Two pairs of clownfish and one tank

[ThisCityIsDead]

Is it safe enough to to have two pairs of clowns in a 125G tank if both paid have an anemone?

I have a pair of Picasso clowns that have paired with a long tentacle anemone. I just purchased a nice rose bubble tip anemone and it split. Anyhow, will it be safe if another pair of clowns were to host one of the RBTA and live in the same tank with the clowns I have now? If not a pair, how about just one single tomato clown or a single clown?

 

[ThRoewer]

It may only work if you have two different species of clowns that have no overlapping host preferences. Otherwise the stronger pair will claim all anemones and the weaker pair will perish.
I would also set up the tank that way that there is a separating structure in the middle of the tank and ideally have also a fish that clownfish are afraid of - something that keeps each pair close to their anemone.
But even then this is playing with fire.

There are some species you sometimes find in the wild to cohabitate a single extra large anemone, but this is hard to recreate and is not likely work with percula or ocellaris.

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

It may only work if you have two different species of clowns that have no overlapping host preferences. Otherwise the stronger pair will claim all anemones and the weaker pair will perish.

I would also set up the tank that way that there is a separating structure in the middle of the tank and ideally have also a fish that clownfish are afraid of - something that keeps each pair close to their anemone.

But even then this is playing with fire.



There are some species you sometimes find in the wild to cohabitate a single extra large anemone, but this is hard to recreate and is not likely work with percula or ocellaris.

What about an onyx?:|

 

[ThRoewer]

Picasso and onyx are both percula - that for sure won't work (unless you put a divider in the tank).

Amphiprion clarkii and A. prerideraion sometimes cohabitate anemones but it's a fragile balance. This is because juvenile clarkii grow often up in smaller anemones no other clownfish species claims. By the time they become too large for those anemones they move to another, larger anemone species which may already have other inhabitants.

Coexistence of two anemonefishes, Amphiprion clarkii and A. perideraion , which utilize the same host sea anemone
Small and large anemonefishes can coexist using the same patchy resources on a coral reef, before habitat destruction

Percula (or ocellaris or in general all clowns) never let juveniles of other clownfish species settle in their anemone because it would end with them being kicked out by the time the other species grow up. Therefore they will kill any juvenile of other species that tries to settle in their anemone.

 

[Ginger bay]

Your clowns are established. They've claimed that tank as their territory. Not a good idea, most likely won't work.

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

Your clowns are established. They've claimed that tank as their territory. Not a good idea, most likely won't work.

I've seen the male clown dig and push sand away from the anemone its hosting. For three days now, it has been doing this and has formed a crater-like hole around the anem. What I find odd is that the female does not stay in the anemone through the day. It will occasionally go and brush in its tentacles and then leave. At night the two sleep in the nem. I thought paired clowns were for the most part, only inches away from each other and inseparable. The male seems to be doing the house chores...:|

 

[domination2580]

Well I personally would keep an eye out. It seems that they may be getting ready to spawn. The make is making a suitable nest for the female to lay eggs. Not a deffinate thing but would keep watch

 

[Masterofstuff]

i would think the larger the tank the better?

 

[scottwhitson]

I tried it in a 600 gallon and it didn't work out. One pair harassed the others so much one clown died and I had to rescue the other one.

 

[cali9dub]

I have 2 pairs of clowns in a 67. One nem on each side of the tank. Rock work in the middle. Never had a problem. The one pair is well established and have been breeding for years (about 5 now). I introduced the second pair about a year ago. They were very tiny. Neither pairs venture more than 6" from their respective nems. My established breeders are in an H. Mag and suspect they have no need to venture from that nem since they left my S. Gigantea in favor of the H. Mag. The more recent pair are in the old S. Gigantea.

 

[OrionN]

I have two pairs in my tank which is about 400 gal. They almost never see each other now. One pair on one side of my T. Gigas (26-28 inches) and the other pair on the other side. Each pair have 3 or4 anemones to stay in.
In a 125, you can have two pairs if you are lucky. Likely not a lot of luck is needed if you have natural hosts on each end of the tank. Something in the middle so that they don't always within visual sight of each other.
I have large fishes in my tank and the clowns never more than a few inches from their anemones.