Fish Question

[opticparadox]

Ok, Slight run down of the situation. I have a 29 gallon biocube as my first tank. Im more into it for corals and anemones then fish, But i do want 2 clowns. Ive settled on True Percula and Ocellaris. Ive brought my pregnant wife to the reef shop (I know, bad idea) But she has fallen in love with the Bicolor Dottybacks. So needless to say you dont argue with a pregnant woman and my list has grown to 2 clowns and a dottyback. Ive been to numerous reef shops and i know they will always push what they have but i find it difficult to seak Unbaised opinions on the pairing of these fish. 50% of the shops say the dotty is to aggressive for the clowns that i need to get a royal gramma instead. The other 50% of the shops tell me get the dottyback because the Royal gramma is the more aggressive fish and might attack the clowns. Im in need of some help with this. If anyone can give me a hand please be free to. Id hate to spend a bunch on clowns and have a 10 dollar fish destroy them.

 

[Clay4AU]

has any of them told you that 2 different type clowns seldom ever get along?

I'd tell you to decide one 1 type of clown, get a pair and add them first. Check out the black ice clowns if you haven't seen them.
Next I'd go with what the pregnant lady wants just get one a good bit smaller than the clowns if you are worried.

I really don't have any experience with dottybacks or royal grammas so I can't really speak to their temperament.

 

[opticparadox]

has any of them told you that 2 different type clowns seldom ever get along?

I'd tell you to decide one 1 type of clown, get a pair and add them first. Check out the black ice clowns if you haven't seen them.
Next I'd go with what the pregnant lady wants just get one a good bit smaller than the clowns if you are worried.

I really don't have any experience with dottybacks or royal grammas so I can't really speak to their temperament.

Yea im completely new to all this. I come from freshwater so any info is always a plus. That was going to be another question. Decide which clowns would be best in a 29 gallon. My favorite is naturally a maroon gold, But EVERYONE says not to put 2 in the tank. So i turned to other clowns. Wife likes the picassos more then the blacks so im just trying to find i guess something like that.

 

[Saltgator]

IMO, if the clowns are together already and have been in the 29 Bio, the dottyback might OK. My to clowns (picassos) will not only defend their nem (or spot in qt atm) from my tang and angel, but charge me and my hand if I get too close. Clowns are tough, but I've had a neon dottyback try and pick a fight with a blue jaw trigger too. As long as the dottyback isn't competing with the clowns for a food source, I'd think you'll be OK. Btw, I've seen different types of clowns paired together before, such as tomatoes and sebaes, pink skunks and saddle backs, as well as others. I'd believe a perc and occ will be OK. GL





Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

 

[impur]

I'd get the 2 clowns first, then go with a royal gramma. Dottybacks can be nasty

 

[Mike&Terry]

I'd get the 2 clowns first, then go with a royal gramma. Dottybacks can be nasty

+1 Dottybacks are notoriously aggressive.

 

[opticparadox]

i appreciate it, For the purpose of appeasing my wife ill get the clowns put them in there wait a month then go get a dotty and toss it in. Ill just have to baby sit it and if i think it gets aggressive ill pull it out and put a royal Gramma in. Thanks for all the input. I do appreciate it.

 

[Trex]

I wouldn't be too concerned about mixing an ocellaris with a perc, they are so similar the only concern would be making sure that you have a female/male pair. With other clown species this would be a big concern, but not with those two;

This pair has been together for over a year,

 

[opticparadox]

I wouldn't be too concerned about mixing an ocellaris with a perc, they are so similar the only concern would be making sure that you have a female/male pair. With other clown species this would be a big concern, but not with those two;

This pair has been together for over a year,

Thats a good looking set of clowns.

 

[Trex]

Thank you -- the black and white is a tank raise ocellairs, and the other one is a wild caught Solomon Island perc (( used to be paired with another one, but lost the female when I left the screen off the top of the tank :( ))

 

[opticparadox]

Aww, Sorry to hear that.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I have two clowns and a bicolor dottyback. The dottyback rules the tank. I can't add any new shrimp or fish to the tank. I have a 55.

 

[chris13115]

Dottybacks are NASTY fish, I had a bicolor and ended up giving it back since it nearly killed my Scopas Tang (who is better now). I would reccomend adding the pair first and adding the most agressive fish last. Grammas arent too aggressive, but i would keep an eye on him to be safe.