Clownfish in 270 gal

[Maui The God]

hello

looking for some infight on clownfish selection. i have a 270 gal tank 84"L x 24"L x 31"H. i really want to get a pair gold striped maroon clowns, but i know they can be a menace. ive had them before multiple times and other than messing with me when i got close to their anemone they were always model citizens with tankmates. now if i decide not to go with maroons and stick with ocellaris clowns how many can i get away with in a tank this size? can i get away with 4? i would love to have 4 with different colors and patterns but i read alot that eventually they will kill off each other until its down to 2 or 1. eventually i will have bubble tip anemones. the maroon clowns ive had always hosted the nems and i love it but again not 100% sure i want to risk it cause each fish has their own personality. ill take any input on this.

 

[littlefoxx]

Only 2, clown harems never work even in huge tanks. As for maroons the only thing my pair (more the male) tried to kill was my algae scraper lol. Never bothered fish.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Only 2, clown harems never work even in huge tanks. As for maroons the only thing my pair (more the male) tried to kill was my algae scraper lol. Never bothered fish.

I think clown harems can work - I believe there was a BRS thing with a clown harem tank - and I’ve talked to a few people who have them. You need to feed more frequently and have enough anemones and places for them to find their own spot. Also best if they all go in at once and are all the same size. There is always a chance you will lose a few.

I actually plan to do an anemone and clownfish harem tank - just need to finish getting all the corals out of my 75 and into my 100g!

I don’t know if I’d try a harem in a large tank with other fish.


My 75gallon tank has 3 clowns. No issues.

 

[littlefoxx]

I think clown harems can work - I believe there was a BRS thing with a clown harem tank - and I’ve talked to a few people who have them. You need to feed more frequently and have enough anemones and places for them to find their own spot. Also best if they all go in at once and are all the same size. There is always a chance you will lose a few.

I actually plan to do an anemone and clownfish harem tank - just need to finish getting all the corals out of my 75 and into my 100g!

I don’t know if I’d try a harem in a large tank with other fish.


My 75gallon tank has 3 clowns. No issues.

If you look for their clown harem tank it disappeared, no updates or anything, making me think it didnt turn out well O.O

 

[F i s h y]

I have successfully kept 2 pairs of oscellaris in an 8ft tank. my only issue is that the dominant pair had the nem on one side, and the other pair hosted and eventually killed some euphyllia on the other side, so they had to go... if you have a suitable nem (assuming they actually host it) on each side this can work.

 

[Daz_1978]

Like everything, I think it'll be hit or miss...
They could theoretically develop into 2 pairs and hang at opposite ends of the tank... or fight to see which 2 are left.
I've often wondered if they aren't kind of like tangs... Meaning that if you put enough in the tank to keep them 'confused' about the pecking order, it'll help. If I'm not mistaken, the most aggressive one will become female and the 2nd most aggressive will become male. The others will basically stay in the 'male in waiting' stage.

 

[Maui The God]

Only 2, clown harems never work even in huge tanks. As for maroons the only thing my pair (more the male) tried to kill was my algae scraper lol. Never bothered fish.

i was hoping with the size i could get away with 2 more ocellaris if thats the route i went. but as far as maroons ive had 3 seperate pairs in a 180, 50, and 35. none of them killed fish or really caused issues. my hand got attacked a few times with one pair but thats it. never a fish death because of them. i was much more risky back then though.

 

[Maui The God]

I have successfully kept 2 pairs of oscellaris in an 8ft tank. my only issue is that the dominant pair had the nem on one side, and the other pair hosted and eventually killed some euphyllia on the other side, so they had to go... if you have a suitable nem (assuming they actually host it) on each side this can work.

my hope would be for ocellaris clowns would be after qt to introduce them to the nem in an acclimation box and get them to host it then release them and the nems into the display to hopefully get them to stay with their nems and try to keep them on the opposite sides of the tank

 

[Maui The God]

Like everything, I think it'll be hit or miss...
They could theoretically develop into 2 pairs and hang at opposite ends of the tank... or fight to see which 2 are left.
I've often wondered if they aren't kind of like tangs... Meaning that if you put enough in the tank to keep them 'confused' about the pecking order, it'll help. If I'm not mistaken, the most aggressive one will become female and the 2nd most aggressive will become male. The others will basically stay in the 'male in waiting' stage.

this is also another thought if i just introduce 4 at once and 2 pair off maybe the other 2 would go to the other side of the tank to avoid being killed off

 

[GARRIGA]

Don't they form harems in the wild? Perhaps buy from the same clutch and try it out. Only one way to find out.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

If you look for their clown harem tank it disappeared, no updates or anything, making me think it didnt turn out well O.O

They sold them or gave them away I can’t remember

But I know from others that I’ve read about its increased feeding to reduce aggression and lots and lots of nems

 

[Reefing_addiction]

this is also another thought if i just introduce 4 at once and 2 pair off maybe the other 2 would go to the other side of the tank to avoid being killed off

So the three I have 2 paired and the third is much smaller…. They do t pick on him and all three stay on the same side of the tank.

You will end up with a female, a dominant male, and two smaller males….i would definitely add all at the same time if possible. Would go maroon those can be jerks

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Don't they form harems in the wild? Perhaps buy from the same clutch and try it out. Only one way to find out.

Yes.

I plan to add 15-20 all from the same clutch when I do my nem tank

I believe 4 is doable…I did three in a 75

 

[PharmrJohn]

Don't they form harems in the wild? Perhaps buy from the same clutch and try it out. Only one way to find out.

I believe they do, but that's a special circumstance, right? I don't know. I think I'd be WWIII. Seriously, one pair would develope technology just to off the other!

 

[Maui The God]

So the three I have 2 paired and the third is much smaller…. They do t pick on him and all three stay on the same side of the tank.

You will end up with a female, a dominant male, and two smaller males….i would definitely add all at the same time if possible. Would go maroon those can be jerks

this is what id hope to happen. as far as maroons i hear all the timed that theyre jerks but on 3 serperate occasions and tanks ive never had issue.

Yes.

I plan to add 15-20 all from the same clutch when I do my nem tank

I believe 4 is doable…I did three in a 75

i would love to see this. i was keeping up with the BRS videos before it got taken down.

I believe they do, but that's a special circumstance, right? I don't know. I think I'd be WWIII. Seriously, one pair would develope technology just to off the other!

this topic is so interesting to me. because on one hand i can deal with WWIII with too many ocelaris....or deal with possible jerks with maroons. almost in a lose lose. i have a huge soft spot for maroons. overall i was hoping with a tank this size and heavy feedings plus plenty of anemoes would help aleviate aggression between both scenarios.

 

[GARRIGA]

this is what id hope to happen. as far as maroons i hear all the timed that theyre jerks but on 3 serperate occasions and tanks ive never had issue.


i would love to see this. i was keeping up with the BRS videos before it got taken down.


this topic is so interesting to me. because on one hand i can deal with WWIII with too many ocelaris....or deal with possible jerks with maroons. almost in a lose lose. i have a huge soft spot for maroons. overall i was hoping with a tank this size and heavy feedings plus plenty of anemoes would help aleviate aggression between both scenarios.

I’m also a fan of maroons and my pair were perfect roommates for months until newly introduced which was the smaller became the attached. Don’t know what happened but the resident eventually killed the new addition albeit months later. Neither harassed others and where in a 29g therefore not sure if they never paired off and for the most part tolerant of each other until tank was too small for both.

Gold Nuggets on my hit list. Not crazy about the semi peaceful bunch. Ocelaris and percula swimming makes me dizzy :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[littlefoxx]

So the three I have 2 paired and the third is much smaller…. They do t pick on him and all three stay on the same side of the tank.

You will end up with a female, a dominant male, and two smaller males….i would definitely add all at the same time if possible. Would go maroon those can be jerks

I had the same, my female flipped out and killed the male. She decided she wanted the tiny one and then did her shaking thing at him to claim him! Was wild.

 

[blecki]

Don't they form harems in the wild? Perhaps buy from the same clutch and try it out. Only one way to find out.

In the wild, the adult males can swim away to transition and start their own harem.

Anyway, the Ripley's aquarium in Myrtle Beach has a professionally maintained clownfish harem tank, but I believe they keep it going by periodically removing the adults and restocking little guys.

The virginia aquarium has one as well, but it's clarkiis, and it was basically 1000 gallons of btas for like 8 fish last time I was there.

 

[Maui The God]

I’m also a fan of maroons and my pair were perfect roommates for months until newly introduced which was the smaller became the attached. Don’t know what happened but the resident eventually killed the new addition albeit months later. Neither harassed others and where in a 29g therefore not sure if they never paired off and for the most part tolerant of each other until tank was too small for both.

Gold Nuggets on my hit list. Not crazy about the semi peaceful bunch. Ocelaris and percula swimming makes me dizzy :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

a gold nugget is one im dying to have. i dont have anything against ocelaris but with havbing mutliple tanks in the house with ocelaris in them i really want to go maroion for the big main tank

 

[littlefoxx]

a gold nugget is one im dying to have. i dont have anything against ocelaris but with havbing mutliple tanks in the house with ocelaris in them i really want to go maroion for the big main tank

I had a gold nugget for 2 years. His face turned a little gold but he just turned into a grayish yellowish fish with maroon fins… just letting you know! They dont look anything like pictures do. When he started getting the gold I totally thought he was turning gold but it just stopped… disappointing. Now the gold stipe maroons… beautiful