Two species of clowns in a tank

[Zante]

I have read the FAQ, so I understand this must be done with caution. The tank is 5' long, and holds 150 gallons.

The scaping I am looking at is going to be two reefs, one at each end of the tank, with at least a foot of free swimming space between them. That should help establish very clear territories.

Also I'm looking at one pair of ocellaris and one pair of pink skunks, which should be among the most peaceful of clowns.
(That is a happy coincidence, I really like the two species)

Also, once the tank grows mature enough, I was thinking anemone. I have set my heart on one carpet anemone, and that would go to wherever the pink skunks establish their territory.

I have a condylactis gigantea in a 29 gallon nano, which I REALLY like, but if it's a better idea to do so I will exchange it with something else, such as a bubbletip.

Ideas? Suggestions? Critiques?

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I wouldn't do it if I were you. Very few people do it successfully and if they do it's usually in a huge tank over 180 gallons. Once the clowns mature you will more than likely be left with only one pair.

 

[RarefiedAir24]

I have read the FAQ, so I understand this must be done with caution. The tank is 5' long, and holds 150 gallons.

The scaping I am looking at is going to be two reefs, one at each end of the tank, with at least a foot of free swimming space between them. That should help establish very clear territories.

Also I'm looking at one pair of ocellaris and one pair of pink skunks, which should be among the most peaceful of clowns.
(That is a happy coincidence, I really like the two species)

Also, once the tank grows mature enough, I was thinking anemone. I have set my heart on one carpet anemone, and that would go to wherever the pink skunks establish their territory.

I have a condylactis gigantea in a 29 gallon nano, which I REALLY like, but if it's a better idea to do so I will exchange it with something else, such as a bubbletip.

Ideas? Suggestions? Critiques?

I second aandf's post..

Sure, if you get them small enough they will likely coexist. It's when they hit sexual maturity that the issues will arise... And even then, it's not like one day they'll hit maturity and the next day it's an all out death brawl.. it's something that just happens, so just realize that one day when you come home finding a dead clownfish or two is a strong possibility..

Frank

 

[Toddrtrex]

Been keeping clown pairs for about 20 years now, including maroons and clarkiis. The most aggressive pair (( spawning )) that I have ever owned was the pink skunk pair.
They were the indirect cause of my golden dwarf angel dying. I had a harder time with them when adding a 3rd dwarf angel to the tank, compared with the existing dwarfs.
In the end, I had to sell them to a local breeder, they were just relentless with their attack on the other fish. Would have hated to see what they would have done to another pair of clowns.

 

[xtlosx]

We see this on the boards all of the time, and it's just better for the animals not to do it. One pair of clowns per tank unless you run the local aquarium for the city.

You're better off just not doing it because removing them later, before someone dies is going to be a pain.

 

[Zante]

Fair enough, I'll stick to one pair of ocellaris.

I was told that 5 feet would have been enough, but then again I was given odd advice on the other forum (mainly a FW forum), like "no more than 2 skunk shrimps in 150 gallons" and " sixline wrasse will eat cleaner shrimps". That is why I decided to join a primarily SW forum for the salty side.

 

[Winwood]

Been keeping clown pairs for about 20 years now, including maroons and clarkiis. The most aggressive pair (( spawning )) that I have ever owned was the pink skunk pair.
They were the indirect cause of my golden dwarf angel dying. I had a harder time with them when adding a 3rd dwarf angel to the tank, compared with the existing dwarfs.
In the end, I had to sell them to a local breeder, they were just relentless with their attack on the other fish. Would have hated to see what they would have done to another pair of clowns.

I think pink skunks are particularly intolerant of dwarf angels for some reason. I have a pair that routinely thrash my African flame back. However, I have mixed them with some of the clowns in the clarki complex with relative success. They seem to tolerate each other better for some reason. My old pair lived with a medium sized pair of chrysopterus for quite some time. When I moved the chrys to a their own tank and added a pair of GSM's all hell broke out. The skunks relentlessly attacked the much larger maroons to the point of immediate seperation.

 

[bangbangkhan]

i have had two separate clown pairs for over two months and they are doing just fine.....i added all of them together to limit territorial behavior

 

[OrionN]

I think if you have a natural host for them on opposite end, It would be fine in smaller non aggressive clowns. The person that did this have a larger tank, 300+ and he have the clowns and anemones hosted the clowns before add them to his DT.
In my 450 g tank back in the early 2000s, I have a Pink skunk pair and Ocellaris Trio with three Magnifica (clones) in the tank and they did fine together. My tank was 8 foot tank. In natural host smaller clowns species do not venture 6 inches from their hosts, especially in an aquarium with a few larger fishes.

 

[bues0022]

i have had two separate clown pairs for over two months and they are doing just fine.....i added all of them together to limit territorial behavior

Two months is a woefully short time period to claim success with keeping more than a single pair together. Anything short of several years is still very likely due to not fully maturing yet.

 

[bangbangkhan]

Two months is a woefully short time period to claim success with keeping more than a single pair together. Anything short of several years is still very likely due to not fully maturing yet.

I never claimed success...only reported what i observed...

 

[sail33]

If I may pose a slightly different question, I have a 72 gl there are 11 fish present. The two of concern after reading the above information are a small apx 1 inch ocellaris and a 2 inch clarki.
The smaller hangs out alone on the far left side of the tank. No hosting yet for him. The Clarki has a very strong bond with a bubble tip. Should i have concern about the interaction of these two clowns?

Additionally, the Clarki is a bit too large for the bubble tip. I'm considering trading him in just because he's beating it up a but too much, steals food from every other anemone and is, in general, a bully.

Am I correct in assuming that trading for another ocellaris would be a better choice?

 

[fish clown]

I have had succes for probaly 4 months with 3 decent size ocillaris (two mated one was a different kind) in my 75 but at the time I also 4-6 rbtas. If you had 3+ kinds of anemones you probaly wouldn't have to worry but if it were me I would get one pair of clowns because I like to know for a fact that they will be okay together, not a roll of the dice. The only reason i had three clowns in the tank is because they came with the tank when I bought it and now I have one ocillaris that I will soon be pairi g up with another. The thing I like about saltwater is all the diversity in every fish and coral so I say diversify as much as you can!!!!

 

[sail33]

I have had succes for probaly 4 months with 3 decent size ocillaris (two mated one was a different kind) in my 75 but at the time I also 4-6 rbtas. If you had 3+ kinds of anemones you probaly wouldn't have to worry but if it were me I would get one pair of clowns because I like to know for a fact that they will be okay together, not a roll of the dice. The only reason i had three clowns in the tank is because they came with the tank when I bought it and now I have one ocillaris that I will soon be pairi g up with another. The thing I like about saltwater is all the diversity in every fish and coral so I say diversify as much as you can!!!!

I've got 5 carpets one rock and one bubble tip. I used to have a condi and the clarki bonded with that almost immediately but was too large for tank and tentacles were reaching out and stinging corals. The Condi was traded for the bubble tip. So there are plenty of nems, just not all popular with clowns.

Diversify is the name of the game in salt water...within compatible limits.

 

[velvetelvis]

If I may pose a slightly different question, I have a 72 gl there are 11 fish present. The two of concern after reading the above information are a small apx 1 inch ocellaris and a 2 inch clarki.
The smaller hangs out alone on the far left side of the tank. No hosting yet for him. The Clarki has a very strong bond with a bubble tip. Should i have concern about the interaction of these two clowns?

Additionally, the Clarki is a bit too large for the bubble tip. I'm considering trading him in just because he's beating it up a but too much, steals food from every other anemone and is, in general, a bully.

Am I correct in assuming that trading for another ocellaris would be a better choice?

Yes and yes. Clarkii are brutes. They also get significantly bigger than ocellaris.

 

[sail33]

Yes and yes. Clarkii are brutes. They also get significantly bigger than ocellaris.

Thanks for that. My suspicions are confirmed !

 

[bobby415]

I have had a pair of Goldflake maroons and Ora pearl eyes together for a few years no issues whatsoever. (you stay in your nem I'll stay in mine LOL)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OrionN]

If you are going to try to keep different pairs of clown fish in a large tank, at least try to keep species that are about the same in term of size and aggressiveness.
Clarkii and Maroon, especially start out young, like bobby415 are a lot more compatible than trying to keep Maroon with Ocellaris. Maroon and Clarkii can fight but Maroon and Ocellaris is a one side quick kill.