Please Advise Me On Potential Clown Purchase

israel.kendall

israel.kendall

Padawan Reefer
My kids really really would love to have a clownfish in our 55 gallon tank (since a "Dory" needs more space). I have no plans to get a hosting anemone. I've read up on clowns a bit and am aware they may choose to hang out in my frogspawn or hammer. Some people say it would be fine, some say it would eventually kill my hammer/frogspawn. I think I'm willing to risk it for my kids, but would like some reassurance, or someone to let me know the harsh reality.

I'm hoping I can get a smaller species such as a percula. My frogspawn and hammer are currently about soft ball sized. Would this increase my corals chances of survival by having a smaller clown? Are there any other potential problems I'm overlooking?

Current fishy inhabitants of my tank are one pink spot goby, one firefish, and one scooter blenny.

Corals are chalices, birdsnests, couple of acros, hammer, frogspawn, trumpet, zoas/palys, pavona, and R. florida.

Also have some shaving brush plants, maybe I'll get lucky and the clown will like those?

Any advice is appreciated, thanks.
 
If the frogspawn is a decent size and the clown isnt massive and smothering your frog to death, then I'm sure it will be okay. There's also no guarantee that your clown will even host the frogspawn. They pretty much choose to do what they want.
 
Japsican said:
If the frogspawn is a decent size and the clown isnt massive and smothering your frog to death, then I'm sure it will be okay. There's also no guarantee that your clown will even host the frogspawn. They pretty much choose to do what they want.
Click to expand...

The frogspawn is about soft ball size. Should I wait for it to get bigger? Would probably get a small clown specimen, do clowns grow fast?

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perculas are small growers for what I've read.. but as mentioned above the clown might not even host the coral, some people have trouble getting the clowns to even host an anemone
 
Thanks for the reply. I'm aware that clowns are going to do what they want, its just the possibility of it killing my coral that's holding me back from getting one.

How is the demeanor of perculas, will they get along with my other fish?

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you should have no issues with them, get realtive same ones and you should do fine. the most inportant thing to watch for on the frogspawn, is that if the clown does host it that it isnt being to rough on it to the point where it is snmashing the flesh of the coral againist the skeleton. this action could cause brown jelly infections.
 
Israel,

Go ahead and get a pair of juvi clowns. If you children want "Nemo" just get two ocellaris and tell them the bigger one is Marlin.

As far as your coral, I seriously doubt that they could kill it. In fact, I doubt they'll even bother with it. And these clowns are reef safe so they'll get along with everyone else in the tank.

The only problem I've ever seen with clowns and frogspawn is that IF (and it's a big if) the clowns are in the frogspawn, then there's a chance they get cut b/c of the stoney skeleton of the frogspawn. The clowns can get infections from these lacerations so just keep an eye on them.

99% sure you won't have any problems. Proceed with confidence!
 
the two perculas that i have are just to timid and hide in the back of tank, i got a maroon and am much happier. Also i bought a rose bubble anemone and the maroon was all over it within 24hrs. But maroons are on the agressive side. Funny lil bastards.
 
Mr.Maska said:
the two perculas that i have are just to timid and hide in the back of tank, i got a maroon and am much happier. Also i bought a rose bubble anemone and the maroon was all over it within 24hrs. But maroons are on the agressive side. Funny lil bastards.
Click to expand...

Is this typical behavior for perculas? Would a maroon bully the other fish in my tank?

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CockyBrock said:
Israel,

Go ahead and get a pair of juvi clowns. If you children want "Nemo" just get two ocellaris and tell them the bigger one is Marlin.

As far as your coral, I seriously doubt that they could kill it. In fact, I doubt they'll even bother with it. And these clowns are reef safe so they'll get along with everyone else in the tank.

The only problem I've ever seen with clowns and frogspawn is that IF (and it's a big if) the clowns are in the frogspawn, then there's a chance they get cut b/c of the stoney skeleton of the frogspawn. The clowns can get infections from these lacerations so just keep an eye on them.

99% sure you won't have any problems. Proceed with confidence!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, exactly the kind of info I'm looking for! I asked my daughter what she would name a clown if she couldn't name it nemo, looks like its going to be "Silly Pants" lol. Gotta love kids.

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A maroon is a bad idea in a 55g for lots of reasons. It will limit coral placement and consider at least half the tank hers. It's unlikely to be what you have in mind. They look all cute and orange and wiggly in the LFS and all that changes within a year. You get a big angry looking fish. They can turn almost black.
 
Thanks for the info, I think we will get either percs or occs. Any advice on how to choose a pair? I'm thinking I should get them with noticeably different sizes so they don't have to fight so much to figure out who the female us? Or am I off base with this?

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Not only that, you need to make sure at least one is a juvenile or male. One female could be bigger than another female and two females would be a big problem.

It's not hard to find juveniles or you can order them. I recommend tank bred. There are so many fish collected and so few that survive the trip that it's much nicer to get tank bred when possible. And it is possible with clowns. There may be someone locally who breeds them. We have at least one breeder in Houston and the fish that show up in the stores are so cute - like half an inch.
 
+3 on what Postal & Angel*Fish said about maroon clowns. IMO, they're one of the most aggressive/mean clowns around & I'll never own another. I was at FAOIS on Friday & saw some juvie occi & perc clowns you might look into, Israel. If wanting a pair, I'd suggest getting two of the smallest you can find & let them grow up together; or get a small one & a much larger one, sit back & watch the show...Fascinating behavior. Good luck!
 
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Thanks Bill, think I'm going to get them at coral reef aquariums though. Haven't been by there in a while and I heard they have some nice tank bred juvies in.

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I wouldn't worry too much about choosing a pair, just make sure you go to the LFS when the owner/most knowledgable person is there. They should be able to choose well for you...if not, find a better fish store. Sounds like you've done enough research already to tell if the guy in the store is/is not qualified to choose.
 
Thanks for the reply, picked up a pair of juvenile occs this afternoon. They seem to love each other and they're awesome fish.

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