Adding a second pair of clowns?

[Baby Damsel 219]

I have a 60g with a pair of designer what to get a second pair. is this possible

 

[SudzFD]

I can’t speak for another pair per se. But I think it should be fine, I’m assuming you are talking about oscelllaris clowns.

I started with two tank raised clowns. They would not go in my anemone despite all of my tricks I’ve used with success over the years.

So I bought a wild caught clown that was hosting a bubble tip at my LFS and introduced him to the tank. Since he started hosting a nem immediately he was protected and fine to add. I still have all three it’s been about 18 months or so and they do fine. Two of them hang out on one side and the third on the other dude if my tank. I have men’s in both sides.

I also have a 60g.

So that’s my experience.

Also, the Long Beach Aquarium has several tanks either dozens of clowns in it. So it can be done. I think it’s more about enough food and shelter and space for them to feel safe.

 

[SudzFD]

These are my tank raised pair. They ended up paired up and the black one was orange when I bought him.

The wild one hangs out in the other side of the tank mostly but I never see them fighting.

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

Thanks my lfs sales them for a cheap 5 bucks on SALE so I though hit or miss not like I losted a $300 yellow tang

 

[SudzFD]

$5 is incredibly cheap! I think even 15 years ago they were $10.

 

[WvAquatics]

5$ isn't cheap if they kill designer clowns right? And what kind of designer clownfish? I have a mated maroon pair and I am setting up a 180g and I wouldn't try to add another pair to it. She's 3 years old and she's getting big. I think she will kill any clowns added to the tank.

 

[James M]

Tank is too small for a second pair

 

[WvAquatics]

Clowns are mean and don't tolerate each other at all.

 

[SudzFD]

I think this tank is about 300 gallons. Still I think it tells a story. These are large mature clowns. About 3-4” long.

 

[WvAquatics]

Is this tank still running at this capacity?

 

[SudzFD]

Is this tank still running at this capacity?

Yes. It’s at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I am a member there and have enjoyed this tank for years.

 

[WvAquatics]

To run an aquarium, with that many very large anemone. maybe you can do that. Search on the forum multie clown pairs. Lets see the success rate compared to fails. Then any success what's the aquarium size. And level of aquarist?

 

[SudzFD]

To run an aquarium, with that many very large anemone. maybe you can do that. Search on the forum multie clown pairs. Lets see the success rate compared to fails. Then any success what's the aquarium size. And level of aquarist?

Yes agreed, and obviously this is a professional aquarium that can bring in constant water changes, over feed to help with aggression and provide ample anemones.

So not suggesting people do this, but also don’t want to make a blanket statement if it can’t be done. There are many factors but I’ve kept 3 in a 60g so I know that can at least be done. The OP should take all this into consideration before deciding and also, don’t treat the fish like a “throw away” because it’s only $5. Every effort should be made to ensure success.

If your other clowns have been in the tank for a while, it may benefit to rearrange your rock work before adding the new pair

 

[PharmrJohn]

In a 60g tank, I'd keep one pair and one pair only. Odds are any new clowns added at this point would, at best, be sleeping with one eye open and at worst, going to the great anemone in the sky. IMO, the focus should not be on potential loss of money, rather, the potential loss of life.

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

In a 60g tank, I'd keep one pair and one pair only. Odds are any new clowns added at this point would, at best, be sleeping with one eye open and at worst, going to the great anemone in the sky. IMO, the focus should not be on potential loss of money, rather, the potential loss of life.

Your right, Life is worth more than money. I want to get 2 anemones my female is close to 2yrs i saw some wyomig white for 40 each so wantd to get those

 

[Jaden9933]

Yes. It’s at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I am a member there and have enjoyed this tank for years.

one of my favorite tanks!

 

[Largeangels]

I've had it work sometimes and not work even in 8ft 300 gallon tanks. The tank shown above I'm almost certain was a very large group of tank raised clowns who have grew up in large numbers like this since hatching. That is much different than a pair who thinks the tank is theirs and have someone intrude in their territory.

Even if it is ok for a while keep a close eye out as when a pair gets closer to breeding they become more aggressive and what was a peacefull existance turns ugly.

 

[SudzFD]

I've had it work sometimes and not work even in 8ft 300 gallon tanks. The tank shown above I'm almost certain was a very large group of tank raised clowns who have grew up in large numbers like this since hatching. That is much different than a pair who thinks the tank is theirs and have someone intrude in their territory.

Even if it is ok for a while keep a close eye out as when a pair gets closer to breeding they become more aggressive and what was a peacefull existance turns ugly.

I’ve been noticing interesting behavior in mine.

My largest clown the black ocellaris hangs out in the right lower corner in an anemone. He’s also the most aggressive. His tank raised pal also spends 80% of his time there. The wild ocellaris stays in the top left corner where he also has anemones. The orange tank raised clown moves back and forth between sides of the tank. Sometimes hangs out with one and sometimes the other.

This isn’t to say they only stay there. They all swim around and I haven’t had aggression issues observed but this is how they’ve made their homes.

 

[betareef]

I think this tank is about 300 gallons. Still I think it tells a story. These are large mature clowns. About 3-4” long.

Yes agreed, and obviously this is a professional aquarium that can bring in constant water changes, over feed to help with aggression and provide ample anemones.

So not suggesting people do this, but also don’t want to make a blanket statement if it can’t be done. There are many factors but I’ve kept 3 in a 60g so I know that can at least be done.

This is a great example of something I said in a thread recently. People lay down the law and insist on defined stocking levels, often without truly knowing what can be acheived.

The tank in the picture is a beautiful extreme, and I would not attempt it myself. 60 gallons (even small american gallons) is still quite big enough for four fish. It boils down to aggression and space, and that, I am afraid might be a problem with oscellarus/percula clowns.

 

[WvAquatics]

Sounds like the soon to be female is courting the other 2 and once she chooses it might get interesting