[Be-a-Reefer]

How many Maroon Clowns can i fit in my 55 gallon. I have 2 in there so far and about 47 Pounds of live rock. I want to have kind of like a school of them. I need your thoughts!

Thanks for your Time
Travis

[the_blue_tuna]

I think you would be better to consider some Chromis or maybe some Cardinals. The Maroon is among the most aggressive of the clowns and usually a pair is all that will work. Cardinals are very docile and easy keepers. Chromis will sometimes "school" but are also a very easy community fish. Whatever you decide , try to stick with an odd number of fish as they will get along better.

[Be-a-Reefer]

Ive always wanted to try cardinals! Are they very hmmm active among a reef? I have tons of hiding places.... my clowns wont bully them will they? One more thing. DO the breed easy?

Thanks for your suggestions
Travis

[Skunk Clown]

maroon clowns will defend what they consider their territory...... cardinals are not active...

[the_blue_tuna]

As SC said the clowns will defend ther own territory. This should not pose a major problem though as usually the clowns also stay in that territory. You would want to introduce them into a dark or dimly lit tank as this does help. The Cardinals are not very active . They put themselves out for display , swimming very slowly in plain sight. I would not say any marine fish is an easier breeder , when comparing to freshwater fish , but people have had success with captive breeding with both Clowns and Cardinals.

[Bughead]

Personally, I wouldn't put more than one pair of maroons in the tank. Three years ago I tried to mate two baby maroons in a 100 gal tank. I rescued one little beat up guy just in the nick of time. I've since mated the remaining maroon in the 55 gal reef with a much, much smaller clown. But even tho the couple's territory only takes up about a square foot of area on the right side of the tank, I don't dare put any more maroons or any other type of clown in that tank. Janine would have them for breakfast, and bring a few scraps to her tiny husband.

As far as the cardinals, if you're talking about Benggai cardinals, again, you'd better stick to just one pair. I tried to breed these a couple of years ago and thought if I'd get 4 or 5, they'd pair off and I wouldn't have to worry about getting a male and a female. But what happened is they killed each other until only a single pair was left.

So my suggestion is one pair each. good Luck.