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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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07-22-2008, 09:51 PM
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#1
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squid
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando
Posts: 10
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2 different types of clown fish in the same tank?
Hello!
I am new to having a saltwater tank  But love it so far.
I was wondering if it's a bad idea to put two different types of clown fishes in the same tank? I started out small and have a 30 gallon tank with live rock and coral.
I have two peruculas' I think (bright orange and white stripped) and I love a pair of black clowns I see at my local store.
Is it a bad idea to put two different pairs in the same tank?
Thanks in advance!
Karla
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07-22-2008, 09:56 PM
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#2
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Welcome to TRT! 
As a general rule of thumb it is a bad idea although it can work with enough room. A 30g tank is way too small to try it in. 75g would be the minimum if the clowns had their territories in the far corners.
Of course if the clowns are of the same species, there is a better chance. Do you have a picture of your clowns so we could help you identify them?
The one in my avatar is a True Percula. The black bands are wide and in adults will often almost completely merge together with the next black band. There are also False Perculas that are often mistaken. Notice the width of the black bands separating the orange and white. The false percula will have VERY NARROW black lines if they exist at all. |
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07-22-2008, 10:03 PM
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#3
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SHARK
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 2,024
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sound like false percs. but eric's right i would try 2 different clowns in that sized tank
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Chris
chrischris not tomtom
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07-22-2008, 10:06 PM
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#4
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Here is another couple of pics of True Perculas:
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07-22-2008, 10:07 PM
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#5
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squid
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando
Posts: 10
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Thanks!! I am thrilled I found this forum! I will be a regular now as I am totally addicted to my new tank
That's what I thought. I the two clowns do have thin black lines - not as thick as the one in your avatar.
I will forget about the two other clowns - best not to chance it 
Another question - I do not have a book on the different fish yet but how can you tell a male clown from a female clown? One of my clowns is smaller then the other and is darker on top.
Thank you!! |
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07-22-2008, 10:09 PM
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#6
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SHARK
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 2,024
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ya i think this fourm is responsible for alot of money being spend in this hobby (but in a good way)
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Chris
chrischris not tomtom
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07-22-2008, 10:09 PM
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#7
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmykphoto
Thanks!! I am thrilled I found this forum! I will be a regular now as I am totally addicted to my new tank
That's what I thought. I the two clowns do have thin black lines - not as thick as the one in your avatar.
I will forget about the two other clowns - best not to chance it
Another question - I do not have a book on the different fish yet but how can you tell a male clown from a female clown? One of my clowns is smaller then the other and is darker on top.
Thank you!! |
The male will be the smaller of the two.
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07-22-2008, 10:11 PM
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#8
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Do you have any pics of your tank? We would love to see them.
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07-22-2008, 10:12 PM
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#9
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squid
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando
Posts: 10
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that's what I thought.... Thank you!
So, why are the false ones called "false" are they a lesser standard of clown? Just curious....
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07-22-2008, 10:13 PM
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#10
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squid
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando
Posts: 10
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I will take some pics in the morning. I am a pro photographer by trade so I will get some great shots tomorrow. Do I need to upload the photos to my server or can you upload photos here on the forum?
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07-22-2008, 10:16 PM
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#11
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmykphoto
that's what I thought.... Thank you!
So, why are the false ones called "false" are they a lesser standard of clown? Just curious....
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Not really sure how they got the names True and False Perculas.
They are scientifically known as Amphiprion Percula (True Percula) & Amphiprion Ocellaris (False Percula)
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07-22-2008, 10:17 PM
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#12
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmykphoto
I will take some pics in the morning. I am a pro photographer by trade so I will get some great shots tomorrow. Do I need to upload the photos to my server or can you upload photos here on the forum?
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We have a great gallery here or you can link the pics from your server of choice(for the most part). Looking forward to the pics.
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07-22-2008, 10:41 PM
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#13
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmykphoto
the different fish yet but how can you tell a male clown from a female clown? One of my clowns is smaller then the other and is darker on top.
Thank you!!
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One very good book on clownfish is: Clownfishes by Joyce D. Wilkerson
Anything you might want to know about them is in there.
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07-23-2008, 07:25 AM
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#14
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: TN, USA
Posts: 9,693
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Hi, Karla! Welcome to The Reef Tank!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmykphoto
Another question - I do not have a book on the different fish yet but how can you tell a male clown from a female clown? One of my clowns is smaller then the other and is darker on top.
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In a strange twist of marine biology, all clownfish are born male but the dominant one(s) become female and grow larger. The Wilkerson book is a good one and another that is good for all the common saltwater aquaria species is Marine Fishes by Scott Michael.
Dick
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07-23-2008, 07:33 AM
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#15
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spaceman spiff
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,636
Reviews: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmykphoto
that's what I thought.... Thank you!
So, why are the false ones called "false" are they a lesser standard of clown? Just curious....
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I never call them false percs, I just called them ocellaris. Not sure where the term game from.
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