Reef Discussion

[Dean Lovett]

Hey all, I'd like to get your thoughts on whether or not it would be suitable for me to get another fish for my tank.

Ill give you a background:
63 L tank.
About 5-6 kg of Live rock.

Fish:
Ocellaris Clown.
Bicolour Blenny.

Inverts:
2 Peppermint Shrimp.
Indian Sea Star.
2 Hermit Crabs.
Stromb Snail

Corals:
Duncans.
2 Torch Corals
Hammer Coral
Blue Cespitularia.
Toadstool
Ricodea.
Button Coral (Donut coral)

 

[Agent M]

I personally wouldn't. I think the fish you have are probably happy currently but you don't want to overcrowd them in a small tank. Getting the single clown a mate could be worthwhile to add another dimension to its life, provided your parameters are in check, but other than that I would leave things as they are or go bigger!

 

[Dean Lovett]

I personally wouldn't. I think the fish you have are probably happy currently but you don't want to overcrowd them in a small tank. Getting the single clown a mate could be worthwhile to add another dimension to its life, provided your parameters are in check, but other than that I would leave things as they are or go bigger!

I was thinking about getting the clown a mate, I feel sorry for him because the blenny just darts around and the clown tries to follow him but he just can't.

 

[lukusis]

the blenny just darts around and the clown tries to follow him but he just can't.

That may be why the Blenny is darting around :p


Meaning clownfish can get fairly aggressive (mine for example, is an utter psycopath!)

 

[Tannum_Paul]

Depends on the fish/bio load brings with it. A chromis adds nothing, a grouper adds a lot.

Another clown for sure , but even pipefish, box fish, baby cowfish, dartfish, you get the idea small.

Do check and be careful of conflict.

 

[Agent M]

I was thinking about getting the clown a mate, I feel sorry for him because the blenny just darts around and the clown tries to follow him but he just can't.

You won't regret it, you'll get to see a whole other side to clownfish that you wouldn't see with just one.

 

[Tannum_Paul]

You won't regret it, you'll get to see a whole other side to clownfish that you wouldn't see with just one.

Yeah because there will be 4 sides 2 of which you have not seen yet.

I suggest mandarin if you have been setup a while and don't mind finding live black worm!

 

[daveH]

Just so long as the 2 clowns don't gang up on the Blenny. Once they become a pair they do like to control their part of the tank.

 

[curly747]

I would get another clown and that would be it. I have read that if you get one that is a bit bigger or a bit smaller than the existing one you have less chance of conflict and more chance of pairing.

 

[ReeferRob]

Just so long as the 2 clowns don't gang up on the Blenny. Once they become a pair they do like to control their part of the tank.

This is certainly a possibility, but in both M and my cubes it's not been the case. I don't know if they know the blennies don't compete with them for food or what, but it's like they're buddies. My Orange skunks hang out with Little Moe and her Perculas used to hang out with Buddha. Now they are little shits with the Royal Gramma, they don't get on well at all if he comes near their anemone patch. If they spawn, all bets are off and you'll see a level of aggression that's brutal.

 

[Dean Lovett]

So if I get another clown, should I get a clown that is the same colour as my current one or would a orange one would be okay?

 

[daveH]

So if I get another clown, should I get a clown that is the same colour as my current one or would a orange one would be okay?

I'd be getting the same

 

[Tannum_Paul]

Same type but can be different colour variant. Just make sure the one you get is very noticeably a different size smaller! Otherwise it could be a death match!

 

[Buddy]

So if I get another clown, should I get a clown that is the same colour as my current one or would a orange one would be okay?

Have you got a black occy clown? If so, get another clown that is smaller. You could get an orange occy if you like.

 

[ReeferRob]

I like pairs of the same type, mixing clowns, especially wild caught clowns is a recipe for disaster. The Clarki complex are the worst for this, screw up and put a true Sebae in with a Clarki and scales will fly, Perculas and skunks are less aggressive, but they will still go full asshole if given 1/2 a chance.