Help me choose a clownfish, everyone!

[Anonymous]

Go with the maroons(gold stripes) man. I've had two pairs of them for awhile and they're awesome. The big females are the impressive ones they get really dark and about 5 inches max. The only Clowns that come close to Maroons are the Melanopus clowns which are almost equally cool.

 

[Anonymous]

Dustin,

I am interested in starting a species tank with a pair of Amphiprion ephippiumand several BTA's.

I can find only scant information on Amphiprion ephippium. From what I read their care and behavior should be similar to typical tomato clowns and they can reach 5.5" in length. Any links you can point me to about the fish, or any information you can share? I have never actually seen the fish, just read a bit about them. Would a pair be happy alone in a 50-70 gallon tank?

Also I see that Amphiprion ephippium is listed on the ORA website. Is there stock available for my LFS to purchase for me?

Thanks in advance,
Lee

A. ephippium were the first clowns I ever had. I think they would be perfectly fine in that tank size. They behave just like my tomato clown pair. Will bite the snot out of you if you get too close to their territory just like my tomatos. I think they are one of the prettiest clowns.

I have seen them listed as tank raised a few years ago at a LFS on the East coast I used to go to, so someone is breeding them.

 

[Anonymous]

I strugglesd with the same decision for almost a year before I bought my first and only clown so far. Got a False Perc. I have not regretted it. I read alot of books and articles proir to setting up my tank. I had read reports of agression with other clowns(they are damsels) so I concluded I would be safe keeping a Percula or a False Percula. I have had him for 9 months now and he doubled in size. He is constantly swimming back and forth and up and down the tank. He did not eat for the first week I had him and had been through tank leak disaster(had to dump him in my 100 without aclimating him) and a couple minicycles. I highly Recommend tank raised False Perculas. Have Fun!

 

[DustinDorton]

Sciguy - Care for the ephippiums is identical to tomato clowns, they are really bulletproof. A pair would be very happy in a 50 to 70 gallon tank. They dont need that much room, if you have an anemone in there, they wont stray more than a foot from it.

Right now we don't have any ephippiums.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you to all that replied.

Dustin,

I'd really like to stay with aquacultured ephippiums. Do you anticipate any availability in the next several months? Would it be possible for my LFS to get placed on a waiting list?

Thanks again,
Lee Morey

 

[DustinDorton]

I will find out how long it will be and get back to you. We stopped taking spawns from them for a while, but a few were set up recently.