Number of clownfish

[JessKaye]

Hi everyone! Thanks for being so welcoming - I'm new to reefing and loving every minute.

My question is about peoples experience with having more than one pair of clownfish in their tank. From what I've read so far it seems that having more than one pair of clownfish can result in aggression when they get bigger? The reason I thought I would check is that my LFS is adamant that you can have two pairs of clownfish in a tank if they are all introduced as juveniles.

I have one juvenile pair that I've added to my 200L tank (currently the only fish that I have, with a couple of corals and small clean up crew - just introducing everything slow and steady to give the tank time to mature). I absolutely love clownfish, if having another pair is ethical and doable I'd love to, but not at the expense of the fish.

Thanks so much! Jess

 

[Reef Jedi]

Hi everyone! Thanks for being so welcoming - I'm new to reefing and loving every minute.

My question is about peoples experience with having more than one pair of clownfish in their tank. From what I've read so far it seems that having more than one pair of clownfish can result in aggression when they get bigger? The reason I thought I would check is that my LFS is adamant that you can have two pairs of clownfish in a tank if they are all introduced as juveniles.

I have one juvenile pair that I've added to my 200L tank (currently the only fish that I have, with a couple of corals and small clean up crew - just introducing everything slow and steady to give the tank time to mature). I absolutely love clownfish, if having another pair is ethical and doable I'd love to, but not at the expense of the fish.

Thanks so much! Jess

In a tank this size I wouldn’t do it. I know some people have gotten away with it on 6 ft tanks but not this size. Eventually they will bully and push off the two that are not worthy and you’ll end up having 2.

In larger tanks, there’s enough room that if one comes into a territorial area, they can swim away and be fine. If I remember clowns will stop the chase after 2 feet or so once the “threat” has left its territory. Don’t quote me in all this but from what I’ve researched this is what comes to mind.

Additionally if there’s a bunch of anemones and enough food it may work. But establishing the territories may be a rocky road. I currently have a 105g that has over 60 anemones in it. I have constantly thought about introducing a bunch of clowns. But I have a feeling the pair already in there will dominate any newcomers.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone! Thanks for being so welcoming - I'm new to reefing and loving every minute.

My question is about peoples experience with having more than one pair of clownfish in their tank. From what I've read so far it seems that having more than one pair of clownfish can result in aggression when they get bigger? The reason I thought I would check is that my LFS is adamant that you can have two pairs of clownfish in a tank if they are all introduced as juveniles.

I have one juvenile pair that I've added to my 200L tank (currently the only fish that I have, with a couple of corals and small clean up crew - just introducing everything slow and steady to give the tank time to mature). I absolutely love clownfish, if having another pair is ethical and doable I'd love to, but not at the expense of the fish.

Thanks so much! Jess

I have 8 in a 400g, formerly in my 600g and I started with 16 and looked for pairs which i got 5 pairs, but clowns especially when breeding are very territorials and protective of an area of the tank and will even bite the owners hand.