More than two clownfish?

[JasperDog]

I have a 65G Reefer 250v3... what is the reason everyone always gets a pair of clownfish? Why not 3? 5? So far all I have is two, not yet paired and no other fish. Early stages, just wondering why as I make plans for next 5-7 additions.

 

[fishguy242]

hi, welcome to the reef...
don't think i'd recommend more than the 1 pair you already have in 65 gallon.
happy reefing.

 

[REEFER-RICK]

I have 4 Percs in my 36 gallon started with 6 but due to fighting lost 2.Hard to add other clowns when you already have 2 in there mostly I put all 6 in my tank 2 days apart and that`s why I lost 2

 

[JasperDog]

hi, welcome to the reef...
don't think i'd recommend more than the 1 pair you already have in 65 gallon.
happy reefing.

Hi and thanks for the welcome! Been spectating for a while.

Thank you for your recommendation! Can you tell me what information is driving this recommendation? What if I only wanted clownfish and nothing else? Why do folks with huge tanks still tend to stick with 1 pair?

 

[fishguy242]

if you were doing a clown only in a 65 3-5 should be "ok" best to add at same time
as juvi's.

have completely different look at large tanks,
i do mix and match harems ,multiple pairs , but tanks larger than 200 gal.
can still have problems though,
if 1 set pair up ,spawn, can go rogue on rest in tank.

 

[Freenow54]

I have a 65G Reefer 250v3... what is the reason everyone always gets a pair of clownfish? Why not 3? 5? So far all I have is two, not yet paired and no other fish. Early stages, just wondering why as I make plans for next 5-7 additions.

Way better fish then Clowns except for grand children. They are aggressive to you and each other big pain

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have never been able to keep even two pairs in my 7ft 210g. Eventually one female finds the other and kills her. Usually around the 2 year mark.
Harems can be tried, but not sure how much success there is long term. After 1 year my clowns of 5 were down to 3 and then 2. They just do not like to remain as adults in harems in our aquaria.

 

[ZoWhat]

Most will pair up and the most submissive one will get picked on until death. Then the next most submissive one...and so on.

Start with 6 and in 12-18mos probably only one set paired ones left

 

[JasperDog]

if you were doing a clown only in a 65 3-5 should be "ok" best to add at same time
as juvi's.

have completely different look at large tanks,
i do mix and match harems ,multiple pairs , but tanks larger than 200 gal.
can still have problems though,
if 1 set pair up ,spawn, can go rogue on rest in tank.

Thanks for the info, very helpful! Going to stick with two in this tank, but would be interesting to see more schooling in a larger tank.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I have a 200 gal and I’ve tried doing more than just the two clowns in there. The bonded pair always kills everyone else no matter how many others you add. Clownfish are jerks and hardheaded and won’t budge if they see they have competition in the tank no matter what the female will always make sure she lets everyone know who rules the tank

 

[Freenow54]

Just posted on another link. I had I repeat 2. The intimidation started immediately. Both the same size in the beginning. I had to fish the one out of my overflow countless times. Did everything I could but Found it just now dead on the floor. I will never buy clowns again.