Single clown = peaceful?

[christinna77]

Pretty much everyone keeps asking when I'm going to get a clown for my new 75 gal. My answer would be never, because I don't like how territorial and aggressive they can get. That said, I've heard single clowns can be quite mellow and even form bonds with other fish in the tank. I'm trying to maintain a peaceful setup for my tilefish, so it's important the clown doesn't turn into a jerk. What's your experience with keeping a single clown without an anemone? Which species is the best? (I've heard ocellaris?)

 

[bluemon]

Pretty much everyone keeps asking when I'm going to get a clown for my new 75 gal. My answer would be never, because I don't like how territorial and aggressive they can get. That said, I've heard single clowns can be quite mellow and even form bonds with other fish in the tank. I'm trying to maintain a peaceful setup for my tilefish, so it's important the clown doesn't turn into a jerk. What's your experience with keeping a single clown without an anemone? Which species is the best? (I've heard ocellaris?)

Even single clowns can be aggressive, especially without an anemone.

Oscellaris is a safe bet though

 

[christinna77]

Even single clowns can be aggressive, especially without an anemone.

Oscellaris is a safe bet though

Thanks! I always thought if there was no anemone to host them, they wouldn't feel the need to be as territorial, and would swim around more in general too

 

[bluemon]

Even single clowns can be aggressive, especially without an anemone.

Oscellaris is a safe bet though

Thanks! I always thought if there was no anemone to host them, they wouldn't feel the need to be as territorial, and would swim around more in general too

Yea I feel they “mellow” a bit with an anemone but not always.
Especially with some of the meaner clowns like Maroons

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I personally never had issues with my Picasso clowns being aggressive!

 

[W31Olds]

I have had one lone percula about 2" now in my 180 gallon system for about a year with other fish and is not aggressive at all and he swims all around my tank. Main reason I never wanted a mated pair.
"

 

[EricR]

I've had my solo (now female) Ocellaris clown for 4 years, since juvenile.
Was peaceful to other fish and never bit me for the first 2 years or so.

She's not a holy terror or anything but definitely has gotten more aggressive -- hand biting (of course) and faces off with my tailspot blenny, including sneak charges from behind the blenny's barnacle cluster.

*no anemone and just one sample

 

[ScottJ]

I had a Darwin clown who was like a pitbull. Couldn't even get near the tank without her attacking me. She was a single also. But then I have an oscillaris who's as nice as can be. Also a single. Never bothers anybody. So it's a toss-up I think.

 

[X-37B]

It can also depend on the other fish in the system, imo. I have a maroon clown, my favorite, in my 150. 8 other fish. The maroon is quite peaceful by itself and getting big.
My system has been up for 14 months and the clown has been in it for 1 year.

 

[christinna77]

Awesome, thanks everyone for your input! I might try a single Ocellaris, and see how it goes. Maroons are my favorite, but I feel like I'm not gonna get lucky to have a nice individual