I agree...three clowns is a sure way to lose one.
Don't listen to the LFS employees (or others) who tell you that you need to buy three clowns to ensure that you get a pair. When you buy three clowns, you will get a pair, but you'll also get a dead clown.
I had an LFS try to convince me that without a third clown, the smaller one would surely be killed. Same guy tried to tell me that gender progression in clowns is from female to male...some people have good intentions, but just don't know what they're talking about.