For those who have/had clowns, do or did they get along?

[JayM]

Before ich wiped them out I had 5 assorted "designer" ocellaris clowns. All but the smallest of the bunch (a domino) got along great. I tried every trick in the book to get the little guy to settle down but finally had to re-home. He was just a jerk. I currently have a Mocha and a "standard" misbar and they get along great.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I had no choice but to introduce a pair of true perculas and a pair of black ocellaris into my new 270 not long ago and since they were previously in neighboring tanks, seeing each through the glass, I thought they'd be ok if introduced on opposite end of the tank. Worked great for 2-3 days, after that I was left with male percula and femal ocellaris.....living in separate tanks.

 

[Joe.D]

I have an Ocellaris (female) and a DaVinci. I lost a previous DaVinci to a carpet dive. When I added the current one she harassed him for a couple weeks, over a year later, they get along fine. Don’t bother anyone else and mind their own business near the back of the tank. They won’t go near anything that could possibly host them - BTA, couple of gonis, a few torches, nothing.

Good news, they haven’t been aggressive towards me either - no bites (yet).

 

[CKW]

Occasionally, I see people who struggle with clownfish fighting each other or fighting the other tank inhabitants. So I am curious if you have/had issues with clownfish fighting each other, or do they live peacefully in your tank? Photo Credit: Badfish83

I’ve had clowns for years (seems like a life time) I do like the activity and colors however they can be a pain in the…. Neck.
They more often than not are aggressive!!!
I have had them chase to the death tank mates. I’m seriously considering NOT having them in the future.

 

[beebot99]

My snowflakes are doing great.

I think the best advice I can give is to ensure there’s a slight size difference between them. This ensures they pair without much aggression.

Though I have seen some aggression, I’ve not witnessed any biting or any damage to the slightly smaller clown. Infact, the smaller one has already begun to show submission (doing the submission shaking) after only a couple weeks.

Some types are more aggressive then others, but by ensuring this slight size difference you help them determine the leader with minimal aggression necessary.

So long as you’re adding them young (both male/neutral), you avoid the chance of them both being female and just fighting to the death basically.

I expect this (soon to be) new pair will be breeding for me within the next few months after the dominant one transitions to female.

Clownfish are a super exciting and interesting species. Loads of articles and studies to read up on if that interests you

 

[beebot99]

And surprisingly they haven’t bitten me once. Which is more than can be said for some wild species I’ve encountered while Scubadiving. They actually hurt a lil bit.

 

[ieatbugman]

I have a pair of midnight clowns that get along fine now, they fought quite a bit with each other for half a year and now they are fine. They bite my hand repeatedly though

 

[ieatbugman]

And surprisingly they haven’t bitten me once. Which is more than can be said for some wild species I’ve encountered while Scubadiving. They actually hurt a lil bit.

It is very hard to mount a coral in a tank when a two inch long fish is repeatedly biting your hand

 

[ieatbugman]

personal experience, the female in the anemone is the real menace

 

[beebot99]

personal experience, the female in the anemone is the real menace

Ha. They look SO ready to attack any incoming hand haha.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have a pair of midnight clowns that get along fine now, they fought quite a bit with each other for half a year and now they are fine. They bite my hand repeatedly though

Bite them back; maybe they will quit biting you

 

[bruce337]

I have a pair for 2 years now..they WERE nice..now she's a B***H to everyone! The male is ehh..he likes to attack his reflection in the water surface... been 2 years still does it.

 

[ieatbugman]

Oh what wonderfully stupid hilarious fish these are

 

[Koty]

I have a fully grown female maroon and a smaller male. He is always hiding and trying to court her. She is the nastiest entity in my tank.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

My clowns are very peaceful. I’ve never seen them attack any other fish, or my hand!

same here. My last tank, I had two false perculas. In my current tank I have two Ocellaris clowns.
I haven't ever been bit once. If they do go after another fish, it's usually each other. but they hang out together all the time.

 

[X-37B]

Over the years clowns do better in pairs for me.
My last false perculas were breeding in a nem.
I have a maroon clown in my 170 and will transfer it to the the 50 when its up with a green bubbletip. I will try and introduce a smaller one once I get the nem.
I have had solo clowns that attack my hand in the past.

 

[ieatbugman]

I have a fully grown female maroon and a smaller male. He is always hiding and trying to court her. She is the nastiest entity in my tank.

 

[Wild1]

I got two Orange Clowns a couple of years ago. One turned into the female and doubled in size. The other one changed colors to black except for it's nose. They get along well and even had eggs a couple of times.