Proper way to add clowns?

Putty · 12/27/2011, 07:53 AM

I had one Tomato Clown. I was in a store yesterday that had a nice mating pair of Tomato Clowns. Really good sized ones. Store told me they've laid lots of eggs in the tank they had them in.
I got them home and once I put them in(one was really orange and the other was a blackish orange), I watched them for a second and then walked off to do some other things. I came back and the blackish one was where I could see him and he appeared to have quite a bit of marks on his side. I figured it was from the transport. As I was standing there, the original clown I had latched on to it pretty good. Had never seen such a fight between fish. I immediately grabbed two nets and went in to get the original one out. Even while trying to catch him he was attacking the new one. I caught it and put in a bucket. I gave him to a friend. The other clowns settled down. I turned the light off. This morning they were paired up and swimming around together.
Clearly I can't add any more tomato's to my tank. Can I have any other clowns at all?

Thanks!

567234ta · 12/27/2011, 08:22 AM

depends on the size of your tank, but basically no. I have 2 mating pairs of clowns in the same tank, but they are used to each other and were in the same tank already. So there are exceptions, but it isn't a good idea unless you like dead fish.

Putty · 12/27/2011, 08:42 AM

Well, I have the mating pair in there now. I removed the single Tomato I had in there from the start.

WetShepherd · 12/27/2011, 11:27 AM

The mated pair aren't going to tolerate another clown within 35 to 50g of their 'nest'. If you have less space, then that pretty much means the tank. If they actually have eggs, they may become less tolerant of other fish as well - not surprising as those eggs will be food to plenty of other species.

Good job getting the other fish out and I'm glad you could get a new home for him so quickly. Good luck with the new fish and be sure to check out the Clownfish sub-forum if you haven't already

racedout · 12/27/2011, 11:35 AM

Yeah glad you got him out safely. No way they will tolerate another clown that close by.

Deacon · 12/27/2011, 02:11 PM

One clown or a mated pair or none at all. Any other combination doesn't seem to work, IME.

The look so cute and friendly, but clowns can be mean old b------s.

Putty · 12/27/2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon

One clown or a mated pair or none at all. Any other combination doesn't seem to work, IME.

The look so cute and friendly, but clowns can be mean old b------s.

This is what I found out. Thanks! Can you add any other type of clown?

Deacon · 12/27/2011, 06:29 PM

trying to mix different types of clowns seems to get the same results in most cases. They just don't like each other.

12/27/2011, 07:53 AM	#1
Putty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 332	Proper way to add clowns? I had one Tomato Clown. I was in a store yesterday that had a nice mating pair of Tomato Clowns. Really good sized ones. Store told me they've laid lots of eggs in the tank they had them in. I got them home and once I put them in(one was really orange and the other was a blackish orange), I watched them for a second and then walked off to do some other things. I came back and the blackish one was where I could see him and he appeared to have quite a bit of marks on his side. I figured it was from the transport. As I was standing there, the original clown I had latched on to it pretty good. Had never seen such a fight between fish. I immediately grabbed two nets and went in to get the original one out. Even while trying to catch him he was attacking the new one. I caught it and put in a bucket. I gave him to a friend. The other clowns settled down. I turned the light off. This morning they were paired up and swimming around together. Clearly I can't add any more tomato's to my tank. Can I have any other clowns at all? Thanks! Last edited by Putty; 12/27/2011 at 08:46 AM.

12/27/2011, 11:27 AM	#4
WetShepherd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 522 Blog Entries: 5	The mated pair aren't going to tolerate another clown within 35 to 50g of their 'nest'. If you have less space, then that pretty much means the tank. If they actually have eggs, they may become less tolerant of other fish as well - not surprising as those eggs will be food to plenty of other species. Good job getting the other fish out and I'm glad you could get a new home for him so quickly. Good luck with the new fish and be sure to check out the Clownfish sub-forum if you haven't already __________________ (see blog for pics) 55g Tank (48" x 13" x 21") /c 60lbs LR & 60lbs Sand 2 MP10w 1 Koralia 425 PH, 3 Reef Brite LED Bars, 15g Sump Tunze DOC Skimmer 9002 and 2 150w Eheim Jager Heater @ 78.5 degrees

12/27/2011, 02:11 PM	#6
Deacon Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sioux Center, Iowa USA Posts: 838	One clown or a mated pair or none at all. Any other combination doesn't seem to work, IME. The look so cute and friendly, but clowns can be mean old b------s. __________________ "A billion here, a billion there, sooner or later it adds up to real money." - Everett Dirksen, U.S. Senator (deceased) Current Tank Info: 125 gallon and 65 gallon

12/27/2011, 06:29 PM	#8
Deacon Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sioux Center, Iowa USA Posts: 838	trying to mix different types of clowns seems to get the same results in most cases. They just don't like each other. __________________ "A billion here, a billion there, sooner or later it adds up to real money." - Everett Dirksen, U.S. Senator (deceased) Current Tank Info: 125 gallon and 65 gallon

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12/27/2011, 08:22 AM	#2
567234ta Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fort Smith AR Posts: 579	depends on the size of your tank, but basically no. I have 2 mating pairs of clowns in the same tank, but they are used to each other and were in the same tank already. So there are exceptions, but it isn't a good idea unless you like dead fish.

12/27/2011, 08:42 AM	#3
Putty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 332	Well, I have the mating pair in there now. I removed the single Tomato I had in there from the start.

12/27/2011, 11:35 AM	#5
racedout Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 67	Yeah glad you got him out safely. No way they will tolerate another clown that close by.