The great clownfish debate: bicinctus, tomato, or maroon?

[velvetelvis]

Since my tank build has turned into a long-term project that I hope will finally be finished this month *fingers crossed* I've had lots of time to think about what I want to keep. I've kicked around a lot of ideas, but I always come back to my first love: clownfish. Now I'm just trying to decide on a species. I'm planning a biotope around a RBTA and its eventual clones, so I'm going with a natural symbiont.

I've narrowed my choices down to a pair of either A. bicinctus, the tomato complex (frenatus or melanopus), or maroons, preferably GSM. I'm not worried about size or aggression, since the tank is a 50G and the clowns will be the sole inhabitants, except for a blenny or goby.

Which of these species would be your preference in terms of either beauty or personality, if you were setting up a clownfish/anemone tank? I'm just interested in getting input from other people who've kept more species than I have. It's kind of like shopping for clothes--I'll make up my own mind, but it's always nice to get feedback.

FWIW, at the moment I'm kinda leaning towards GSMs, if I can find either a bonded CB pair or two juveniles of different sizes. The guy who's doing my cabinetry and sump has a pair from SA, and they're gorgeous.

 

[deangelr]

I like Bicinctus or melanopus

 

[velvetelvis]

I like Bicinctus or melanopus

For personality, beauty, or both?

 

[demonnite57]

for my RBTA's I got a pair of GSM's. I like how the colors seem to go together =D

 

[sponger0]

Im a huge fan of the maroons myself...the ones with yellow stripes

 

[LeLutinBanni]

im a huge fan of the maroons myself...the ones with yellow stripes

+1

 

[jeosbo]

I'm crazy about my maroons, they have a ton of personality.

 

[125mph]

I personally hate maroons.. Too mean!

 

[demonnite57]

Yes maroons are aggressive, but the OP isn't worried about aggression =D

 

[snorvich]

In a species tank, GSM with associated anemone. But watch your hands in the tank.

 

[cnote2991]

I like GSM as well. I think the maroons have the best personality. My pair always comes to out to greet me, and are actually very tolerant of tankmates.

 

[deangelr]

For personality, beauty, or both?

GSM's are just so common.. I prefer something that is not in everyone else's tank.. The yellow coloration on bicinctus is unmatched as well..

Sounds like you are setting up a nice home for species tank so any fish you choose should be very happy..

 

[Whip316]

i have gsm and a bicinctus pair and i love them both. but if i were gonna make a tank for 1 pair i would pick the bi's. Bi's tend to darken alot when mature, but a nice bta will keep them nice and yellow/light tan. plus Bicinctus are not as common as GSM or as popular.
i have a pair of Tricinctus in my solana in a flame tip bta and they are stunning. i vote for Bi's. if you want a different twist on bicinctus, i would try a spotcinctus pair.

 

[velvetelvis]

GSM's are just so common.. I prefer something that is not in everyone else's tank.. The yellow coloration on bicinctus is unmatched as well..

Sounds like you are setting up a nice home for species tank so any fish you choose should be very happy..

Thank you. I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't had a tank in over 6 months, so I'm in serious withdrawal mode.

The parents of the bicinctus I would be purchasing, should I choose them, are actually a very dark brown, like bittersweet chocolate--almost melanistic. From the photos I've seen, although the offspring are lighter in color, most of them seem to start turning brown at an early age. The marine biology student who's breeding and raising them actually studies A. bicinctus and has photographed and captured them in the Red Sea...pretty neat!

 

[velvetelvis]

Just made the final payment on the stand/canopy/refugium/sump combo...now I just have to pay off the light fixture (LED, made by a local electrical engineer). Soon, soon...but not soon enough! (Although it does give me time to make up my mind.) :lol: