What clowns in giant Red Carpet?

Hurlock

New member
I am tearing down my 600 gal reef and setting up a 10'X5'X36" high 1150 gal in its place. I have a giant red carpet anemone that is about 15" round that I am going to put in a berm by itself. I currently do not have ant clown fish in the red carpet. I want to put 7-8 unique clowns in the carpet. Any ideas of what would be most striking and unique? Thanks
 
You can try some very young Saddle Backs. Expect the aggression to excel as they mature though. Eventually you will most likely have to break them up.
 
Yeah, my initial thought was that....there will be trouble as they mature and establish dominance. Picassos and Rods Onyx seem to be the party favorites these days, and they *are* quite beautiful.
 
My opinion if you want to have a group as you do - is that you go with some color variation of ocellaris. They seem to be reported as the most peaceful of the different species of clownfish and perhaps you'll have good luck with having a group.

If I were going to try it I would find a breeder who will sell you 8 from the same clutch while they are still very young.
 
The problem with using ocellaris is that they only go into haddoni carpets about half the time.

Nicely colored clarkis (Solomon or Vanuatu) would be an option. In a 1150 gal tank there would be plenty of room for a clown to leave and settle some place new if there began to be aggression. If you have some pull you might even be able to get a family group collected from an anemone. (Leaving behind a couple to maintain a breeding pair, of course)
 
I would see if you can find some A. akindynos. They're a natural symbiot, and if you're lucky and can get the honey colored ones, that would look great against the red.

Another suggestion would be A. bicinctus. Although not a natural symbiot, I would think being in the clarkii complex it wouldn't be that much of a strectch for them to take to it. One thing to keep in mind IMO is to stay away from the CB, they look like crap. The WC are a nice bright yellow that would look great (assuming they would retain the yellow in the prescence of a host).

Plus, this complex can get large, my female akin is an easy 5", so they won't get lost in that huge tank.

Whatever route you take good luck. You may want to consider having another nem (or group of say, rbta) in the tank just in case some serious aggression breaks out and some clowns need a safe house.
 
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