Adding a new clown?

[joeyhatch11]

A friend of mine Is moving to Florida in a couple weeks and it breaking down his 20L. He currently has 1 Clown and 1 Six Line Wrasses left. I was going to take both fish from him and add them to my system. I currently have 2 clown and 2 blue/green Chromis and was wonder if adding another clown is going to throw my mated pair off? Or is there any concern that my 2 may pick on the new one if added? Thanks Joe

 

[gmendez619]

Most likely there will be a problem. Depending on how big the new clown is ? And how big your tank is ? If youre going to add him i say that you should have a big enough tank and if you do go for it make sure that you have plenty of rocks and stuff for him to hide and run around if he gets bullied and chased around the tank

 

[joeyhatch11]

I have a 33L (48x12x12) All my rock work is dead center in the tank with ample room for the fish to swim and plenty of hiding places. The new clown is between the size of the two clowns I already have. The only sad thing is, if I don't take them he may flush them only because the LFS won't take them, even as a donation. So I feel like I'm the only hope they have at this point.

 

[gmendez619]

I think that the tank you have is too small to house 6 fish. I dont think the clowns will react in a good way and there will be fighting. Also wrasses grow huge and need bigger tanks than what you have. In my opinion i think you should ask your friend to try and give the fish away by posting them on craigslist or searchin for another LFS. If anything just take the clown but i dont think its a good idea quite honestly

 

[cpayne015]

If he Is flushing or even thinking about them then he doesn't need to be in this hobby...plain and simple how we would he like to be flushed...

 

[joeyhatch11]

I hear you guys and told him from the start that I don't think the hobby is for him because he can't devote the time needed for a healthy saltwater tank. The LFS by him (40 minutes from me) won't take them in. Being a lover of fish and corals feel bad for the fish and would rather take them in hopes of saving them. Either way I have to make a trip to his houseto get his corals and I know once I see the fish I'm going to want to take them too. So I think I'll take the. With the hopes that they will all do well together. Thanks guy for the helpful insight.

 

[gmendez619]

Sure thing man. If youre going for it i suggest that you keep the fish for some time while you find another place for them to live. Try looking around for local reefers who are willing to take them in. Like i said, craigslist is a good option to post donations. And if youre willing to pay for shipping or if your buddy is willing to do it, you can even give then away here on this forum

 

[joeyhatch11]

It's just a crappy situation for him because he's moving for work with his current to Florida and they need him down there in 2 weeks so he has no time for anything but getting what he can together and getting down there to find a place. I plan to do the best I can even if it means setting up another 10g tank in the time being to make sure there are safe. I have multiple tanks laying around I case I ever get in a pinch. Like this one lol

 

[gmendez619]

Yes , i think you should set up a 10 gallon for now. Or if you have a bigger one even better. You should start it now if you only have two weeks to do it. Fill part of the new tank with water from your current system and also add some of your live rock to the new tank. This will speed up the cycle i say just do a bare bottom tank with live rock only .02

 

[joeyhatch11]

So I set the 10G up and added the live rock from my friends tank along with the clown fish and corals. Everything is going good and the fish/corals are very happy. The rock has a few small patches of GHA that Im currently trying to get rid of. Some of it is just falling off which is great. But the cool thing is, once I set the tank up and my wife saw it, she said as long as I don't go crazy and start loading it up with corals and buying n expensive light for it, that I could keep it!!! LOL Bonus for me and the fish because I didn't really want to give it up to a fish store. You never know who would buy him.