Possible to keep two pairs (Percula & Clarkii) in a 75G ?

[sweevo]

Hi,

i'm looking to upgrade my reef tank in the summer and after doing all my research regds new equipment and costs etc I've started looking at what new fish I could keep.

I'll be moving my two Perc's and a Royal Gramma from my existing 35G setup and then adding two or three more fish over time.

I had originally wanted a pair of Clarkii's when I set up my current tank but due to their size (when mature) decided against it. I just wondered if I could keep one or two Clarkii's in the 75G with my two percs without any problems?

The planned dimensions of my new tank will be 36" x 24" x 24" so there'll be a fair bit of room in there, esp for the Perc's. I Just wasn't sure if it just would be enough for potentially two pairs of different clown species.

Thanks in advance.

 

[redvipe2010]

It is not recommended to keep different species of clowns together. However, it has been done before, but not sure if it has been successfully done in a 75 gallon. Personally, I wouldn't chance it.

 

[keefsama2003]

I had a 90 and tried to do the same thing you are.

It didnt work and the clarks kept the ocellaris in the top back corner of the tank and they wouldnt let them out of there at all and the female would if she could try and either force them to jump out of the tank or just batter them to the point of no return.

I also have a 300 gal tank and i tried to keep a pair of true percs and a pair of black white ocellaris and that failed also. they kept fighting now they are in seperate tanks.

 

[hansonfam]

I have a pair of true percs and saddlebacks in my 130 and no problems yet
Knock on wood

The percs have spawned a few times. But they are relatively a far ways away from each other. Although my female saddleback ventures over to the other two to mingle i suppose but no fighting just to say hi!

So it can be done but this happiness may not last forever either....who knows. I am just prepared to pull one set if i have to.

Lisa

 

[keefsama2003]

Nothing is set in stone.

Like i said i had a pair of ocellaris and clarks in a 90 gal tank and the clarks confined them to the top right corner of the tank so it can be done if you want to subject your fish to somewhat adverse conditions but i had a pair of true percs and a W/C darwin pair of ocellaris in my 300 and the male of the Darwin pair went crazy and the female followed and they chased eachother 8ft thru the tank and back and it lasted about 3 hours Non stop before i seperated them and put the percs in my sump which is 90gal.

so anything is possible there are non traditional expierences everyone has but in my 4 years in this hobby and dealing with clowns the way i have nature always takes over. no matter what may seem to be going on as the fish mature and nature takes over expect squabbles and possible fish being driven out of the tank or killed.

 

[tibbs2]

It is possible.

I had a pair of ocellaris and a bubble tip they wouldn't host in. When one of the pair died I replaced it with a maroon because I wanted a host for my anenome. The first day the bigger ocellaris really leaned on the smaller maroon. At one point I saw him swim up beneath the maroon, bite onto his belly and pull him down.

The next day my maroon hosted in my anenome and now the ocellaris does not bother him anymore.

 

[sweevo]

Ok guys, thanks for all the info and advice. Think i'll pass as I don't want to upset my Perc's. I did think it might be the case but thought i'd see what peoples experiences had been.

Thanks again.

 

[Loralie]

It is possible. I have 4 types of clowns in my 125 mixed reef. i have occ. clowns, black saddle backs, pink skunk, and clarkii. My occ lay eggs on a regular basis, and everyone has their own territory. I have 2 anemonies, frogspawn, large hairy mushroom colony....tons of things for the clowns to host. All 4 types have something that they host. If you do add another pair to the system with an already established pair, do some re-aquascaping, this helps.