To clown or not to clown?

Zero_Cool · Jan 5, 2023

Setting up a new tank and working on a stock list. Tank is 72x30x25 225g.

I have never kept clownfish before and was interested in doing so. Was looking at a pair of Black Ice from Dr Reef. Then I read about the aggression potential like the infamous Luxo.

Other tankmates will be anthias, tangs, a wrasse or two, a blenny and a pair of swallowtail angels.

Tank will be 80/20 SPS and I do NOT want an anemone in the tank.

Pros and cons for keeping a pair of clowns?

Ghostweim · Jan 5, 2023

I have a wonderful pair of clowns that I got from Clownfish Corral. The female is very laid back and the male only lightly hits my hand when I am moving things around. Both swim up and greet you in the tank. Not all are evil - but they sure have personalities (quirky).

I never finish anythi · Jan 5, 2023

Love my clowns . No aggression what's so ever . I know all fish are different but mine are so chill.

CoachRichardson · Jan 5, 2023

Love my Mocha Storm Cloud pair. Lots of personality, mine come right up to you also. Friendly to others since I have had them.

gobybryant · Jan 5, 2023

I go through the same debate every time I set up a tank. Every tank has had a nem and clowns

Seancj · Jan 5, 2023

Alot depends on the species of clown you want. I would venture that the ratio of aggressive clowns to good citizen clowns is 1:25, or more if talking percula/ ocellaris variety. Skunk clowns are very peaceful and do well in communities. If you're talking maroon's, then its about a 95% chance you will get a meany!
The problems you may face with adding clowns without a host anemone are:
1. Clowns are less likely to swim open water or free range the tank like other fish. To feel secure, they will either seek out a coral, usually a softy type or LPS (hammer, frogspawm, torch, bubble) and use it as a host. A pair of clowns can do damage to a host coral.
2. If no suitable host is available, say in an SPS dominant reef, they may simply seek out a remote spot in the tank, often an upper or lower corner of the tank, and simply hover in that area all day and night. I have found that to be somewhat distracting and certainly not natural looking.
In my humble opinion, clowns are only half of the symbiotic relationship and do best with their natural host anemone.
Of course, as has been said, each is its own, and you may find a pair that like to free range and enjoy swimming around.

92Miata · Jan 5, 2023

If you stick to occellaris/percula or pink/orange skunks - a really aggressive set of clowns is really rare. They'll defend a little bit of territory - but not much - and they generally won't chase anything once it's out of their territory. There are individual fish that are bad - but its rare.

Stay away from the bigger species - they're way more aggressive in general (Maroons, Tomatos, Saddlebacks, etc)

I don't think I've ever run a reef tank without a pair of clowns. They're easy to keep, pretty, and don't take up much real estate. And if you do a half decent job, they'll spawn every week or two, and that's cool.

ckuhny3 · Jan 5, 2023

Zero_Cool said:
Setting up a new tank and working on a stock list. Tank is 72x30x25 225g.

I have never kept clownfish before and was interested in doing so. Was looking at a pair of Black Ice from Dr Reef. Then I read about the aggression potential like the infamous Luxo.

Other tankmates will be anthias, tangs, a wrasse or two, a blenny and a pair of swallowtail angels.

Tank will be 80/20 SPS and I do NOT want an anemone in the tank.

Pros and cons for keeping a pair of clowns?

My clowns. Just regular no fancy designs. Are by far my favorite fish. They have the personality of a clown and just peacefully say what’s up to everyone all day. Stay away from the designer ones and get yourself some regular old Nemo’s and you won’t regret it. They are a fraction of the price too lol

Nemo&Friends · Jan 5, 2023

No problem with my ocellaris clowns. You have a big tank, it should be ok, especially if you do not have an anemone.

92Miata · Jan 5, 2023

ckuhny3 said:
My clowns. Just regular no fancy designs. Are by far my favorite fish. They have the personality of a clown and just peacefully say what’s up to everyone all day. Stay away from the designer ones and get yourself some regular old Nemo’s and you won’t regret it. They are a fraction of the price too lol

I very much agree with this.

The 'designer' captive bred clowns have been highly profitable - and this has led to there being very little incentive for breeders to properly cull and manage their stock. Why cull a misbar with short fins and a bad body shape when you can get $200 for it?

The standard morphs (captive bred or not - although I much recommend captive) and lightly bred morphs (like Mochas) tend to be significantly more hardy than the intentional misbars/etc.

Zero_Cool · Jan 5, 2023

Thank you all for the information.

If we choose to house a pair, when should they be added in the mix? As first fish, somewhere in the middle or at the end of the stocking?

lulubap · Jan 5, 2023

Zero_Cool said:
Thank you all for the information.

If we choose to house a pair, when should they be added in the mix? As first fish, somewhere in the middle or at the end of the stocking?

with your tank size it shouldn't matter too much. as others have stated, it depends on what species you plan to keep. if you;re buying from a reputable place that monitors their fish, i would ask about their personality and then plan accordingly. i wouldn't be too worried about having to put them in last, however. if anything, it might be best to put them in early on as they're hardy and without a nem will need to scout out a corner to "host"

Zero_Cool · Jan 5, 2023

Is it better for the health of the fish to provide them with an anemone to host in?

DiloHunter · Jan 5, 2023

Zero_Cool said:
Is it better for the health of the fish to provide them with an anemone to host in?

It generally doesn't matter. They will settle in coral (such as zoas), the top corner of the tank, or pretty much any place the clowns find suitable.

ckuhny3 · Jan 5, 2023

Zero_Cool said:
Is it better for the health of the fish to provide them with an anemone to host in?

Add them first and let them be clowns you will love watching them. I don’t have an Anenome. May get one some day. But since day one they hosted my overflow box and tuck them selves in at night lol.

ckuhny3 · Jan 5, 2023

Zero_Cool said:
Is it better for the health of the fish to provide them with an anemone to host in?

also when/if you get a pair. When they start twitching at each other it’s a good sign! It’s weird to see the first time lol

Nemo&Friends · Jan 5, 2023

When you buy a pair, make sure you get one bigger than the other one. It will make the determination of which one become the female much easier, and less bloody...

kevgib67 · Jan 5, 2023

In over 17 years of reefing I have mostly had ocellaris clowns with no problems and were the first in the tank. One time back in the early 2000s I bought a maroon clown, didn’t know any better, wow what a mistake! It was a demon, I almost called a priest to perform an exorcism!

Zero_Cool · Jan 6, 2023

Nemo&Friends said:
When you buy a pair, make sure you get one bigger than the other one. It will make the determination of which one become the female much easier, and less bloody...

Plan was to acquire an already established pair if possible.

Ocellaris or Percula. Had a Cinnamon years ago and won't make that mistake again.