Percula and Tomoto clown
- Thread starter Seaworthy
- Start date
heap
New member
it's possible that they'll play nicely for a spell (by 'play nicely', there will be aggression, but not too vicious), but the odds of them not going bananas on each other in the long term aren't too good.
it'd be hard for them to get non-overlapping territories in a 50g (if that's where they'll be) - at least by my experience, if there's an anemone, a tomato/cinnamon clown will steal it from it's current occupants and be rather vicious in the process.
if you've got a happy pairing, i'd leave them be. the odds of the tomato addition leading to a happy tank are fairly slim.
it'd be hard for them to get non-overlapping territories in a 50g (if that's where they'll be) - at least by my experience, if there's an anemone, a tomato/cinnamon clown will steal it from it's current occupants and be rather vicious in the process.
if you've got a happy pairing, i'd leave them be. the odds of the tomato addition leading to a happy tank are fairly slim.
bermuda reefer
New member
multi clowns
multi clowns
there seems so much controversy, we have a tomato, a clarki pair and we had a perc pair until one got sucked in the powerhead. All in a 120g everyone seems happy, i have a couple of LTAs but no one is interested. The lone perc has taken to hanging out at the top corner of the tank.The tomato seems the most agressive but not more than a little bully chase now and then. I just watch and wait, i have always had the wrong mix of fish in my tanks, i just let them sort themselves out.
multi clowns
there seems so much controversy, we have a tomato, a clarki pair and we had a perc pair until one got sucked in the powerhead. All in a 120g everyone seems happy, i have a couple of LTAs but no one is interested. The lone perc has taken to hanging out at the top corner of the tank.The tomato seems the most agressive but not more than a little bully chase now and then. I just watch and wait, i have always had the wrong mix of fish in my tanks, i just let them sort themselves out.
How big of of a tank would be big enough for 2 types of clowns? I really want a pair of tomato clowns. But I already have a ocellaris trio going between 2 BTAs.
My tank is 60" x 18" x 24". I am sort of settled into the decision that I won't be getting tomatos until they pop up in my garden. But I still cling to that hope. Maybe my 2 maroons will kill each other and I can put them in my 50 gal breeder. Oh that is bad thinking, I like those cute little buggers.
My tank is 60" x 18" x 24". I am sort of settled into the decision that I won't be getting tomatos until they pop up in my garden. But I still cling to that hope. Maybe my 2 maroons will kill each other and I can put them in my 50 gal breeder. Oh that is bad thinking, I like those cute little buggers.
tangyreefer05
New member
I would take the advice from here and keep the clowns you have now and not introduce the tomato or any other clown.
Had the trio for over a year now, and have read of more than two ocellaris being kept together. Ocellaris are the exception to "no more than a pair" rule, although there can still be problems with doing it. They are accepting of each other and know their roles.
I didn't really think I could keep the tomato with the ocellaris anyway. I know tomatos are one of the more aggressive clowns.
Not surprising with the maroon clowns taking out the perculas. Maroons are pretty much the most aggressive of the clowns.
I didn't really think I could keep the tomato with the ocellaris anyway. I know tomatos are one of the more aggressive clowns.
Not surprising with the maroon clowns taking out the perculas. Maroons are pretty much the most aggressive of the clowns.
Understood and point made. But not to poke the bear further
........... but a year is certainly a fair amount of time in which they have adjusted and lived together. Joyce Wilkerson stated she kept 4 together that developed a hierarchy and bred together. I believe their names were Mom, Pop, Nursemaid, and Goaway. I am not sure of the male and female names, I am sure someone will correct me, but I thought the last two names were amusing and also detailed the hierarchy quite well.I understand that things can change at anytime. For whatever reason. But if I said it was two years would that be enough? 5 years? 19 years and they are all going to die next year?
If my clown situation breaks down then so be it. Perhaps I beat the odds. Perhaps not.
Your point is well said, as previously noted by another. And I don't mean this post to sound hostile in anyway. I am sorry that we are off topic (somewhat). But it should be noted that it is possible, however difficult it may be. And it should be noted that with any other species this would not work.
ArgonDreams
Premium Member
Joyce's clowns were all the same species as well, and as the Original Poster had, this isn't the case. So the short answer is it may work in the short term (1-3) years. It won't work in the long term and if one of the females ants to breed it typically amps the aggression in the tank.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Noise ---
Have the other two clowns started spawning yet? If they haven't, I think you will see an increase in aggression to the 3rd clown when/if they start to spawn.
For a while I had 3 clarkiis, once a pair truly formed and started spawning, the 3rd one didn't last a week.
Have the other two clowns started spawning yet? If they haven't, I think you will see an increase in aggression to the 3rd clown when/if they start to spawn.
For a while I had 3 clarkiis, once a pair truly formed and started spawning, the 3rd one didn't last a week.
I agree that Joyce's clowns are the same species, as are mine. And yes this is off topic from the original post. I apologized for that already, and do so again.
No mine have not started spawning, and I am aware that if that happens it could change the level of aggression. But as Joyce did, so might I. If they even spawn. My tank has enough mates in it to keep the horniest clowns from spawning.
Now it was mentioned that when the clarkii's started spawning they turned on the third, This falls in line with the general rule of no more than two clowns. As Joyce stated, only ocellaris can be kept with more clowns outside of the pair, and only one pair will form in a tank. And that was the point I was trying to make.
I haven't tried keeping different species of clowns together, and yes it appears to be difficult from what I have read, but it also appears that it can be done. Back to Seaworthy's question, it maybe be possible to mix the two species. If they are tue perculas, this might be a problem as Joyce stated they are actually quite aggressive, and would give a maroon clown a good fight. Given that perculas are a little less common, and a little more expensive, you might not want to risk adding the tomato. If they are ocellaris, given that the tomato is the more aggressive fish, and being added second, there might be a chance of making it work. But mixing any two different species of clowns is a risky venture.
And that is my humble opinon, which I should also note is drawn more from lots of reading rather than actual practice. If you proceed to keep these clowns together, good luck to you, I hope it all works out.
I currently keep a trio of ocellaris, a relatively new pair of ocellaris, and am trying to form a pair of maroon clowns. Yes they are all in different tanks.
I don't mean to imply that anything anyone said in this thread is wrong, but it seems in this hobby there are few absolutes, as there is always somebody breaking a rule. And if people didn't try new things, we might still be driving around on square wheels. I hate to think of that, as my MPG is already not so hot.
No mine have not started spawning, and I am aware that if that happens it could change the level of aggression. But as Joyce did, so might I. If they even spawn. My tank has enough mates in it to keep the horniest clowns from spawning.
Now it was mentioned that when the clarkii's started spawning they turned on the third, This falls in line with the general rule of no more than two clowns. As Joyce stated, only ocellaris can be kept with more clowns outside of the pair, and only one pair will form in a tank. And that was the point I was trying to make.
I haven't tried keeping different species of clowns together, and yes it appears to be difficult from what I have read, but it also appears that it can be done. Back to Seaworthy's question, it maybe be possible to mix the two species. If they are tue perculas, this might be a problem as Joyce stated they are actually quite aggressive, and would give a maroon clown a good fight. Given that perculas are a little less common, and a little more expensive, you might not want to risk adding the tomato. If they are ocellaris, given that the tomato is the more aggressive fish, and being added second, there might be a chance of making it work. But mixing any two different species of clowns is a risky venture.
And that is my humble opinon, which I should also note is drawn more from lots of reading rather than actual practice. If you proceed to keep these clowns together, good luck to you, I hope it all works out.
I currently keep a trio of ocellaris, a relatively new pair of ocellaris, and am trying to form a pair of maroon clowns. Yes they are all in different tanks.
I don't mean to imply that anything anyone said in this thread is wrong, but it seems in this hobby there are few absolutes, as there is always somebody breaking a rule. And if people didn't try new things, we might still be driving around on square wheels. I hate to think of that, as my MPG is already not so hot.
