Two pairs observation

[landy]

I have a pair of b&w's, and a pair of Ocellaris in a 250. I have observed that when the pumps and PH’s are on, the b&w’s stay on their side of the tank. When off, they creep over to the ocellaris side of town for a peek at their RBTA patch. When confronted about the intrusion, the assumed b&w female breaks out in the submission dance. Eventually they wonder back to the right-hand side, and continue normality.

landy

 

[gberry]

I had wondered if it could be successful to keep 2 pairs of clowns in larger, 150 gal and up, tanks. When you say B&Ws, I'm assuming they're true perculas, and if so, you have 2 of the more docile species. I have a pair of maroons in a 55 gal, and plan on upgrading to a 180 gal over the next year or so and wonder if I could successfully keep another pair with them, each pair on one end of the tank in their own respective anenome. I'm not too optimistic about the prospects, given the aggression of maroons when mature. Anyone have success keeping a maroon pair with another species of clown long term?

 

[Slakker]

No...Black and White clowns are ocellaris.

I would not put another pair of clowns in a tank less than 500 gallons with a pair of Maroons. They are far more territorial than Ocellaris.

Also, don't get set on the "own respective anemone" idea. Anemones are not corals, you can't be sure that they'll stay where you want them, and you certainly can't be sure that the most dominant pair of clowns won't just take over both anemones and harass the others.

IMO, it would be best to put the maroons in your 180 and use the 55 for another species. A good excuse to keep two tanks up