[Medman]

I have a 125gallon reef that already has a pair of perculas that occupy one of my Ritteri's. I added a giant blue carpet anemone this week and I would like to put 1-2 clowns with it. Any ideas? Thanks

[David]

I have been studying up on clownfish lately as I hope to breed some and the general impression I get is that you will not be able to add any other clownfish species to your tank unless you like it lively in there. Maybe you might try adding some more juvinile percs if you want. I think it will work if they are small enough compared to the established pair. Are you sure they are percula's and not ocellaris? Let me know if you try this as I am considering doing the same thing.

[Medman]

Yep, they are true perc's. They both have thick black borders.

[mrok12]

I have read recently and spoke with the LFS. All sources say that you can add a several percs of different size and they will pair off but not too put in odd numbers. As far as I've been told these are the only clown fish that you can have multiple pairs of in one tank. Good luck!

MROK12

[BLUESMAN]

I have a pair of Saddlebacks and a pair of Cinnamon clowns in my 80g tank.They ignore each other most of the time.I also have a Yellow Tang to keep them in check.It seems to be working...1 month only so far.I keep the Anemones on different sides of the tank so that seems to be okay with the clowns.the Cinnamons appear to be the more aggressive of the two.I also have a pair of large Clarkiis that I would in no way put another type of clownfish with.......the female is not very nice to vistors.But I do hand feed her everyday.I also have another pair of cinnamons and currently 1 True Percula.....waiting to obtain another.

[David]

BLUESMAN- I hate to get picky but I really want to know... by 'two pair' do you mean four juvinile clownfish or two mature, adult, bonded pairs exibiting spawning behavior? Or is it somewhere in between? I am very interested in learning all I can about clowns and would appreciate all the dirty details if you don't mind. You have others as well, any breeding successes? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Ninong]

Originally posted by mrok12
I have read recently and spoke with the LFS. All sources say that you can add a several percs of different size and they will pair off but not too put in odd numbers. As far as I've been told these are the only clown fish that you can have multiple pairs of in one tank. Good luck!

MROK12

Well, not all sources, because here's one that definitely does not agree with that:

From Clownfishes by Joyce Wilkerson, page 66-- Amphiprion ocellaris are inordinately mild-mannered fish, and unlike other species in this genus, you can safely keep several A. ocellaris in the same tank; all other clownfishes are far less tolerant of the same species sharing their nesting area.

Maybe you are confusing Percula Clowns with Ocellaris Clowns?

There could be a problem with putting a Stichodactyla species in a 125-gal tank with a Heteractis magnifica. But now that it's a done deal, try to keep the two anemones as far away from each other as possible.

Ninong

[BLUESMAN]

David.......Yes I have both a pair of Cinnamon and saddleback clowns that are at adult stages and have been dancing with each other.I'll respond this afternoon on other topics.later....off to work!

[mrok12]

All SOURCES was in deference to the two above mentioned in this post. I believe that the LFS probably meant false percula. What is the most diffinitive way to determine if you are looking at a true percula or a false percula. I do not have access to the book clown fish as of yet so please advise. I plan on getting some false clownfish from a store near lansing michigan who gets theirs from ORA. NINONG PLEASE ADVISE!

MROK12

[mrok12]

All SOURCES was in deference to the two above mentioned in the previous post. I believe that the LFS probably meant false percula. What is the most diffinitive way to determine if you are looking at a true percula or a false percula. I do not have access to the book clown fish as of yet so please advise. I plan on getting some false clownfish from a store near lansing michigan who gets theirs from ORA. NINONG PLEASE ADVISE!

MROK12

[Ninong]

It is difficult to tell the difference between juvenile Amphiprion percula and juvenile A. ocellaris because the distinguishing heavy black markings on Percula Clowns do not begin to show until the fish are around 12 months old. You pretty much have to rely on the reputation of the seller since almost all clownfish from ORA or C-Quest are shipped as juveniles (4-6 months old for Ocellaris and 7-8 months old for Perculas). Ocellaris Clowns are easier to breed and mature faster than Perculas, sometimes completing metamorphosis in as little as six or seven days after hatching.

Percula Clowns will eventually get thicker black margins on their white bands and there is a difference in the number of dorsal spines and pectoral fin rays between the two species. Generally, Ocellaris Clowns have 11 dorsal spines while Perculas have 9 or 10, and generally Ocellaris Clowns have 17 pectoral rays while Perculas have 16. Mature Ocellaris Clowns are larger than mature Percula Clowns by at least 1/2 an inch to an inch. They also have slightly different swimming styles and Perculas are more likely to remain much closer to their anemone if there is one in the tank. Absent an anemone, Ocellaris Clowns will usually swim in the middle third (vertically) of an aquarium, while Percula Clowns will stay near the surface.

Of the two species, Perculas are the more agressive. Another interesting little quirk is that juvenile Percula Clowns will keep their top fins oriented towards the strongest light. If you move the lights from overhead to the side of the tank, they will stand on their heads to keep their top fins oriented towards the light source.

And, according to Wilkerson, it is easier to keep more than two Ocellaris Clowns in the same tank, although only one mature pair will develop unless you have a truly gigantic tank.

Ninong

P.S. - I'm sure that the LFS meant "False Percula" Clowns, too, but I'm not so sure they actually know what they are selling. One of the LFS around here sells Ocellaris Clowns which they call Percula Clowns all the time. They sell Clark's Clowns which they call Sebae Clowns (to go with their "Sebae" anemones). And they sells tons of cheap Condylactis gigantea anemones because they are local. The employees at this LFS have no idea whatsoever which clownfish will associate with which anemones. As far as they are concerned, if you see it and you want to buy it, it will work out just fine.

[Medman]

OK, looks like I better look at getting either a pair of Amphiprion percula's or a pair of A. ocellaris. Being I already have a pair of percula's should I stay with another pair of perc's? Second question: Do I release the new pair next to the blue carpet?

[Ninong]

I don't know what advice is appropriate at this point except to say that you should first determine exactly which species of carpet anemone you have since there are three species. You probably have S. gigantea. Here is a site that contains an entire e-book on anemones and clownfish: http://www.keil.ukans.edu/ebooks/intro.html

You may be in for a surprise when you check out the adult size of your new carpet anemone.

Ninong

[deepsix]

I have 3 clowns in the same tank. An ocellaris, true perc, and a clarkii. The ocellaris and perc would have nothing to do with my saddle and chose to hang out with the mushrooms. When I added the Clarkii, within 15 min it had taken to the saddle. All three get along just fine.

[Medman]

the final chapter... My blue carpet which I had gotten from ffexpress, gave up and died. I did everything I could think of, but it had no interest in eating, I tried silversides, krill, brine shrimp. But no luck finally lost it's suction. I really thought is was beautiful.....I would really like to have one, and can't think of what I could have done different.

[Ninong]

Medman ~

Sorry to hear that about your blue carpet anem. Here is an interesting thread that relates the experiences of several other hobbyists with these creatures: http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=34129

Ninong

[Medman]

Thanks Ninong, I don't know if I should be dissapointed in myself or that the trauma of overnight(fedex) travel ultimately lead to it's demise. I am angered at the thought of being in this hobby and killing live animals, but I know that there are circumstances that are out of my control. Thanks for the string on the blue carpet.

[Ninong]

Also, you have no way of knowing what accumulated trauma the anemone may have already been put through before you acquired it. Many of them do not survive the collection, handling and shipping process, although their ultimate demise may take several weeks.

Good luck with the one you still have.

Ninong