Multiple clowns in a cube?

Aqua fire/medic · Apr 8, 2012

Hello all, I was thinking of turning my Solana into a bta/clown tank. My question is this...... Is it possible to have 3-4 clowns in this cube if they are all purchased and added at the same time. All clowns would be small and young( about 1") but would not be from the same clutch. I was thinking a plat. a midnight, snowflake, and maybe Picasso. The tank has been up for over a year but moving all my coral over to my upgrade. I plan on having 5-6 bta's established before clowns move in. I've read several posts on this subject but everyone seems to get a school out of the same clutch. Lmk what you guys think. Thanks for everyones help.

revhtree · Apr 9, 2012

How big is the tank?

Aqua fire/medic · Apr 9, 2012

34 gallon cube. 20x20x20

revhtree · Apr 9, 2012

I would say that if you add them together and have enough hiding spots they will be just fine. I like the idea for that as well.

cdness · Apr 9, 2012

Well I have a 125 and I added a pair of saddleback clowns to the tank with an already established pair. Yes there were some bouts of aggression, but nothing damaging and the established ones still got to keep their nem. There is just a single other nem in the tank so the other clowns do have a nem. It seems to be OK.

My tips though would be to get them all the same size and not be paired up already. You will either end up with two pairs or one pair with additional submissive males. It should be OK but if the aggression rises you will want options to move them if needed.

Aqua fire/medic · Apr 9, 2012

Yes, I will definitely be getting them about the same size, same time, and there will be no pairs to speak of..... Well atleast in the beginning. Lots of hiding places will be provided and like I said before, more nems than clowns will be established in the tank. I was getting nervous because I had not seen this done in a nano before and all my searches came up empty. I will have my larger upgrade in place incase of aggression issues.

Trex · Apr 9, 2012

I only see this working for the short term. In time a pair will form, and they will not take too kindly to the additional clowns. Never underestimate how aggressive a mated pair of clowns can be towards other fish, let alone other clowns.

revhtree · Apr 9, 2012

Trex welcome to R2R! Thanks for joining and please make sure and post often!

Trex · Apr 9, 2012

revhtree said:
Trex welcome to R2R! Thanks for joining and please make sure and post often!

Thank you sir -- I will do my best to help where I can.

revhtree · Apr 9, 2012

Great just what were looking for! More helpful reefers!

Aqua fire/medic · Apr 9, 2012

Thanks for the info trex..... Is there a specific clown that would be more aggressive than another as far as the occe/percs are concerned?

Trex · Apr 9, 2012

In order of aggressiveness --- this is only for the clowns that I have personally kept, your mileage may vary. Also, unless noted, all pairs were mated pairs.

Black and white ocellaris -- not mated
Orange ocellaris -- not mated.
Soloman Island percula
Orange skunks (( A. sandaracinos )) -- have only had for 6 months, spawning for 1 -- their position on this list could change.
Black and while saddlebacks (( A. polymnus )) -- not mated, was a pair for 6 months, then just a solo, still mean.
A. clarkii -- spawning pair for 10 years -- mean.
GSM (( Premnas biaculeatus )) -- had to move to a 29 by themselves, even before they started to spawn.
Cinnamon (( A. melanopus )) single clown, very very mean.
Pink skunk (( A. perideraion )) started off passive, once they started to spawn turned into 2 of the meanest fish I have ever kept. I blame them for the death of my Golden dwarf angel (( Centropyge aurantius )).

For an average sized home aquarium I would only keep one pair of clowns in there -- they just become way too aggressive once established. I have tried more than one pair in the past, and it ended with dead clowns. The speed in which they will turn on each other is shocking.
[h=3]http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/anemoneclownfishprofiles/p/prfalseclown.htm[/h]

kkiel02 · Apr 10, 2012

If you can get them from the same clutch you might be able to pull it off. Otherwise like trex said once they start breeding one pair will kill off the others. I don't even risk more than one pair in my 375.