What comes first?

[davantalus]

So lets pretend my tank is ready* for a fish or nem or combination thereof.

What do you buy first? The fish or the nem? Both at the same time?

How long should you wait to add their counterpart?

Is it better to add two fish at the same time? Or does adding another later hedge against something going terribly wrong?

*(After about 10 years of research and getting a degree in oceanography.)

 

[garygb]

Assuming your tank has been set up at least 6 months and conditions are good for an anemone, I suggest you put the anemone in first. Allow it time to find a spot it likes and settle in, then add clownfish. In terms of clowns, the way to get a pair that's worked for me several times with several species is: 1) get one and keep it for a few months, in that time it will likely be a female; 2) get a small clown of the same species that seems healthy, but is clearly not dominant in the dealers tank (another words, low in the pecking order); 3) add the small fish to the tank with a glass divider between the larger and smaller fish, once the female appears less aggressive and the smaller male shakes submissively, remove the glass and keep an eye on things. With some species, like percs or occelaris, the glass isn't needed. With maroons, you will want to take this precaution.

 

[Jim.mer]

Assuming your tank is ready and assuming you get the right Anenome and assuming it lives in your tank long enough to get a couple of clowns, Don't assume the Anenome will host the clowns.

 

[fireball198]

Assuming your tank has been set up at least 6 months and conditions are good for an anemone, I suggest you put the anemone in first. Allow it time to find a spot it likes and settle in, then add clownfish. In terms of clowns, the way to get a pair that's worked for me several times with several species is: 1) get one and keep it for a few months, in that time it will likely be a female; 2) get a small clown of the same species that seems healthy, but is clearly not dominant in the dealers tank (another words, low in the pecking order); 3) add the small fish to the tank with a glass divider between the larger and smaller fish, once the female appears less aggressive and the smaller male shakes submissively, remove the glass and keep an eye on things. With some species, like percs or occelaris, the glass isn't needed. With maroons, you will want to take this precaution.

+1 well said

 

[davantalus]

Awesome. Thanks guys.