Thoughts on clowns

[fishfanny79]

I initially wanted an aggressive tank (puffer, lionfish and trigger) but have since thought it through and would rather have a nice reef tank with some cute little 'nice' fishies. What I was wondering is, since it is not smart to introduce an anemone to a new tank for a LONG time (year or so)...what will the clowns do, live on, play around? I have been led to believe that clowns NEED the anemone for protection and what have you. Clowns are reef safe, but is this still the case without the presence of an anemone?

 

[pstanley]

Clowns will do fine without anemones. They don't need them to survive...in fact many will choose not to use one in a tank full of them.

 

[slothy]

i just bought pair of percs (tank raised), they seem to like it in my frogspawn

 

[stacyt]

I have had my pair of false percs for almost a year, with no anemone. They seem to be very happy.

 

[clown jr]

i have 2 true percs from the wild with a bta for months now, and they havent moved in. they have other areas where they stake out land and call it home. they enjoy the coral polyps and the caves i have. a pair is also great. if you want a pair, get them small 3/4" - 1" because then they are sexually undeveloped and will pair off and one will become a male, the other female will be more aggressive and larger. they dont need an anemone, theyll be happy without.

 

[hnf2k]

i think i have a pair...not sure...one is a bit bigger than the other. and they always stay next to each other...like each others shadows...this a pair?

 

[donkeykong]

It sounds like you got a pair for the simple fact that they are not fighting to the death. My 2 percs are fine w/o an anemone and they have been with me for several months. They really like to swim right in front of my rio600 and be pushed sideways across the tank, it is the coolest thing to watch.

 

[jumpfrog]

My perc is perfectly content without an anemone. He hangs out by the bubble coral right before lights out and spends the night next to it. Also will occassionally feed the coral but for the most part roams the tank during the day.
Good Luck in your choice(s)!

 

[fishfanny79]

Thanks a ton for the responses...sounds like the clows are just that...clowns! They have nice personalities huh? What are the best types of clowns? I don't really like the tomato too much, (if that is the one with 1 stripe) I am not sure what the difference is between a false and a true... So you say get 2 that are very young, and what else would you suggest I get with them? Not yet of course, but down the line. Something that is cute, playful, has a personality, is reef safe and does not eat verts or gets harmed by verts...
I don't have my book yet (Concientous Marine Aqquarist) yet. Once I get that, I'll know my compatibility...but just like your guys and gals input on what you have had work, not work. Especially since its a smaller tank (55 gallon)...I don't want anyone that will be mean!

 

[memnoch]

True perculas have a wider black stripe between the orange and white bands. The false perculas, actually ocellaris clowns, have a very thin black stripe between the orange and white bands. The ocellaris i believe grow to be the larger of the two species. I have an ocellaris clown in tank with a six-line wrasse and a purple firefish. These inhabitants get along well once the clown establishes it's territory. After it realizes the other fish are not a threat all is good. These fish are reef safe and also have a lot of personality. I tried adding a bi-color pseudochromis, which I found out is actually a basslet, that didn't get along too well with the others. I think if i add another fish it will be another ocellaris clown, they are very cool fish. My .02.

 

[fishfanny79]

Still waiting on my book...should be here tomorrow! I went to all of the book stores around me, and no one had it in stock. The Conscientous Marine Aquarist will be my new bible.
My next question is, with clowns, crabs, stars...I hope to have all inverts really, and with the other 'nice playing' fish, would I be ok to get ANY kind of eel for my 55 gallon reef tank?

 

[fishfanny79]

Almost forgot...what I REALLY want to have is a Scooter Blenny...very cool looking. Will he go along with any kind of eel, or crab/star/snail etc?

 

[memnoch]

FishFanNY,
I agree with you that eels are WAY cool. However i would discourage you from putting one in a tank with inverts such as shrimp....that is unless you don't mind continuously purchasing shrimp. The eel will eat anything that will fit in it's mouth. I say get the eel you want, but put it in an 'aggressive' setup FOWLR.
My .02