Clown Compatibility

[stef_uk]

Ive just bought 2 tank bred "Tangerine" Clowns from my local LFS.But cant find any info on them.They are only about an inch long each.Another LFS i go to has had a wild caught Black and White Clown in their display tank for a while and it has never been on sale.Today they rang me and told me they could get me a pair of tank bred B&W's next week if i wanted them for £30.
Would these two pairs be ok in a 55g or would i be asking for trouble? As i said, i cant find any info on these "Tangerines" so i dont know how they'd be.

Any help would be great thanks.

 

[Lynden]

Mixing clowns can be a bit risky. I personally have done it many times with many different species over the years, but other people are a little nuts about it. Passionate, we'll say. Over on another forum I got majorly flamed for even suggesting it could be done. Of course, after a couple days a few others started to agree with me, and I didn't hear of the flamers after I pointed out that the OP had been attempting to mix similar species which they themselves said was OK in... that very thread.

I guess those a$$holes just like to flame people. Interestingly (but unsurprisingly, given their ignorant self-righteousness) it only happens when they know they will be backed by the rest of their clique, proven by the fact that they, even when appearing so incredibly sure they were right, backed off completely after I started to gain support.

Rant over. To summarize, proceed with caution... at the small size of the fish it should work. But keep an eye out for aggression.

 

[piranha_trader]

have you ever mixed with Maroons?

I have one and considered mixing with a perc but the LFS said Id be asking to have that perc killed.

 

[Lynden]

I have mixed a small maroon with a pair of Clarkiis and I currently mix a maroon with a domino, which although technically not a clownfish occupies the same ecological niche.

If the maroon(s) in your tank are paired or large, your LFS is probably right I'm afraid. If the maroon were tiny, or at least introduced secondly, it would probably work. But, it is a large risk to add a wimp like a perc into a tank with an established maroon.

 

[SkiFletch]

Amen, large maroons can be real buggers, watch out for them. Lynden has some good advice here, no need in me repeating it