I want to get two clown fish for my tank. I see that there are many types, TR and from the reef. I would prefer non TR so they could have a better chance at hosting an anemone. So wut are the advantages of having a mated pair of clown fish? Or should a get two non mated?
Advantages of having mated clown fish???
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Welcome to TRT rt!!
IMO after running a LFS for couple years, the mated pairs are just so much more fun to watch, they pretty much stay together, especially if you can get two that will actually host with an anemonie.
The way they interact with each other is like no other fish. We sold many clownfish and it seemed to me that people who purchased only one at first and wanted to add another later, ended up being disappointed because not all the time will an established clownfish accept anoher in the tank. That is of course depending on the size of the tank.
Clownfihsh, when they are small, are a sexual. Meaning they really have no sex. If you get two, get one that is slightly larger than the other. The larger will be the more dominant and turn female. You should be careful not to get them too far apart in size, cuase one just might kck the crap out of the much smaller one.
I would highly reccomend you do research before buying. Do you know what type you might be getting?
IMO after running a LFS for couple years, the mated pairs are just so much more fun to watch, they pretty much stay together, especially if you can get two that will actually host with an anemonie.
The way they interact with each other is like no other fish. We sold many clownfish and it seemed to me that people who purchased only one at first and wanted to add another later, ended up being disappointed because not all the time will an established clownfish accept anoher in the tank. That is of course depending on the size of the tank.
Clownfihsh, when they are small, are a sexual. Meaning they really have no sex. If you get two, get one that is slightly larger than the other. The larger will be the more dominant and turn female. You should be careful not to get them too far apart in size, cuase one just might kck the crap out of the much smaller one.
I would highly reccomend you do research before buying. Do you know what type you might be getting?
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When I bought my TR Ocellaris there was a whole bunch on display in the tank.
I observed them for a while, and chose the smallest fish that was chasing around everybody else... as luck would have it, there was a bit larger clown (about 1/8" at the time) in the same tank that wouldn't swim away when he rushed at it, but instead held it's ground.
I picked up those two and they've been paired up ever since... the furthest they ever get apart is maybe 10", and usually once the other has realized their mate is moving further away they rush over to be with it.
My clowns are also hosting in my BTA, though they hosted with several other objects in my tank before deciding hte anemone was a good host.
The 'female' is now almost a 1/2" bigger than the male and they're doing great. It's a lot of fun watching them do 'clown' things.
I observed them for a while, and chose the smallest fish that was chasing around everybody else... as luck would have it, there was a bit larger clown (about 1/8" at the time) in the same tank that wouldn't swim away when he rushed at it, but instead held it's ground.
I picked up those two and they've been paired up ever since... the furthest they ever get apart is maybe 10", and usually once the other has realized their mate is moving further away they rush over to be with it.
My clowns are also hosting in my BTA, though they hosted with several other objects in my tank before deciding hte anemone was a good host.
The 'female' is now almost a 1/2" bigger than the male and they're doing great. It's a lot of fun watching them do 'clown' things.
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It's a toss-up for the most part from what I understand.
In my case, my clowns hosted with my MagFloat, then my Goniopora, then a Pink Tree coral, and finally the BTA.
The way I got them to move out of the tree to the BTA was to remove the tree coral and put the anemone where the tree coral had previously been growing.
They took to it within a day, but now they hate me. They used to not mind my hand in the tank, but now the male attacks my rings whenever he gets a chance.
In my case, my clowns hosted with my MagFloat, then my Goniopora, then a Pink Tree coral, and finally the BTA.
The way I got them to move out of the tree to the BTA was to remove the tree coral and put the anemone where the tree coral had previously been growing.
They took to it within a day, but now they hate me. They used to not mind my hand in the tank, but now the male attacks my rings whenever he gets a chance.
I might do a online order from www.themarinecenter.com on a mated pair of clowns for 32 dollars. Is this place trust worthy? And a do have a tree and a flower pot coral, so they might host that as well?
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I'm not familiar with them myself, but somebody else may have dealt with them in the past.
It's probably better to get your livestock locally, so you can pick out exactly which fish you want.
I got my clowns at PetCo (ugh) but that was the only LFS that carried ORA clownfish.
Also, I forgot to give you the official TRT welcome,
so,
Welcome to TRT! :beer:
It's probably better to get your livestock locally, so you can pick out exactly which fish you want.
I got my clowns at PetCo (ugh) but that was the only LFS that carried ORA clownfish.
Also, I forgot to give you the official TRT welcome,
so,
Welcome to TRT! :beer:
I agree with reef addict, find them locally, even if locally might be many miles from home. Observe the fish in the tank, watch them eat, be choosy on which you pick out. These little guys will bring you lots of laughs and entertainment. I personally like the colorations and personality of the True Per's myself. I found they are easier to host with an anemonie, or anything else they can find.
A good portion of the TR clowns don't have all their coloration or lines completely around their body. We ordered in from ORA, and just about everyone of them were mis bared. I understand this happens in captive bred clowns. Don't know if that's totally true, but from the many orders we received, it seemed to be true.
A good portion of the TR clowns don't have all their coloration or lines completely around their body. We ordered in from ORA, and just about everyone of them were mis bared. I understand this happens in captive bred clowns. Don't know if that's totally true, but from the many orders we received, it seemed to be true.
Just FWIW, flowerpots have horrible records in captivity. Don't feel like you have to "provide" a host - if the clown feels like it needs one, it'll pick one arbitrarily, which may change over time. I had a perc host with a Maxi-Jet once, and I currently have a maroon that hosts with some xenia. (I personally don't believe in keeping anemones - they're too difficult to keep - and to unpredictible for my tastes.)
Welcome, and do some research. There's a great book "Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson that explores the subject in home aquaria. It's an excellent book, and a valuable resource for would-be anemone keepers.
Danielle
Welcome, and do some research. There's a great book "Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson that explores the subject in home aquaria. It's an excellent book, and a valuable resource for would-be anemone keepers.
Danielle
Im w/ u mrs. smith, i would rather not keep an anemone. Thanks for the welcome. I would be better off picking two clowns from my LFS, one just a little bit bigger then the other? Or if i am lucky they might already have a mated pair. OO is it uncommon to find a mated pair in m LFS tanks? Say in the tank that he keeps all of them i see two clowns following each other, are they likely to be mated?
I have two damsels in my tank. One (Jenna) I've had since the beginning of time. She's mean, territiorial, and would chase any new fish I introduce into exhaustion, if my tomatoe clown (Rob) would let her.
I my case I have a tomatoe clown fish that has been in the tank longer than the Jenna. He's "owns" the tank, he's the boss (he even enforces fishie bedtimes). I added 3 green chromis and a purple pseudo chromi a few weeks ago. Within 3 days, Jenna had killed off one of the green chromies. Since that day, anytime Jenna messes with one of the new fish Rob will chase her into her corner and guard the smaller fish.
If you have had your damsels for any length of time, and if they are considerably larger than the clowns you introduce, then chances are there will be problems. Then size of you tank will also affect their aggression-- smaller tanks cause bigger turf wars. One way to aleviate this problem may be to rearrange your rock prior to adding the new fish. If the damsels are more concerned with their new surroundings, then they might leave the clowns alone long enough to feel comfortable defending their own territorry. . .
HTH, JMHO
I my case I have a tomatoe clown fish that has been in the tank longer than the Jenna. He's "owns" the tank, he's the boss (he even enforces fishie bedtimes). I added 3 green chromis and a purple pseudo chromi a few weeks ago. Within 3 days, Jenna had killed off one of the green chromies. Since that day, anytime Jenna messes with one of the new fish Rob will chase her into her corner and guard the smaller fish.
If you have had your damsels for any length of time, and if they are considerably larger than the clowns you introduce, then chances are there will be problems. Then size of you tank will also affect their aggression-- smaller tanks cause bigger turf wars. One way to aleviate this problem may be to rearrange your rock prior to adding the new fish. If the damsels are more concerned with their new surroundings, then they might leave the clowns alone long enough to feel comfortable defending their own territorry. . .
HTH, JMHO
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If you have 2 damsels in a 29g then you're going to have problems adding anything else.
I would take them back to make room for other more friendly community fish, but that's just me.
If you're attached to them then it may be a tough decision for you, but I think the first few times they kill anything else you add to your tank you'll wish you had gotten rid of them in the first place.
Some damsels seem to do okay with other fishes, but it's just in their nature to be mean... that's how they compete on the reef.
I would take them back to make room for other more friendly community fish, but that's just me.
If you're attached to them then it may be a tough decision for you, but I think the first few times they kill anything else you add to your tank you'll wish you had gotten rid of them in the first place.
Some damsels seem to do okay with other fishes, but it's just in their nature to be mean... that's how they compete on the reef.
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