clownfish question

[cbeech]

Can clownfish and yellowtail damsels live in the same aquarium? It's only a 5 gallon with three damsels (I know, I know, but I didn't have anywhere else to put the hateful creatures!). My puffer in the big tank has suddenly started being extremely aggessive toward my clownfish. This morning he had half eaten one of them. I need a solution quick. I have the other one in a 2 gallon tank (just for the time being) until I can get something figured out.

I guess if nothing else, I could feed the damsels to the puffer.

That would probably be a good show!

 

[jamesw]

Well, if your puffer is eating them, you've gotta get them out of there. BUT, I don't think a 5g tank is big enough. You will need either a larger space for them, or give them to someone in your local aquarium society.

It looks like you have a lot of reading and learning to do. If you had consulted one of the excellent saltwater aquarium books such as recommended in this forum, or done a search here, you would know that puffers are NOT compatible with small fish.

Hope that helps,
James Wiseman

 

[JohnD]

I do not have any experience with yellow tailed damsels, but.. I have a tomato clown with a pair of humbug damsels in my 55. I used the damsels to cycle the tank (I know, I know, but it was a dozen years ago) and they are some tough customers. Of course they met their match when the female clown was added.

While I have no great love of my damsels, I have no desire to take them back to the LFS either. Maybe you could take yours back? That would probably be a better fate then goiing into the puffer's tank.

You didn't mention what clown you have. Clowns are poor swimmers and do not need a big tank. Something on the order of 20 to 30 gallons is usually okay. A 5 gallon tank, except for maybe a hospital tank, will not cut it. Maybe the clown needs to go back too.

HTH