Tank mates for clowns

[RejectReefer]

So I really like my clowns...well how they host that is. I want to keep them. I also want to add more fish. Currently they get alone with a Bi-color blenny, Target Goby, Pygmy Angel, Yasha Hasa Goby, Stripped Goby, but attacked and killed two firefish I added. The clowns where the first thing in the tank.

what fish have you guys had luck with in regards to clowns? I'm thinking some cardinals or chromis?

 

[Ricko]

What size tank???

 

[RejectReefer]

29 gallon. with about sixty gallons of water in the system.

 

[leebca]

I assume by "clowns" you have at least two Anemonefishes in the 29 gallon aquarium. If the species is the smallest of all the species then the tank is fully stocked with 2. If the species are one of the larger Anemonefishes (like the Maroon), then the tank is overstocked.

It isn't just the volume of water that is important to marine ornamental fishes, but the area they can call their own AND the confines of the aquarium walls. The more water the more stable the system, but the display is what dictates what can live in that space.

You may wish to read more on stocking limits: Fish Stocking Limit – for FO and FOWLR

 

[reedman]

Also, if those clowns start to breed, watch out....they become very territorial. Mine would grab other fish by the tail and drag them away from their territory (and this is in an 80 gallon tank with false percs).

 

[returnofsid]

You have a pair of Clowns in with a Bi-color blenny, Target Goby, Pygmy Angel, Yasha Hasa Goby, and Stripped Goby in a 29? That's too many fish for a 55, let alone a 29. I agree with Lee, 2 of the smallest species of Clowns and that tank is FULL. If they're larger species like Clarki or Maroons, a 29 is too small for just 2.

 

[RejectReefer]

I hear you guys. But I have seen may people do may things that "break the rules"..... The clowns are about 2 1/2" combined. And yes I knew when I put then in there about their aggression issues. I also put them in there knowing that they would come out before two long of time passes. I have had great luck with them so far and they completely ignore their other tank mate. In the hyperlink from Lee it talks about being able to physically and mentally fit the bio-load in the display tank. Obviously the firefish where a bad idea in this regard but what fish have other people had luck with?

 

[RejectReefer]

alright you guys convinced me clowns are moving on out!

 

[leebca]

It really isn't unusual for hobbyists to 'break' the rules. They pay a lot of money for a tank and they want to put into it all those great looking marine lifeforms they see at the pet store, on TV, and in the movies. Those who sell the products avoid talking about how little should be kept in the aquarium at the time of the sale (and some don't even know the limits).

Then hobbyists find sites like this and learn the reality of just what can be comfortably supported in a display tank. The smaller aquariums do fairly well for a reef tank with no or just one or two marine fishes that remain small throughout their lives.

For most of the marine fishes a larger display is needed. So if you are serious about wanting to keep marine fishes and a variety of them in a community tank, you need to think about upgrading to a larger system.

Otherwise I would just keep one or two (of the smaller species) Anemonefish in the 29 and put in corals suitable for a small space. But if the Anemonefish is not to your liking, then you can put any fish in there that reaches no more than 3" when it is a full grown adult. The numbers of fish that match this requirement is limited, thus the above recommendation for keeping marine fishes and getting an upgrade.

The hobbyists who don't learn this end up shortening the life span of their fish and are in the hobby to get their fish to survive, rather than thrive.

Good luck!

 

[user 2204]

I know this thread is somewhat dead, but...here it is.

So this golden rule for inch of fish or thriving in as large of space etc etc is all great, but when I looked at getting my feet wet with a saltwater tank in the mid 90's I was always told you need a minimum of a 55 gallon for fo system.

Fast forward to 2004 and I find a newer craze that called "nano reef". I have since set up a 20 gallon and now a 7 gallon aquarium, the 20 gallon residents incude 2 false clowns, a royal gamma and a green banded goby. All those fish have done and are doing great in this tank for 4 years now and by years end will be moving to a 65 gallon tall tank.

Is my 20 gallon overstocked? Probably. Do the fish look and act healthy? Yes!!!
I've seen some of tanks in the 180-240 gallon range that people here have and when I see those people having 10-15 fishin those systems I ask myself, why doesn't anyoneconsider those tanks overstocked and crowded. 4 tangs, a school of chromis and a handful of other fish in a 240 gallon? I am sorry but not everyone has the room for a large aquarium to properly house mostof the fish AND corals that we have in our trade.

If anyone ever goes scuba diving in the reefs of the world you will really see that yes all the fish we keep do in fact have a much larger home that anyone can provide. But what we are doing is reefkeepinga very very small portion of the worlds ocean. No one should say they are an expert unless they have spent at least 20+ years studying the worlds ocean and also captive aquariums as well.

I'll jump off my soap box, sorry to step on toes with this post but like I mentioned I really get disgusted when someone tells me what I need to keep a reef alive.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[small alien]

There are rules and then there are recommendations. Keeping your SG between .21 and .26 isn't a matter of opinion. Nor is putting a tang in a 20g. But there are a lot of grey areas in this hobby and that's part of what makes it so interesting. If it works, it works. Stocking limits is one of the greyest areas IMO and there are many different opinions and experiences. I think it's okay to push limits in a thoughtful way, just don't be an eeediot.

 

[small alien]

I'll add that I have a scooter dragonet, a tailspot blenny, a yellow-banded possum wrasse, a trimma goby, a green-banded goby and a bengaii, all in a 20H. Each fish has it's own niche, from my observations and research, none of them needs a lot of swimming room and the bio-load is managable. Many would call my tank over-stocked (it was when I also added two juvi clowns in a moment of madness!) but I'd say it's just right.

 

[user 2204]

There are rules and then there are recommendations. Keeping your SG between .21 and .26 isn't a matter of opinion. Nor is putting a tang in a 20g. But there are a lot of grey areas in this hobby and that's part of what makes it so interesting. If it works, it works. Stocking limits is one of the greyest areas IMO and there are many different opinions and experiences. I think it's okay to push limits in a thoughtful way, just don't be an eeediot.

I would agree with you in all respects. I always recall those times when I go to those retail chain pet stores and see the teenager sales clerk recommending a tang for a 10 gallon tank. That is being as you put it... an eeediot.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[user 2204]

Also I should mention that I do use a large skimmer on my 20 Gallon and my 7 gallon tanks. I am also in the process of adding a 5 gallon refugium to the 7 gallon grow out tank for the extra water volume as well as all the other benefits that go with a fuge.

Cheers,
Alex