Clownfish in a 10G tank?

Wiskey · Oct 12, 2019

Hello all,

I'm bringing a tank to work and I think people would really relate to clownfish in it. The tank is 10G, and probably 8 or 9 gallons of it are swimming area, with the back gallon being the filter. I struggle with putting any fish in a tank this small, but in my 75 the clowns never go much more than 4 inches.

So what do you think? Would you put a False Perc pair in a 10G? The tank will have a RBTA if it matters.

Whiskey

Tamberav · Oct 12, 2019

I had my percs in a nuvo 10 for awhile when I was between tanks. It felt cramped to me since they were not babies but I don't feel it effected their health in any way.

Gareth elliott · Oct 12, 2019

A single ocellaris should be fine in a 10 gallon if purchased small , in 2-3 years when bigger if cramped could always find a new home.
Another nano fish that are enjoyable to watch would be a single fire fish. Very active and have a very noticeable feeding interaction. Will never outgrow the 10 gallon. They are also more outgoing when no other fish

truetricia · Oct 12, 2019

ORA also has dwarf clownfish. They tend to stay smaller. Minimal rocks, an RBTA, and you should be fine for awhile.

Jesterrace · Oct 12, 2019

truetricia said:
ORA also has dwarf clownfish. They tend to stay smaller. Minimal rocks, an RBTA, and you should be fine for awhile.

These ones, right?

Stubby Ocellaris | Amphiprion ocellaris | ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums

Cute. Adorable. Lovable. The best ways to describe the charismatic little ORA Stubby Ocellaris.

www.orafarm.com

truetricia · Oct 13, 2019

Jesterrace said:
These ones, right?

Stubby Ocellaris | Amphiprion ocellaris | ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums

Cute. Adorable. Lovable. The best ways to describe the charismatic little ORA Stubby Ocellaris.

www.orafarm.com

They don't know their own size. They definitely think they're bigger fish.

Jesterrace · Oct 13, 2019

truetricia said:
They don't know their own size. They definitely think they're bigger fish.

Agreed. I had a little snowflake occ and he was a complete jerk to his tankmates. Boy did he regret picking on my Melanurus Wrasse though.

jurgenph · Oct 20, 2019

FWIW... i have two clowns (not sure if they are ocelaris or perculas) in a 10 gallon. i don't feel like they are cramped.

J.

Jesterrace · Oct 21, 2019

jurgenph said:
FWIW... i have two clowns (not sure if they are ocelaris or perculas) in a 10 gallon. i don't feel like they are cramped.

J.

Yes, but how long have you had them and what size are they? I agree that 10 gallons is fine for young Occelaris that are in the 1-2 inch range, once they start getting bigger though the 10 gallon gets pretty cramped.

jurgenph · Oct 21, 2019

Jesterrace said:
Yes, but how long have you had them and what size are they? I agree that 10 gallons is fine for young Occelaris that are in the 1-2 inch range, once they start getting bigger though the 10 gallon gets pretty cramped.

the 10 gallon was setup last august, so, not that long

however, i've kept a pair in a 6 gallon a few years back as well.
they just hang out in their favorite spot, and only once in a while take a little swim around the rest of the tank when they got bored of that

that said, those were perculas or ocellaris, not the other clowns that get much larger.

J.

Peace River · Oct 21, 2019

10g is a common size for a clownfish breeding tank. Often those tanks are plumbed in to a system with a sump and many other tanks which changes the water quality part of the discussion, but the swimming space is still 10g.