To clown or not to clown?

[richfavinger]

I've been considering a pair of Percula or Ocellaris (Likely a nice pair from Divers Den). But I have to say I'm a little gun shy. I only have a 75g at the moment. I do not plan at the moment to get an anemone for sake of SPS later... would they be sad?

I say gun shy on the clowns, because I had a bad run with a Maroon (just one) that decided she be the boss after she got mature. Well she was removed (what a pain).

So, would Perc's or Ocellaris be OK? (Open to other suggestions too)...

 

[tvrsir]

Percs...and onyx gotta be my favorite.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I can't say this is true 100% of the time, but in my experience, maroons and any others in that family, tomatoes, cinnamons, etc, are more aggressive than perculas or ocellaris. I had a tomato (large female) that was so bossy I ended up pulling her out and rehoming her to a friend. But they are pretty so now I have a cinnamon/tomato pair in our nem tank and a pair of perculas in our DT.

 

[richfavinger]

So, from what you all saying is... Perc's or Ocellaris pair should be fine... And no anemone is OK. My run in with the Maroon was a learning curve I suppose. She was beautiful, while it lasted.

 

[KCthe I inTeam]

Yes maroons are known to be very aggressive. They will be fine without an anemone will most likely pick a cave or pump as their home if there is no anemone. Percs and ocellaris will not be nearly as aggressive. My Picasso percs are breeding and still allow me near thief eggs only the female puts her mouth on me and pushes but has never tried to bite or actually harm me.

 

[TangsRule]

I can't say this is true 100% of the time, but in my experience, maroons and any others in that family, tomatoes, cinnamons, etc, are more aggressive than perculas or ocellaris. I had a tomato (large female) that was so bossy I ended up pulling her out and rehoming her to a friend. But they are pretty so now I have a cinnamon/tomato pair in our nem tank and a pair of perculas in our DT.

+ 99.9% IME here
I kept a stunning maroon for almost 8 years - and she was the "boss" of all the fish under 6" long. I finally gave her away only last year - cause she had gotten so big - 5" - that she needed an agressive tank. I've never seen ocellaris or percs get anywhere near as mean - or as big.

 

[awpong]

I can't say this is true 100% of the time, but in my experience, maroons and any others in that family, tomatoes, cinnamons, etc, are more aggressive than perculas or ocellaris. I had a tomato (large female) that was so bossy I ended up pulling her out and rehoming her to a friend. But they are pretty so now I have a cinnamon/tomato pair in our nem tank and a pair of perculas in our DT.

Just want to throw in a little correction. Maroons and Tomatos are not in the same family. They're two completely different complexes: The Maroon Complex and The Tomato Complex. But maroons are as different as you can get when it comes to ocellaris and percula clowns. Maroons are in the genus Premnas, while Ocellaris, percula, and clowns of the tomato and clarkii complexes are all in the genus Amphiprion .

That being said, ocellaris are the most peaceful of the clown species. They're no where near as aggressive as tomatoes or maroons. However, once they mature and claim a territory, they will protect their home.

 

[ponokareefer]

I think you shouldn't have a problem with a pair of Percula or Ocellaris. My Maroon pair become quite aggressive as well, but my ocellaris pair has never been aggressive and have been laying eggs for about 6 months.

 

[pbhere]

Could someone post a pic showing the difference between Percula or Ocellaris? I'm wondering what kind of clowns I have.

 

[awpong]

Could someone post a pic showing the difference between Percula or Ocellaris? I'm wondering what kind of clowns I have.

Count the dorsal spines.

Percula have 9-10 dorsal spines, while Ocellaris have 11.

Here's my Ocellaris:

 

[Rippinfrags]

Wow nice picture/description awpong!