Clownfish information

oinkymcpiglie · Oct 30, 2019

Hello all!

I would really like a nanotank to start my saltwater journey. I have read that clownfish pairs can stay in a 10 gallon but I've read elsewhere they need around 30 gallons. I just want to understand more about min tank requirements.

Thanks!

BeltedCoyote · Oct 30, 2019

oinkymcpiglie said:
Hello all!

I would really like a nanotank to start my saltwater journey. I have read that clownfish pairs can stay in a 10 gallon but I've read elsewhere they need around 30 gallons. I just want to understand more about min tank requirements.

Thanks!

From what I understand, baby-young clowns would potentially be okay in a 10g. But depending on the species, once they reach adulthood they’d be too big. I have two extreme black ice occ clowns. They’re still babies. But even they will be around 3 or 4 inches once they’re adults. Maroon and Clarkii clowns get even larger. So I suppose just keep that in mind. That said occilares clowns I know grown quite slowly. Hence why I’m keeping them in the 40g tank I will be using as a quarantine while I finish gathering what I need to set up my 120g display. That said I’ve been in this hobby for about 5 months, so please don’t take what I’ve said as law so to speak

Carter's Reef · Oct 31, 2019

It depends on what clowns you get and what size you buy them at. Personally my clowns have taken a long long time to grow significantly. If you buy them as an adalescent I don’t see a problem with that for a while. Eventually you may have to upgrade after some time if they outgrow it.

oinkymcpiglie · Oct 31, 2019

Carter's Reef said:
It depends on what clowns you get and what size you buy them at. Personally my clowns have taken a long long time to grow significantly. If you buy them as an adalescent I don’t see a problem with that for a while. Eventually you may have to upgrade after some time if they outgrow it.

Thank you I think I'll go with a 20g long to give me more options

Carter's Reef · Oct 31, 2019

oinkymcpiglie said:
Thank you I think I'll go with a 20g long to give me more options

Sounds good! With a 20 gal you can also have some room for corals or another small fish.

Carter's Reef · Oct 31, 2019

Keep us updated when you set it up!

Marco S · Oct 31, 2019

I never understood the 20 or 30 gallon minimum on Clownfish. I have a pair in my 160 gallon and they never move more than a few inches either way unless it's feeding time. They probably only use about a gallon of the real estate. I have another pair in a 45 gallon with the same behavior and two in a 10 gallon, (in QT currently) and they all only use a tiny percentage of the space. It's not like an Achilles Tang that constantly swims the entire length of my 6 foot tank all day every day.

I would have no problem keeping a pair of Clownfish in a 10 gallon tank.

oinkymcpiglie · Oct 31, 2019

Marco S said:
I never understood the 20 or 30 gallon minimum on Clownfish. I have a pair in my 160 gallon and they never move more than a few inches either way unless it's feeding time. They probably only use about a gallon of the real estate. I have another pair in a 45 gallon with the same behavior and two in a 10 gallon, (in QT currently) and they all only use a tiny percentage of the space. It's not like an Achilles Tang that constantly swims the entire length of my 6 foot tank all day every day.

I would have no problem keeping a pair of Clownfish in a 10 gallon tank.

So if I went with a 20g do you think I could fit any other little guys in with them? Like a fIrefish or a pajama cardinal?

Marco S · Oct 31, 2019

A few smaller fish like that would be fine in a 20 long IMO. Make sure you have a few caves and hiding spaces and a lid if you plan on having a Firefish. They love to jump out of tanks!

oinkymcpiglie · Oct 31, 2019

Marco S said:
A few smaller fish like that would be fine in a 20 long IMO. Make sure you have a few caves and hiding spaces and a lid if you plan on having a Firefish. They love to jump out of tanks!

Yeah I definitely want a lid not only because I'm scared of jumping but I'm scared some dog hair flying in it in my house lol

Marco S · Oct 31, 2019

oinkymcpiglie said:
Yeah I definitely want a lid not only because I'm scared of jumping but I'm scared some dog hair flying in it in my house lol

I know all about the dog hair!

I have mesh lids on most of my tanks and my 160 sits pretty high up so it isn't a problem, but my quarantine tanks sit only about 4 feet off the ground and I am constantly netting hair out. A solid glass or plastic lid would be better, (also better for less evaporation).

oinkymcpiglie · Oct 31, 2019

Marco S said:
I know all about the dog hair!

I have mesh lids on most of my tanks and my 160 sits pretty high up so it isn't a problem, but my quarantine tanks sit only about 4 feet off the ground and I am constantly netting hair out. A solid glass or plastic lid would be better, (also better for less evaporation).

Yeah my freshwater tank has a nice glass lid and I don't think I could live without it lol

The Aquatic Arsenal · Oct 31, 2019

Clownfish don't need a lot of room. You can have 2 in a 10 gallon tank with no issues. Do you plan on adding any other fish?

oinkymcpiglie · Oct 31, 2019

The Aquatic Arsenal said:
Clownfish don't need a lot of room. You can have 2 in a 10 gallon tank with no issues. Do you plan on adding any other fish?

In a ten gallon probably only a shrimp or 2. But if I decide on a 20 gallon long I may add a couple more small fish if possible