Stocking clownfish - how many, in what order?

[Gort]

I plan to add some clown fish as my first stock in the Solana 34. I'm getting some mixed messages from various sources. I had hoped to have a mixed pair - a black ocellaris and another of the "normal" coloration. If I'm unable to acquire them together - and close to the same age /size - what are the caveats? I have several options open just now; adopting a single from the classifieds, an older single from an LFS etc..

I've heard that one should be slightly larger, also heard I could (and then that I should not) keep a group of 3. It gets confusing. :fear:

 

[NWDiver]

If all of the ocellaris you add are known to be very young (size is NOT always a good indicator) and they have not yet sexed, then you can sometimes get away with three. One will become female, one male, and one will remain sexually immature. Sometimes the paired fish will kill the extra, but not always.
If you add fish of unknown sex, you will almost certainly have problems unless the tank is large or you are very lucky.
The larger of a pair is female, but if you don't know the history of the fish you could end up with two females and that is always bad in a small tank.
A fish that has sexed female early, will still be small and you could easily end up with two females, one smaller than the other.

 

[Gort]

If all of the ocellaris you add are known to be very young (size is NOT always a good indicator) and they have not yet sexed, then you can sometimes get away with three. One will become female, one male, and one will remain sexually immature. Sometimes the paired fish will kill the extra, but not always.
If you add fish of unknown sex, you will almost certainly have problems unless the tank is large or you are very lucky.
The larger of a pair is female, but if you don't know the history of the fish you could end up with two females and that is always bad in a small tank.
A fish that has sexed female early, will still be small and you could easily end up with two females, one smaller than the other.

Thanks for your detailed reply - that definitely helps a lot. Keeps me from making a mistake that could be detrimental to the animals. If you have time soon, I'd like to discuss further via IM.