Saddleback Clowns

[kparton]

I went yesterday to get my first fish for my 50G tank and wanted a pair of clowns. I took my Scott Michael book with me and went shopping. I thought I was dead set on maroon clownfish and they had plenty. They also had a pair of saddleback clowns. I had never seen these fish in real life, only in pictures. The pictures really don't do them justice.

I introduced them by acclimating slowly and they were swimming around immediately and accepted food (ravenously) just hours after introduction. They seem really strong and have a really interesting swimming pattern.

I know they're not the hardiest of clownfish, but they seem to be doing well at this early point.

 

[naesco]

Remember to go slow. That is the secret to the hobby.
Add one fish at a time one month apart from now on. It is a good idea to ask here for help before you go to the lfs to buy a fish.
Thank you

 

[kparton]

This actually is not my first tank and I did do quite a bit of research and read all the posts on here where people selected clownfish. I have 90lbs of live rock and my parameters are all very well within control. I feel confident about the success of these fish.

 

[EmilyB]

I had a couple six inch saddlebacks once..... 8O Not very peaceful fish for a reef imo...

 

[madmike]

I have a pair in my 45 gallon hex reef. Really cool fish...but not very peaceful is right on. They try to host in every coral, pi$$ing them off, my toadstool...green polyps...and my brand new lta plate coral. What color are yours. I have only seen pictures of black saddlebacks in books, but mine are a cool rusty orange. I love em though, they have such an attitude :roll: .
Later
mike
ps, can I ask how much you paid for your pair...just wondering if my lfs charged me a fortune or not.

 

[kparton]

As of right now (and for at least the next year) I have no corals in my tank. I have the lighting for it (2 175W 10,000K MH) but I want to get the four fish I want and all the inverts settled and happy and keep the tank stabilized for some time.

As far as aggressiveness, I know they are considered to be semi-aggressive similar to the true percs and many other clowns, but maybe a little less than maroons.

Mine are the rusty orange color and are really doing well. They eat like pigs and really explore the whole tank. I'm considering having an anemone as my first "coral" (although I know they are not really corals), so hopefully they'll adopt that and not bother other corals.

I paid $52 for the pair. This was about the same I would have paid online if I had ordered.

 

[madmike]

good deal! I also tried the anemone thing early in the game...big mistake, dont do it. I have a single 175w halide over my hex, about 3 inches over the water and still the anemone chose to move...and move some more. And if you havn't ever seen a anemone fill up and "float" around the tank, stinging everything it runs into, your in for a real treat! I found the saddlebacks became increasingly agressive when trying to feed "their" anemone. They for some reason would pull the food out of it and spit it out elsewhere. The anemone quickly went downhill and I had to remove it.
I recently...the day before yesterday...purchased a long tentacle plate coral. The clowns are now hovering above it...and i know it will stay put. If you must get a anemone, like i had to, get a clone from someone elses tank, the wild caught ones are a true gamble.
later
Mike
ps good price too

 

[kparton]

Which kind of anemone did you have? The idea about getting it from someone's tank is a good one. The only type of anemone I've kept in the past was a bubble tip. It did move some initially, but then it did well. My true percs actually hosted in it. That's probably the only type of anemone I would try again. The carpets (saddleback's natural host) just get too big).

 

[madmike]

I had a nice big lta. It initially did well for a few months, but failed in the end. I would like to say it was bad water params or husbandry, but my values are 0 across the board thanks to the refugium. and my calcium reactor keeps calcium and alk at 12dkh/460ppm. Auto top off for water...so I cant say why the anemone didn't do well, i dont think that anyone can. I am sure the saddlebacks will host in whatever you give them with tenticles, mine sure do!
good luck
Mike