Maroon clownfish

YoCamron · Feb 11, 2019

Hello everyone,

I have a 29 gallon biocube reef tank that is in search of a new fish. My fairy wrasse I had for 7 years unfortunately passed over the weekend

. I’ve always wanted a designer clown and due to me being at school I can not have another tank.

I have a maroon clown already that has been in the tank for 5 years, so I am looking for something I can add in the tank. Has anyone had success with adding a new clownfish with a long established clown? Don’t want to make a bad decision so just looking for some advice before I make a bad decision. Want to get a small lightning maroon or gold nugget to add with my large maroon clown. Please give me some suggestions and opinions. Thank you

Geebs19 · Feb 11, 2019

It’s going to be really hit or miss honestly. I had a maroon that wouldn’t let me add anything to the tank, but you could be lucky and it may work.

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 11, 2019

YoCamron said:
Hello everyone,

I have a 29 gallon biocube reef tank that is in search of a new fish. My fairy wrasse I had for 7 years unfortunately passed over the weekend . I’ve always wanted a designer clown and due to me being at school I can not have another tank.

I have a maroon clown already that has been in the tank for 5 years, so I am looking for something I can add in the tank. Has anyone had success with adding a new clownfish with a long established clown? Don’t want to make a bad decision so just looking for some advice before I make a bad decision. Want to get a small lightning maroon or gold nugget to add with my large maroon clown. Please give me some suggestions and opinions. Thank you

I've recently added two ocellaris clowns to a tank with a large bicinctus clown that had been in the tank for over three years. There seem to be no issues, but I would be hesitant to add another clown with an established maroon clownfish. I've read that they can be quite territorial and mean.

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 11, 2019

Having said all of that junk above, I did successfully add a maroon clown to an established tank with clarkii clowns about 15 years ago. There were seven or so BTAs in the 90 gallon tank, so there was little clown mischief going on at that point in time.

YoCamron · Feb 11, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
Having said all of that junk above, I did successfully add a maroon clown to an established tank with clarkii clowns about 15 years ago. There were seven or so BTAs in the 90 gallon tank, so there was little clown mischief going on at that point in time.

yea i am worried about mine since its a small tank and this one has been in here for a long time. the one i have is very territorially but i wonder if she would be fine with a mate

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 11, 2019

YoCamron said:
yea i am worried about mine since its a small tank and this one has been in here for a long time. the one i have is very territorially but i wonder if she would be fine with a mate

Depends on the size difference, I guess. I've heard they can be really mean even though I've never seen it personally.

YoCamron · Feb 11, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
Depends on the size difference, I guess. I've heard they can be really mean even though I've never seen it personally.

mine is very territorial with its anemone but thats it

davocean · Feb 11, 2019

You could add any type of maroon as long as it is still male, usually an inch and a quarter max or preferably smaller.

However there is no certainty she will accept it even if it is still a male, and sometimes they just won't accept certain males for some reason, sometimes it takes more than one try w/ different males.

Best way to intro is in a acclimation container of some kind so the new male is protected, and observe the females reaction, does she dart at it frantically wanting to kill it, or is she calm and curious.

I would float new clown a long time to let her get used to it, maybe a day or more.

In that size tank she may be more territorial, but I would at least try, who knows you may get lucky first try.

My meanest maroon took 3 tries w/ 3 different males, just fyi.

These are containers and attempts I've made for example.

HB AL · Feb 12, 2019

Size of tank is gonna make a big difference on how it works out probably not for the best if it’s small and the time your clown has already been there.

BestMomEver · Feb 12, 2019

davocean said:
You could add any type of maroon as long as it is still male, usually an inch and a quarter max or preferably smaller.

However there is no certainty she will accept it even if it is still a male, and sometimes they just won't accept certain males for some reason, sometimes it takes more than one try w/ different males.

Best way to intro is in a acclimation container of some kind so the new male is protected, and observe the females reaction, does she dart at it frantically wanting to kill it, or is she calm and curious.

I would float new clown a long time to let her get used to it, maybe a day or more.

In that size tank she may be more territorial, but I would at least try, who knows you may get lucky first try.

My meanest maroon took 3 tries w/ 3 different males, just fyi.

These are containers and attempts I've made for example.

Look at that face! She doesn’t look amused!!

SDK · Feb 12, 2019

+1 on the acclimation chamber. Back in the day I used plastic strawberry baskets to isolate the males. The two times I did this, it took several days, and I don't think any of the males I tried to introduce would have survived an hour just being dropped in.

In both cases it was pretty obvious once the female accepted the male, with pair behavior observed right through the "prison bars". If you are careful and observant, you should be able to pull it off without killing any males.

One caveat is that I never tried this in a tank as small as yours. Both cases for me were in a 6' long 125....

davocean · Feb 12, 2019

BestMomEver said:
Look at that face! She doesn’t look amused!!

Lol, maroons are the original grumpy cat!

But the fact I was able to even get a clear pic was a good sign, when she refused males she was swimming too frantic and fast to even get a pic.

You usually can tell if it's going to be cool or straight up refusal.

YoCamron · Feb 12, 2019

davocean said:
You could add any type of maroon as long as it is still male, usually an inch and a quarter max or preferably smaller.

However there is no certainty she will accept it even if it is still a male, and sometimes they just won't accept certain males for some reason, sometimes it takes more than one try w/ different males.

Best way to intro is in a acclimation container of some kind so the new male is protected, and observe the females reaction, does she dart at it frantically wanting to kill it, or is she calm and curious.

I would float new clown a long time to let her get used to it, maybe a day or more.

In that size tank she may be more territorial, but I would at least try, who knows you may get lucky first try.

My meanest maroon took 3 tries w/ 3 different males, just fyi.

These are containers and attempts I've made for example.

that container is genius. I am definitely considering a try, I think I am going to setup a 10 gallon tank just incase it doesn't work

YoCamron · Feb 12, 2019

davocean said:
Lol, maroons are the original grumpy cat!

But the fact I was able to even get a clear pic was a good sign, when she refused males she was swimming too frantic and fast to even get a pic.

You usually can tell if it's going to be cool or straight up refusal.

When I originally got this maroon I had ordered 2 at the same time and tried them in the same tank. This one bullied the hell out of the other I had so I had to move it to on of my other tanks. The problem is now I am in college so I am restricted to one tank, but I might be able to get away with a little 10 gallon