Clownfish Compadability

[reeferjack]

Hi everyone!
I have never kept clownfish or an anemone but I currently I have a 75 gallon mixed reef. Although I never got an anemone or clown pair which is one of the things that originally got me into the hobby. I am considering getting another tank, more specifically a clownfish tank.

I was wondering if multiple different species of clowns can be kept in the same tank?

If so:
Are multiple anemones required?
Should there be no anemones, so clowns don’t fight over them?
Which species would be more compatible?
Would it be better to have pairs of different species or just solo clowns?

Thank You!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Clowns do not need anemones.
Clowns are a part of the Damsel family and if you get more than 2, the odds are very high that they will fight with each other.
You can't have solo clowns. Even if you had all male clowns, the dominate one will turn female and take out all but one male.
There are lots of clown names out there, but I believe they all fall into being either Percula and Ocellaris.

BTW, Welcome to Reef2Reef! Your questions are welcome. And if you ask 10 of us the same question, you are likely to get 15 different answers! LOL!

 

[RJinPV]

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef!
I saw your post yesterday but thought I would wait until someone with more experience would jump in, but here's my take on your questions: I have a pair of Ocellaris clowns in my 55 Gal. They are hosted by three rose bubble tip anemones (bought one and it split). I have no experience with multiple clowns but reading the threads over the last few years tells me to use caution if you get more than one pair. Especially if you mix species. Some clowns are more aggressive than others. Maroon clowns seem to be hyper aggressive towards other clowns and potential mates. I would think a multiple clown tank would likely be same species. They would also probably try to pair off. If any anemones in the tank then plenty of them to share. Once hosted by an anemone, clowns are very territorial and do not stray far from it. They want to be hosted by something, even if it's a corner of the tank. Keep reading and hopefully someone with experience on a clownfish tank will chime in

 

[rkpetersen]

There are about 30 different species of clownfish or anemonefish.
When non-hobbyists talk about clownfish, they're usually thinking of A. percula or A. ocellaris.

Each clownfish species has one or several anemone species that it naturally associates with in the wild.
If you put a clown and matching nem in a tank, they may accept it as a host immediately.

Each clownfish species may also have other anemone species that they might accept.
Trying to establish this kind of match is a crapshoot; the clown might accept the nem immediately, after some time, or never.

Here's a partial list: https://www.thesprucepets.com/clownfish-host-anemone-matches-2924117

Clownfish attitude can vary considerably. As mentioned, maroons have a deserved reputation for being particularly aggressive.
I've not tried to keep multiple species in one tank, and I don't recall seeing anyone else doing it either. Although I imagine it's been done.
Once a breeding pair establishes itself, they will be considerably more aggressive than before, to any fish that enters their territory.

It is possible to keep a large number of clowns together, sometimes. It's called keeping a harem.
It's generally recommended to use lots of nems, and get all juvenile clowns, even better if they're all brothers (from the same egg clutch.)
I'm trying this myself, an experiment you might say.
I've had 20 ocellaris clowns in the same tank for about 9 months now.
With around 20 potential host anemones, mostly BTAs with a couple LTAs and a small carpet.
So far, no serious fighting, no deaths from injury or starvation.
Some have their 'favorite' nem to cuddle up to, others roam all over the tank.
All growing and pretty much adult size now, although some are larger than others.
I'm watching for increased aggression and plan to remove targeted fish if that happens.

Also, welcome to R2R!

 

[reeferjack]

wow thank you all so much for your advice! It is very much appreciated and I’m so happy to find a that everyone is so kind and helpful!

This also made me curious as to what anemones can be kept together?

I have heard that carpets should be in a species only tank. What about mini carpets, condy, lta, and bta?

 

[Aardvark1134]

Have you considered a clown harem tank? Like this?
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/Clownfish-Harem-tank-is-2-years-old-update/

 

[RobW]

There are about 30 different species of clownfish or anemonefish.
When non-hobbyists talk about clownfish, they're usually thinking of A. percula or A. ocellaris.

Each clownfish species has one or several anemone species that it naturally associates with in the wild.
If you put a clown and matching nem in a tank, they may accept it as a host immediately.

Each clownfish species may also have other anemone species that they might accept.
Trying to establish this kind of match is a crapshoot; the clown might accept the nem immediately, after some time, or never.

Here's a partial list: https://www.thesprucepets.com/clownfish-host-anemone-matches-2924117

Clownfish attitude can vary considerably. As mentioned, maroons have a deserved reputation for being particularly aggressive.
I've not tried to keep multiple species in one tank, and I don't recall seeing anyone else doing it either. Although I imagine it's been done.
Once a breeding pair establishes itself, they will be considerably more aggressive than before, to any fish that enters their territory.

It is possible to keep a large number of clowns together, sometimes. It's called keeping a harem.
It's generally recommended to use lots of nems, and get all juvenile clowns, even better if they're all brothers (from the same egg clutch.)
I'm trying this myself, an experiment you might say.
I've had 20 ocellaris clowns in the same tank for about 9 months now.
With around 20 potential host anemones, mostly BTAs with a couple LTAs and a small carpet.
So far, no serious fighting, no deaths from injury or starvation.
Some have their 'favorite' nem to cuddle up to, others roam all over the tank.
All growing and pretty much adult size now, although some are larger than others.
I'm watching for increased aggression and plan to remove targeted fish if that happens.

Also, welcome to R2R!

Good info. I used to have a 150 gallon tank with a pair of black clowns and a pair of orange clowns. Each pair oddly enough kept to their own sides of the tank. I only had one ritteri anemone in the tank... which took himself along time to find a home. Once he did the orange clowns setup shop with him and the others just hung out near a rock cave around some corals

 

[reeferjack]

wow that’s awesome thank you for letting my know! do you believe that pairing two different pairs of clowns are more likely to coexist

 

[Aardvark1134]

pairing 2 pairs of clowns will usually work in a 6ft or larger tank as long as none of them are maroon tomato or clarkii as those 3 types are so mean its not even funny. Put them all in at same time with several line of sight breaks

 

[RobW]

wow that’s awesome thank you for letting my know! do you believe that pairing two different pairs of clowns are more likely to coexist

Honestly, I think it was dumb luck. I didnt know any better at the time.

 

[RobW]

pairing 2 pairs of clowns will usually work in a 6ft or larger tank as long as none of them are maroon tomato or clarkii as those 3 types are so mean its not even funny. Put them all in at same time with several line of sight breaks

When I had a 55 (my first tank) I had a pair of percula clowns. Then later on I got a Clarki. He was such a bully! I had an extremely small baby blue hippo Tang. About 1" nose to tail. He killed it after his second day in the tank. But, I had no idea what I was doing back then. I will never have one of those again. Such a jerk!

 

[reeferjack]

okay makes sense it sounds like maroons clarkiis and tomato’s are more suited for aggressive predator tanks

 

[Aardvark1134]

The #1 thing that lets you mix fish that most people can't is tank size. Never underestimate how much tank size will effect what fish will and won't get along together. A 1000 gallon tank can mix things that would never work together in a 100. Just like a 300 can mix some things that would never work together in a 55 gallon.

 

[reeferjack]

excellent thank you