To match or not to match?

[Falconeer]

Hi all, I'm looking at getting a second clownfish for my (reef) tank. I currently have a mid-sized occelaris clown by itself in the tank with no other fish, and I would like to get a second, small, clown so that there would hopefully be little/no territory issues.

Now, I've heard and read it both ways:

Option 1: Get a clown of the same species or they'll fight

or Option 2: Get a clown of a different species or they'll fight

Which way is it? It's been hard for me to differ between the two schools of thought, so I figured i'd turn here.

I guess i'd like to know i'm able to get a different species, but I also am not dissapointed if I have to stick with occelaris clowns.

Thanks,
Falc

 

[Toddrtrex]

I personally would match the species, and get a smaller one.

 

[Falconeer]

I personally would match the species, and get a smaller one.

Ok, thanks. The only thing I was sure about was that I will need to get a smaller one, other than that, I had no idea about species matching or not.

 

[Toddrtrex]

While there are a few examples of mixing species works, most of the time it doesn't. So, IMO, it isn't worth the risk.

 

[Falconeer]

While there are a few examples of mixing species works, most of the time it doesn't. So, IMO, it isn't worth the risk.

Ok, that's definately good to know. Thanks a lot!

 

[Toddrtrex]

Sure thing.

Plus, and I am biased, I just like the looks of a pair (( same species )) of clowns in a tank. I currently have 3 pairs (( Pink Skunks, Black saddlebacks, and SI Percs )) in 3 different tanks.