*best* clown pair that will be fine without an anemone?...

[drew_tt]

I know clowns dont need anemones, but I know they do make them happy.
is there a species of clown that does not associate with anemones in the wild?
Its very difficult for me to get any sort of tank-raised species around here, and I wont mail order...
I really wanted a pair of tomato clowns or maybe a pair of maroons for my 90... I know tomatoes do much better with an anemone [yes, I know they dont {need} it...]... what about maroons?
I dont really like percs, false percs, or the saddlebacks...
any ideas?
thanks,
Drew

 

[tacks]

You've got the right idea. Tank raised is the way to go. On-line ordering isn't as bad as you might think.

 

[krusk]

Get a pair of Clown Trigger <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
just kidding, any clowns will do, although Marroon is harder to pair up.

 

[brian'sreef]

yes indeed any clowns can do fine without an anemone.. and pairing up any mature pair of clowns isn't a very easy job. G.S. maroons are a very beautiful fish and are fairly hardy ..they also do quite well without an anemone.. a nice easy way to go if you can't find a pair anywhere is find an lfs that TR's them . purchase a juvenile pair and in the end one will become male and one will become female..nice how that works...plus it's always cool to watch a fish grow froma very young age.. to further answer your question.. pretty much any clowns will be ok without a host anemone..
Brian

 

[moby da goby]

I had two tank raised percs that paired up. They generally hung out in the top corner of the tank but would actually defend that area. Not that a little 1" fish could defend much but it was funny watching them zip after a 3" tang.

 

[fish for life.]

I was checking out some pecs at the lfs yesterday, a small school from the wild and a small school that were bred. I couldn't help noticing the brillant color of the wild fish compared to those that were tank raised. Is this normal? They were all young, 1".

 

[drew_tt]

I really do like tomatoes...
all Ive seen around here [without having to mailorder] are tank-raised false/true percs.
I might go with the ocellaris, but...
has anyone had any experience with tomatoes w/o an anemone?...
Drew

 

[dpittman]

I'm partial to the Maroons - big size, beautiful colors, hardy - I go back and forth on the white or gold stripe versions. Pairs can be hard to find. If you get two tank raised REAL small ones you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[brian'sreef]

tomatoes do fine without an anemone..get a good pair and you'll have no worries at my lfs we have a lot of clowns 90% of which are not in with anemones for breeding purposes.. among them tomatoes.. if you like tomatoes get tomatoes.. it's your choice..i agree though and am also partial to maroons.. but only gold striped.
Brian