Need Help Deciding Which Clown To Get...

[magellan007]

There's a member getting out of the hobby due to a move, and I have the opportunity of getting only one of two fish: a Tomato Clown (+2") or a juvenile Red Sea Clown (1" or 2" available, get to pick it out from 7 siblings)

I mainly want it to host my RBTA since it sorely misses the Maroon I used to have. (I have another speckled GBTA, but I'd prefer it remain solo since it's kept its bubble tips). So as far as personality, aggression, size, etc. I'd like you guys' input on this.

The rest of the tank mates would be a dusky jawfish, bullet goby, allen's damsel, midas blenny, one-spot foxface, and a baby 1¼" hippo tang. I'm really most worried about the foxface, since he's been known to pick on new additions, though he ignored both copperbands he near bit a clown tang to death--and both were added the same day. ANYWAY, if the clown will host the anemone right away there should be no aggression problems from anybody.. so what do you all suggest? I love the rich red color of the tomato, but I've read that the bicinctus have very good personality.


Thanks in advance!
k.c.

 

[magellan007]

Anyone? I gotta make a decision by tomorrow, so I'm kinda pressed for time.

 

[tufacody]

go with the red sea and the blue dress, those will look nice together

Just ribbin ya bro. The tomato can be pretty agressive, but is known to be hardier. Really up to personal preferance.

 

[garygb]

Tomato clowns are a natural symbiont of E. quadricolor. What species of "Red Sea clown" are you considering? It is probable that a tomato would go to the anemone straight away. As mentioned, tomatos can be aggressive. You imply that bulbs on E. quadricolor are related to the absence of a clownfish, but they definitely are bulbed at times when hosting.

 

[magellan007]

the one I'm considering is the Amphiprion bicinctus.

Sorry if it sounded confusing; the bulbs on the RBTA never stay bubbly, but my new green one is nice and bulbous and I'd like to keep it that way--kinda like "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (just don't wanna risk it getting stringy with the presence of a clown, lol). My rose just doesn't look as happy since I've gotten rid of the maroon. Plus it doesn't help that my cleaner shrimp tries to host it...lol, so i wanna make sure the nem is happy and protected from the shrimp. (it literally tries to sit in it, and it stresses the nem out)

 

[garygb]

A. bicinctus is also a natural symbiont for E. quadricolor, so just go with whichever you prefer. I think the yellow of the A. bicinctus would make me lean that direction. It will make a nice contrast with your RBTA. You mentioned it will be small, and I'm assuming (since you're choosing from siblings) tank-raised, sounds like a good opportunity to get a less common species of clownfish.

 

[magellan007]

Thanks, I guess I'll go with the bicinctus, then. The guy has 7 of them as well as the original father. (the mother went carpet surfing).