tank has a large Haddoni in the back left and a decent size Magnifica on the right top, along with a bubble and H. Crispa. The nems are all well separated as potential territories. Thinking Clarkiis on the back left, with the Oscellaris staying on the right, in an ideal world.

The 2nd smaller tank is a great option, may do that with the QT soon.

 

[m0nkie]

800 gallons does solve many problems...

The only reason I'm considering it, my tank has a large Haddoni in the back left and a decent size Magnifica on the right top, along with a bubble and H. Crispa. The nems are all well separated as potential territories. Thinking Clarkiis on the back left, with the Oscellaris staying on the right, in an ideal world.

The 2nd smaller tank is a great option, may do that with the QT soon.

that's IF your clowns host the anemones.. mine hosted the glass corner.. :strange:

 

[DasCamel]

that's IF your clowns host the anemones.. mine hosted the glass corner.. :strange:

Very true, my one Ocellaris is hosting the front right edge very nicely ignoring all 4 nems.

 

[monkeybiz]

i recently picked up a frag from someone who had a 57 gallon oceanic illuminata tank. he started with 4 clownfish and now 4-5 years later he has three fat and happy clownfish.

he did say that when there was four, two of them were continually picked on. but after the first one passed away, the third one was no longer picked on. all three host the same hammer colony.

 

[ca1ore]

My personal experience has been that multiple clowns are OK in a big tank as long as there is no suitable anemone to fight over. I bought a 90 last year off cra!gslist and it came with 11 clowns, mostly Ocellaris. They were fine until I added a magnifica anemone and then WWIII broke out. Biggest two ended up being hosted by the anemone and I had to remove all the others.

 

[DasCamel]

Any particular cross species play nice, territory issues aside? Like Clarkii and Osc?

 

[m0nkie]

osc and perc are the least aggressive type.. so I guess they would be better together.. than something like a Maroon

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Or a pink skunk. They are supposed to be least aggressive as well.

 

[DasCamel]

I just watched the BRS video sleeting up the clownfish harem tank. They were working adding multiple at time,same clutch, 15+ so that they were getting safety in numbers with multiple Nems for them to be happy with.

Also, very heavy feeding schedule to reduce territorial behavior over food. They talked about 50% weekly water changes and also a great skimmer + cheato to handle the heavy feedings.