Clown fish in pairs- pros and cons

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by SwimsWithFish, Dec 29, 2011.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. SwimsWithFish

    SwimsWithFish Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2011
    Messages:
    5,109
    Location:
    DFW Texas
    Heller!! Alright so I'd love to have a pair of clowns in my biocube 29 but I'm afraid of aggression they might put off towards new additions. Here's what I've gathered so far:

    Pros- there happier in pairs

    Cons- aggression

    There tank mates would be a royal gramma and YWG.

    Good or bad idea?

    TIA.
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. 1.0reef

    1.0reef Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2011
    Messages:
    3,615
    Location:
    Orinda, Bay Area, CA
    IMO the happier in pairs thing makes no sense. You could do either one though.
     
  4. phil_n_fish

    phil_n_fish Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2011
    Messages:
    61
    Location:
    Bella vista, AR
    It depends on the size of your tank. Those tank mates are fine with them. Just dont ever get a damsel lol
     
  5. SwimsWithFish

    SwimsWithFish Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2011
    Messages:
    5,109
    Location:
    DFW Texas
  6. SwimsWithFish

    SwimsWithFish Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2011
    Messages:
    5,109
    Location:
    DFW Texas
  7. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2011
    Messages:
    4,053
    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    That is a misconception. My damsel is best friends with my clown pair. ;D
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2011
    Messages:
    4,053
    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    Clowns really act differently in pairs IME. They are a lot funnier to watch.
     
  10. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

    Joined:
    May 15, 2011
    Messages:
    3,026
    Location:
    North Biloxi, MS
    You are lucky, or your damsel is young... Most every damsel save the chromis and yellow tails (which still can get aggressive) Damsels almost always go crazy after they mature. I had a pair of damsels kill 30 fish before deciding they were the problem and I removed them. Since then I have had no mystery deaths in my 150g fowlr
     
  11. Brendan Z

    Brendan Z Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2011
    Messages:
    83
    Location:
    Orwigsburg, PA
    Even though I haven't had too many aggression issues personally with my Allen's Damsel I still wouldn't risk putting one in a 29 gal tank.

    The clowns should be fine I would think, I have 2 Ocellaris Clowns that have never once shown aggression towards anything in my tank and they were the 2nd and 3rd additions to my tank, I have probably added another 6 fish or so since, they just mind their own business.
     
  12. pgoodsell

    pgoodsell Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2009
    Messages:
    2,059
    Location:
    Sparks, Nv
    Clowns mainly become aggressive over territorial reasons. So in big tanks they do fine. I have seen many clowns pairs in a biocube do just fine. You could always add your other fish first then add the clowns last that would reduce the chance of any aggression.