Multiple Clownfish...

I hear it's not smart to put two seperate species of clownfish in the same tank, however, I've seen this done quite often. Also, should they always be bought in a pair? Or does that matter at all?

Thanks,

Ben

 

Actually i've been pretty lucky with mine. My maroon clown and my occelaris live quite happily together, but they've been in there together since they were really small... like 1/2" - 1" ... Also, if you're going to attempt this.. make sure the smaller species is in first, and that they are a pair. i.e. put a pair of percs in before you put in a SINGLE maroon clown.

 

I have seen it too. Not recommended, but people have had success time and time again. I think it has mostly to do with tank size. In the wild, it is not unusual for clown to remain in or around it's anenome (a two foot radius at MOST) for their entire lives. Sea anemones and clowns could arguably be classified obligate symbiotes. One cannot survive without the other. It is certainly that way on the fish side of it. So if you had a four foot tank, two different terratories could easily be established.

As stated above, the maroon clown can get really nasty. They are a one fish per tank clown. You can mate them, but it is more difficult. I certainly would never put another clown in with the maroon. Maroons are mean.

 

It's funny this subject came up as I have 2 tank raised Percula's and I just purchased a seabae anenome and these clown's want no part of him. A saleman at Big Al's supercenter told me I need to find a percula that was caught in the wild. The other clowns might go easy on him and vice versa. What do you think about that?
Another salesman at a different LFS told me to wait and see if the percula's can develope a slime coat that is necessary to live in the anenome. Both of these ideas sound somewhat credible but I am looking for a wild caught percula which could take a while any way. Hey we'll see.

 

the second one is right, now they may or may not host it. but it will take a couple months even for a wild one.
go slow,
the anemone, it must get to know.

 

Well, whether they are wild or not does not make much difference in whether or not they will host a specific anemone. They are bound by genetics to find one that is suitable. In the wild, a clown without an anemone is a dead clown.

So while they are not hosting now does not mean they will not host in the future, as stated above. They need to 'communicate' for lack of a better word. How this is done, and how they survive the tenticles is still up for debate, although the slime coating hypothesis is still leading. Percs host Sebae in the wild, so chances are it will happen eventually.

 

My maroons are not mean at all. I believe I got extremely lucky with the first one where she is not aggressive. I was lucky that she was not aggressive when I added my second maroon to my 20G as well and took the little guy in at first sight and have now bonded together. I was equally lucky that the new one took his place in line and is submissive to my female. I recently added a lawnmower blenny they both have left him alone like he doesn't exist. It's my damsel that pesters him.