One clownfish or two?

[Squibege]

Working on my sticking list for my 90G tank I'm starting up (first reef tank). I know I want to have a clownfish... But do I need to have a pair? Won't they just be more aggressive and territorial, especially when they start to spawn? I'm planning on adding a few fish and several corals first so the clown would not be the sole inhabitant of the tank at any time and will hopefully find a home it likes.

TIA!

 

[A.Astore]

I have never heard that two is necessarily better than one so I see no reason to get two unless it is something you wish to watch within the tank. Even if you stick with one make sure you carefully select the type of clown because there are some that will be more aggressive as they age in comparison to others. I would say do one and give it a few options in terms of hosts so that it can find its happy place.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

No you don't have to have a pair of clowns but I do like the interaction between them. But like AAstore mentioned you need to pick the clown with aggression in mind. Any of the Percula or Ocellaris and both species color morphs are going to be the least aggressive of all of the clowns. A maroon clown will destroy your tank by moving rocks and frags, I suggest you think long and hard before getting on if that is your choice. I do think the maroon gold strip is the most beautiful of the clowns but I'll never own another one. Good luck with your choices, picking a stocking list is very fun and enjoyable to do. Love the research part

 

[Squibege]

I was planning on a Perc or Oclaris. Maroons seem waay too grumpy for me

 

[bat21]

I kinda wanted a pair but also didn't want two of the same fish. So I compromised and got an orange and a black Occelaris. Different looking fish but still paired up right away. They are inseparable and it's pretty cool to watch. They have not started spawning yet though, so I can't speak to that.

 

[mvallee_ma]

Single clown is fine but if you think you might want to buy a friend for it in the future buyer beware it might not always work out but if you put two juvies or two of disparate size in at the same time there should be no issue.

 

[ddwatson]

Single is fine but make sure you only want one. It could be difficult to introduce an additional clown later. Personally I like having a pair because of the interaction.

 

[dreaddinit]

Not trying to piggy back but Its right along what you guys are saying. I had one of a pair that died a few weeks after introducing to the tank. They were both juvies but the one that's left has been in there for six months now since the beginning. Any hazard on putting another in with the existing one being so small still?

 

[thegrun]

Not trying to piggy back but Its right along what you guys are saying. I had one of a pair that died a few weeks after introducing to the tank. They were both juvies but the one that's left has been in there for six months now since the beginning. Any hazard on putting another in with the existing one being so small still?

You are probably okay, but there is never a guarantee that any one fish will accept another fish. You will have a better chance of things working out if the new fish is smaller than your current fish even though it is still a juvenile.

 

[bat21]

Not trying to piggy back but Its right along what you guys are saying. I had one of a pair that died a few weeks after introducing to the tank. They were both juvies but the one that's left has been in there for six months now since the beginning. Any hazard on putting another in with the existing one being so small still?

It's fine, but make sure the one you add is clearly smaller than the one in there. If there is a clear size difference, there won't be a fight for dominance. I don't know if your current one has sexed yet, so it's safer to add one clearly smaller.

 

[bat21]

You can also use an acclimation box to let them get used to eachother first. I did that with mine in the same situation. But I let him out of the box immediately bc the resident clown very clearly wanted to pair up right away. It was pretty cute how excited she was to get a new friend.

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

In a 90 gallon I would 100% get 2. Once you add the amount you want. You can't add anymore clownfish because they don't welcome new clownfish very well. I would get a spotcinctus pair. They get the biggest and are a beautiful fish to have. But I would get 2. If you think that in the future you will want to add more then get 4. I wouldn't go any higher than 4 because then it kind of reduces the amount of fish you can get total.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

In a 90 gallon I would 100% get 2. Once you add the amount you want. You can't add anymore clownfish because they don't welcome new clownfish very well. I would get a spotcinctus pair. They get the biggest and are a beautiful fish to have. But I would get 2. If you think that in the future you will want to add more then get 4. I wouldn't go any higher than 4 because then it kind of reduces the amount of fish you can get total.

Spotcinctus do get large and they are also one of the most aggressive clowns you can get. Never a good idea to get more than two clowns per tank unless you're dealing with a very large tank. Has it been done, yes but there are so few exceptions to the rule.

If you don't want two that are the same then you can get two different color morphs of the same genus or even mix and match any of the Perula or Ocellaris.

 

[cymen]

I am in a much smaller tank and got one. I got home and wished I'd gone with two. Particularly as there were 4 at the store and it already seemed to be interacting with another one. I'm sticking with one for now though but considering going to two (by putting both in separate quarantine tank for a while before going into main tank).