how big of a tank do i need for clownfish??

[bluelagoon]

i'm going to be going to school here in 9 days, and my mom is trying to talk me into starting my first tank, since fish are all we're allowed to have. but we can also only have a 10 gallon tank. and i love clownfish, i already made my mom get a pink skunk in one of her tanks, and one that looks like nemo another (she has 3). so i was just wondering if i can have a clownfish, and what kind i can get. thx in advance for any advice!!

 

[snailheave]

a percula, or two.

 

[bigarn]

From my experience 2 percs or 2 occellaris(false percs) would be fine.

Check out the Nano Forum and see for yourself.

 

[skysmom]

how can you tell between false and true percs? Is there a fool proof way? The perc I got from my LFS was sold to me as a true, but the more I look at pics and such, I am wondering. However I have seen true percs that look like mine...
Oops, shouldn't have hijacked

 

[viper_930]

IMO a 10g would be too small for a pair of ocellaris, but perculas would be fine.
skysmom, ocellaris have less black around the white stripes and have a taller dorsal fin. Also, ocellaris have 11 dorsal spines and 17 pectoral rays, white percs have 10 dorsal spines and 16 pectoral rays, but this isn't always true. Do you have a pic of your clown? We can help you figure out which do you have.

 

[mr_bill]

Originally Posted by skysmom
how can you tell between false and true percs? Is there a fool proof way? The perc I got from my LFS was sold to me as a true, but the more I look at pics and such, I am wondering. However I have seen true percs that look like mine...
Oops, shouldn't have hijacked

"true percs" have larger more profound black markings, where as the ocellaris or false perc is alot more uniform. Nemo was a ocellaris I bet. :thinking:

 

[bluelagoon]

thanx a lot guys, that helps a lot!! my mom does a a percula in her ten gallon. he's still pretty small, we were talking about it today, and she said she would give me her 10 gallon tank and the live rock, and the equipment and clownfish. would i be able to put a second percula in w/ the 1st, and would they mate?