Clownfish advice Please!

carfac · 07/20/2006, 09:40 AM

Hi:

I am going to get a Clownfish- I have a 5 year old daughter, so the clownfish is not open for debate. I have no choice!

So I was curious what you all might suggest. Pecula or Ocellaris? Why? Single, or par?

This is for inclusion in a 24 gallon nano. The other inhabiutants: one Purple Firefish, and a six-line.

One the Clown is in (single or pair), I do NOT plan on any further fish. So this nano will be maxed at 3 or 4 fish, depending on if I get a pair or not.

Dave

Avi · 07/20/2006, 09:48 AM

No need to apologize for getting Clownfish...they're nice looking fish and interesting. But, anyway, I don't see any reason to chose a Percula over an Ocellaris, or vice versa. Chose them based on the specimen(s) you find and look best to you. On the question of whether to get a single Clownfish or to get a pair...if, in either case, it would be the last fish you put into the 24-gallon tank...I'd say you can go for the pair. It's a bit more interesting that way. But, be sure that it is, indeed, a pair because if it isn't, there would most likely be real and serious agression problems by one against the other.

puffer21 · 07/20/2006, 09:53 AM

I would get a percula they to me look a lot better and they have a nice black area insteade of a duller line that the ocellaris. Also i would get a pair it would be more interesting i think.

carfac · 07/20/2006, 09:56 AM

I am leaning to Percula also, as they are smaller. I think if i do a pair, smaller is better in my limited space.

I had planned these to be last in, and if a pair, to be put in together.

I was going to put in the six-line today. I know they CAN be aggressive, too. SHould I put in all three at the same time.. or the six-line today, and wait a week or two on the Percs?

dave

Amphiprion · 07/20/2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carfac
I am leaning to Percula also, as they are smaller. I think if i do a pair, smaller is better in my limited space.

dave

Percs do not remain any smaller than ocellaris clownfish--in fact, they mostly reach the same size. Either way, both species are among the best fish, IMHO (but then again, I am biased

). I personally prefer A. ocellaris, just because that was the first fish I ever had.

Andrew · 07/20/2006, 10:21 AM

Either type of clown would work since they get the same size. It's all up to you if you want a pair or not. I used to have a pair of True perculas and they were neat to watch. Then again, if they end up mating, you may have some eggs. ( Then it's up to you if you want to raise them )

brians_224 · 07/20/2006, 10:26 AM

If its your daughter that wants them - shes probably more familiar with ocellaris. I'd hate to be there when you try to explain why the clowns in your tank don't look EXACTLY like Nemo.

Avi · 07/20/2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carfac

I was going to put in the six-line today. I know they CAN be aggressive, too. SHould I put in all three at the same time.. or the six-line today, and wait a week or two on the Percs?

dave

If you have the opportunity, you might want to put the Six-line Wrasse in after you put the Clownfish that you get in. Six-lines can sometimes be nasty, and putting it in after the Clownfish are established in there may discourage it. It isn't a guarantee of that, though. In my experience, most fish, even those that show aggression to othe fish in a tank, don't bother Clownfish, especially if there are a pair. I wonder if other people have found that to be the case.

carfac · 07/20/2006, 10:39 AM

Avi:

Thanks- I had thought Clowns last. You suggest I switch, clowns THEN Six-Line. Cool.

>>> I'd hate to be there when you try to explain why the clowns in your tank don't look EXACTLY like Nemo

She is already familiar with the different types (to an extent). Looking at fish in a LFS, anything orange and white striped is a Nemo. I couold not get away with a Tomato, but these are close enough for her.

D

carfac · 07/20/2006, 10:22 PM

Well, I got Ocellaris- they had a bunch and I was able to pick a greatr pair. Got them home, and they could not wait to get out of the bag.

So, an hour later, they got in, and they are just GREAT! One is just a shadow of the other- they are never more than a few inches apart. Very curious, did a lot of exploring, but with the one in the lead always, the other following.

I fed them after they had been in the tank two hours, and they just ate up my food mix. The Firefish was a bit wary- and a little jumpy- but they all fed together. So they all seem to be getting along, at least at this early point.

d

carfac · 07/21/2006, 11:34 AM

Here ya go- a picture of my new Clowns with their new buddy the Purple Firefish. This was during this mornings feeding, so there are a few brine shrimp in the water. I am feeding what I feel is right- about 1/4 or so of a cube of frozen Brine shrimp, 1/4 cube of Mysis OR an equal amount of Cyclop-eeze. I feed twice a day. Does this seem like a good amount? They eat all this in 2-4 minutes, and it seems to leave them hungry... but I have no way to gauge if they are TOO hungry....

07/20/2006, 09:40 AM	#1
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	Clownfish advice Please! Hi: I am going to get a Clownfish- I have a 5 year old daughter, so the clownfish is not open for debate. I have no choice! So I was curious what you all might suggest. Pecula or Ocellaris? Why? Single, or par? This is for inclusion in a 24 gallon nano. The other inhabiutants: one Purple Firefish, and a six-line. One the Clown is in (single or pair), I do NOT plan on any further fish. So this nano will be maxed at 3 or 4 fish, depending on if I get a pair or not. Dave

07/20/2006, 09:48 AM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	No need to apologize for getting Clownfish...they're nice looking fish and interesting. But, anyway, I don't see any reason to chose a Percula over an Ocellaris, or vice versa. Chose them based on the specimen(s) you find and look best to you. On the question of whether to get a single Clownfish or to get a pair...if, in either case, it would be the last fish you put into the 24-gallon tank...I'd say you can go for the pair. It's a bit more interesting that way. But, be sure that it is, indeed, a pair because if it isn't, there would most likely be real and serious agression problems by one against the other. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

07/20/2006, 09:53 AM	#3
puffer21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,006	I would get a percula they to me look a lot better and they have a nice black area insteade of a duller line that the ocellaris. Also i would get a pair it would be more interesting i think. __________________ I have never been one for guidelines Current Tank Info: 20g Turtle Tank and 58g OC Ultimate Reef :)

07/20/2006, 09:56 AM	#4
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	I am leaning to Percula also, as they are smaller. I think if i do a pair, smaller is better in my limited space. I had planned these to be last in, and if a pair, to be put in together. I was going to put in the six-line today. I know they CAN be aggressive, too. SHould I put in all three at the same time.. or the six-line today, and wait a week or two on the Percs? dave

07/20/2006, 10:21 AM	#6
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Either type of clown would work since they get the same size. It's all up to you if you want a pair or not. I used to have a pair of True perculas and they were neat to watch. Then again, if they end up mating, you may have some eggs. ( Then it's up to you if you want to raise them )

07/20/2006, 10:26 AM	#7
brians_224 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brookfield, WI Posts: 1,172	If its your daughter that wants them - shes probably more familiar with ocellaris. I'd hate to be there when you try to explain why the clowns in your tank don't look EXACTLY like Nemo.

07/20/2006, 10:39 AM	#9
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	Avi: Thanks- I had thought Clowns last. You suggest I switch, clowns THEN Six-Line. Cool. >>> I'd hate to be there when you try to explain why the clowns in your tank don't look EXACTLY like Nemo She is already familiar with the different types (to an extent). Looking at fish in a LFS, anything orange and white striped is a Nemo. I couold not get away with a Tomato, but these are close enough for her. D

07/20/2006, 10:22 PM	#10
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	Well, I got Ocellaris- they had a bunch and I was able to pick a greatr pair. Got them home, and they could not wait to get out of the bag. So, an hour later, they got in, and they are just GREAT! One is just a shadow of the other- they are never more than a few inches apart. Very curious, did a lot of exploring, but with the one in the lead always, the other following. I fed them after they had been in the tank two hours, and they just ate up my food mix. The Firefish was a bit wary- and a little jumpy- but they all fed together. So they all seem to be getting along, at least at this early point. d

07/21/2006, 11:34 AM	#11
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	Here ya go- a picture of my new Clowns with their new buddy the Purple Firefish. This was during this mornings feeding, so there are a few brine shrimp in the water. I am feeding what I feel is right- about 1/4 or so of a cube of frozen Brine shrimp, 1/4 cube of Mysis OR an equal amount of Cyclop-eeze. I feed twice a day. Does this seem like a good amount? They eat all this in 2-4 minutes, and it seems to leave them hungry... but I have no way to gauge if they are TOO hungry....