Clownfish compatibility

[74maddox]

I've been told that clowns prefer to pair up and eventually be the only pair of clowns in the tank. So question number one, is this true? Question number two, will two clowns of different types get along? For example, will a black clown and a yellow clown accept each other, Orange clown and black, etc?

 

[JoshO]

You're likely to have a more peaceful tank if you just have the 2 clowns in there. And yes it is possible to have different colour variations of clown. Mixing different types of clown is a lot harder, ocellaris and percs can pair up but for me it's risky

 

[Peace River]

Unless you have a large tank, yes it is usually safer to stick with one pair in a tank. The aggression between two female clownfish doesn't usually end well.

In regards to your second question, remember that there is a difference between different species and different patterns. Many of the different designer clownfish are still variations of A. ocellaris. Different species of clownfish can pair which is how hybrids are produced although it can be more of a challenge..

 

[74maddox]

Unless you have a large tank, yes it is usually safer to stick with one pair in a tank. The aggression between two female clownfish doesn't usually end well.

In regards to your second question, remember that there is a difference between different species and different patterns. Many of the different designer clownfish are still variations of A. ocellaris. Different species of clownfish can pair which is how hybrids are produced although it can be more of a challenge..

I guess I'm going to need help in knowing what I have. Attached are clowns in 2 different tanks. The larger of the black ones disappeared without a trace. I'm debating putting these in the same tank. Advice?

 

[74maddox]

I guess I'm going to need help in knowing what I have. Attached are clowns in 2 different tanks. The larger of the black ones disappeared without a trace. I'm debating putting these in the same tank. Advice?

 

[F i s h y]

The black clowns appear to be Saddleback clowns. The bottom an ocellaris. Im not an expert though so my ID on the black clown may be off. If they are Saddleback, I would not mix with the Ocellaris.

 

[Peace River]

My best guess is that you have black saddleback clownfish and standard ocellaris. IMO you may have compatibility issue with these fish. I try not to mix clowns that are outside of the same complex.