Clown Fish Minimum Tank Size?

[d123a123n]

I was researching on the forum about clown fish and discovered they needed at least 20 gallons or something like that. However, in my fish shop they sold: TMC Bred Clown TMC Bred Skunk Clown TMC Bred Tangerine Clown TMC Bred Saddleback Clown. They were in small tanks of about 5 gallons or something. Then I saw this http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fl_TEru9Lw which was a guy who had a 5 gallon with a clown fish. I am very confused and was wondering what the minimum tank size for the species I mentioned was and what is a TMC bred Clown? Thanks

 

[aly_starh]

Hi, Welcome to TFF,

Regarding the minimum size of clown fish, alot of people on this forum do recommend the min. size to be 20 UKGallons (90l) but this could hold a pair. So rather than upgrading in the future it is better to start big as less problems tend to arise, the bigger the tank the better the system will run

LFS usually have small tanks anyway to hold stock, they dont specifically build a tank to suit the fish thats going to be using it. Small tanks usually show up fish better, ie, clownfish, they will all shoal, meaning they will entice a potential buyer. LFS and Petstores sometimes use this to thier advantage.

That tank doesnt look like 5g to me

A TMC bred clown is Tropical Marine Centre Bred Fish..... I think

 

[lgarvey]

My LFS have a clownfish pair in a 6.5g (25L) tank. Seems small, but the fish appear OK.

 

[seffieuk]

IMO a 20 gallon is too small for an adult pair of clowns - but, it really does depend on tank width and length - it seems that clown fish are creatures of habit and rarely stray more than 20 cm from their host (although I would disagree with this, I have a five footer and they travel the length of the tank). The smallest tank I would put them in is approx 25 gallons, having moved mine from a nano of 26 gallons to my five footer I can really see the difference in their roaming

Seffie x

 

[d123a123n]

Wow thanks for quick response
Really good information, I think a marine tank is far too ambitious for my first tank lol

 

[lgarvey]

Wow thanks for quick response
Really good information, I think a marine tank is far too ambitious for my first tank lol

There's a lot more to it, but it sinks in quickly. Spending time reading these forums really helps. And of course, you can post details of your proposed set-up and you'll get really good advice. A saltwater set-up shouldn't be too ambitious, but unfortunately it does cost more.