Clown Fishes

[SnowManSnow]

I was wanting to add a clown to my 37 gallon tank. What kind is recommended for hartiness, and compatibility. I have 2 yellow tail damsels, and 1 domino in the tank. (really a docile mix).

thanks

B.

 

[sslarison]

Tank raised Percula. Cant beat em.

 

[Juck]

Do you have/plan on any specific anemone for the tank?

 

[SnowManSnow]

not for now Juck... I'm afraid my lighting would be insufficient for an anemone I'm shooting 130W at 24 inches deep for now. I'm working on building my coral collection though... softs of course

 

[Anonymous]

A domino won't be docile for long...

But yeah, perculas and ocellaris clowns are your best bet. Small, super peaceful, and readily available captively bred.

 

[Juck]

Well,,, like sslarison said,,, Percs are hard to beat for mild temperament and personality,, though I think many tank-raised fish these days look drab and colorless compared to wild caught,, maybe that's just me.

I have a Darwin Oscellaris and a Standard Oscellaris paired up,,, and I have a juvenile pair of Black Percs which are gorgeous.

I've been looking for a nice young pair of Fire Clowns for months but can never seem to find them,, I can't understand why this fish isn't more popular.

I kept an LTA for about a year in a 37g with 110 watts of PC and it seemed to do fine, though it didn't grow much.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Pardon my ignorace, but what's an LTA?
Thanks,
B.

 

[Juck]

Long Tentacled Anemone

 

[SnowManSnow]

Ahhhh you mean the Macrodactyla doreensis... haha.. you'll have to pardon me.. I just got my copies of the Reef Aquarium ..J. Sprung...Dont LTAs get pretty big!? hmmmm..... ORRRR maybe that would be a good excuse to upgrade aquariums haha.
Will these guys plant on a rock high in the column? or do they like the substrate?

 

[Anonymous]

They like to bury their foot in the sand. Under 130 watts PC I would suggest a BTA or bubble tip anemone.

 

[Anonymous]

Dont LTAs get pretty big!? ?

A happy LTA gets HUGE!

Bubble tip, E. quadricolor, is a much better choice for your situation.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I'll check out some bubble tipps... but I'm still concerned.... will he be ok at 130w? I assume I need a moderate water flow too... which isnt much of a problem

 

[charlie_g]

My clowns have been happy hosting in a Alveopora for years. I've also had them host in a finger leather. They'll host almost anywhere from what i've found. Although I do keep LTA's in my grow out tank...

 

[shr00m]

i have to disagree with the tank raised thing... i have a pair of tank raised false perculas and they are super bright neon orange.... it varies from group to group, its all genetics....

 

[_range_]

Snow I'm runnning a 20long (30x12x12) with 130w of PC and my BTA is thriving, stays around the midshelf.

 

[Juck]

i have to disagree with the tank raised thing... i have a pair of tank raised false perculas and they are super bright neon orange.... it varies from group to group, its all genetics....

Lucky you. When I see a tankful of ORA Oscellaris these days I keep on walking,,, they just don't look as good as they used to,,, maybe it's just the LFS' I've visited,, maybe it's poor broodstock,, I don't know,, it's just an observation,, I'm not dissing your fish.

I'll take a good-looking wild-caught fish over a pale, paper-thin & misbarred tank-raised fish every time.

 

[shr00m]

definitley... i wish i could get a pic of my fish but the bastards move so much its just impossible to get a good shot of the clowns.

 

[ElMonoCalvo]

If and when you do get a clownfish, keep an eye on aggressive behavior from the Domino. I have a maroon clown that I added at the same time as a Domino and they got along great for about 6-8 months but one day the Domino just got angry and laid into the clownfish pretty good. I found him lodged up behind the powerhead, fins all tore up and breathing heavy. Maroon's are supposed to be aggressive but it took a beating that day from the smaller Domino. Needless to say the Domino went back to the LFS, the clown recovered and my tank is a much happier place today.

 

[SnowManSnow]

RANGE.. the only difference is that my tank is twice as tall.. but covers the same footprint.. thats why I was concerned about the BTA doing ok...

have a good one!

 

[SnowManSnow]

How bout a Saddle Anemone? Is my lighting intense enough?