Do Clowns Need Anemones?

[justdavidp]

Subject line says it all...
I'm setting up a small tank (29 Gallon). My son would like Percula or False Percula. Do they really need an anemone to be happy?
Thanks in advance.
David

 

[piccasotrigger]

I dont think they really need and anenome it would be nice but in the wild they just use it for protection in the aquarium they dont really need protection. It would be nice but is not really neccesary.

 

[kev]

Nope, clowns don't need an anenome in the home aquarium. I just got a pair of false percs today and I love them! They have allrdy eaten, and they have been in the tank for only an hour. Make sure that when/if you get one/a pair, that they are fat and healthy. Usually the people that have trouble with them buy the ones that are very thin and diseased. I have had trouble keeping percs in my tank in the past, they were all really skinny, and I suspect that they had the brookenellya(sp?) aka clownfish disease. Today I found me a nice fat pair and so far they are doing great. If your going to get an anenome, make sure that your tank has been running for at least 6 months, and that you have the correct lighting. Even then, anenomes most often die after a period of a few months in peoples tanks. So I would skip them unless you know all the ins and outs of a reef tank.

 

[dfishh]

hey kev,
Does ur lionfish leave the percs alone, cuz i always wanted a lionfish, alos does it eat ur inverts?
another thing, i herd that different species of clowns fought, r urs doing ok together(tomato and percs)
DAVE

 

[kev]

I dont have them all mixed together in the same tank. My lion and and tang are in the 55, my tomato is in the 20, and my percs are in the 10. I'm still trying to think of other fish to add to my tanks at this stage. I'm starting to think that I should put the pair of percs in the 20, and put the single tomato in the 10, im not sure though yet...