Putting Clowns Together

[bpal]

Hi. I am looking at getting 4 clown fish. Hopefully 2 pairs of each:

2 Ocellaris Clownfish
2 Black & White Percula Clownfish (or another type of b&w clown)

I have heard that clown can be quite territorial and once you had your clown not to add other clowns. If I’m to add to the Ocellaris one day and within a few days add the b&w clowns will I be ok or will they already bee aggressive?

Am I better to add them all in one day?

In the end I really want 2 normal clowns and 2 b&w clows.

Thanks in advanced.

 

[Mike612]

Hate to break it to you but I don't think you'll end up with 4 clowns in there, no matter how you add them. In a 54 gallon, or even in bigger tanks, the clowns will find each other and kill each other. Choose one of the two clowns, but do not add both species to the tank.

 

[TheJGMProject]

Choose only one pair, and have them inhabit your tank. 2 pairs in 54 will be a fight fest. You can always upgrade to a really really big tank though

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Percula and a Maroon together in my 100 gallon without any problem.

 

[Snowboarda42]

...2 pairs in 54 will be a fight fest...

"It'll be a Battle Royale"
-From the movie 'Accepted'

 

[trido]

I have a Percula and a Maroon together in my 100 gallon without any problem.

You and another friend of mine are the exception. My buddy has the same set up and the maroon does have the upper hand of the tank. The occelaris has been evicted from its home and sleeps in the corner of a BB tank. He also has a 120G. One major factor in both of the above cases is that the clowns are not paired.
I agree with the above posters. In a 54G two mated pairs will most likely fight to the death or something close to it. Eventually the less dominant will die of starvation or Ick caused from stress. Its not even worth trying IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Percula and a Maroon together in my 100 gallon without any problem.

You and another friend of mine are the exception. My buddy has the same set up and the maroon does have the upper hand of the tank. The occelaris has been evicted from its home and sleeps in the corner of a BB tank. He also has a 120G. One major factor in both of the above cases is that the clowns are not paired.
I agree with the above posters. In a 54G two mated pairs will most likely fight to the death or something close to it. Eventually the less dominant will die of starvation or Ick caused from stress. Its not even worth trying IMO.

I agree but in a bigger tank like my own I don't think there is a problem.......however ....my percula is out all the time well my maroon is very shy often not coming out till feeding time. I also have a Black Tigger,Koran Angel,and a Foxface Rabbit. They all get along very well.

 

[jumpincactus]

Maroons are the most aggressive of all the clowns. As trido said I have a maroon that is constanly banishing my occy and at times I fear it will kill occy.

the rule of thumb I found out in hindsight is a mated pair and never mix breeds. A tank with different breeds getting along is an exception and not the norm. and guess what??? Trying to root out a clown from a reef tank is a real bit** so choose carefully.

 

[Anonymous]

...2 pairs in 54 will be a fight fest...

"It'll be a Battle Royale"
-From the movie 'Accepted'

the biggest battle south harmon has ever seen 8O

 

[toastii]

i thought in the wild they are found in little colonies....
largest female-
second largest is breeding male
then the rest are like drones that just live with them and they decrease in size depending on place in social ladder...

why wouldnt the same thing happen in an aquarium?