Will they be friends?

[GoldenMediaGirl]

I'm planning the inhabitants for my first reef tank. It will likely be 55 gal. I know this list is probably too big for the tank, so I don't plan on getting everything.

2 oscillaris clownfish
1 bubble tip anemone
1 blackcap basslet
1 yellow watchman goby
1 blue chromis
1 blood red fire shrimp
1 brittle or serpent starfish
1 fairy or flasher wrasse
1 hawkfish
1 crocea clam
1 fighting conch

Do you have experience with keeping any of these together? Think they'll be alright in the same tank? Will they eat each other? Are there certain ones I should definitely get as juveniles? Also any recommendations on the order to introduce them are greatly appreciated.

 

[agueybana81]

I would get all of them juvies, cause I just like to see them grow. As far as the 2 clowns go, try to get them already paired, otherwise you are going to deal with some aggressiveness between the 2. This is normal behavior for them, until their gender is defined. One will show signs of dominance (female), you will notice this when you see one of them chasing after the other. This can go for a day, a week, month, and so on. Clowns are "weird" and this is just part of how they behave. You could very well end up with no issues from them at all too. Another way would be by introducing 1 clown first, and once its more adult introduce a juvenile, in some cases this makes the dominance transition "easier". I currently own a pair of them, they've been in my tank for almost 2 months, and its barely now when they are getting along better. While they arent paired up yet, the female stopped chasing the male or soon to be male, and he has been able to swim more freely and eat around her without any issues.

 

[GoldenMediaGirl]

Alright. Thank you.

 

[New&no clue]

I don't see any reason you can't have all of this in a 55. The only thing I would caution on is the fighting conch and only because of the size of them. Also if you are getting a YWG you should get a pistol shrimp as well so they can pair up.

 

[Rtaylor]

Tiger sand conch is similar to the fighting conch, but smaller. I don’t see any issues with the list. You could actually get a few more smaller fish without a problem. Personally I’d avoid the chromis for 2 reasons. First they are prone to uronemia, next cause they are kinda boring when not in a large school, but when you get multiples they often kill each other. But if you really like them it should work in your setup.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

I'd skip the chromis, they can be jerks when they're older and do better in schools anyway