mixing clownfish, who knows if it can work?

[Johnsteph10]

Ya know, Sharkky's is SO right. At my LFS here, they have a 12g nano with 1 piece of live rock and a green carpet anenome. It used to be only a few inches across -- but within the several months that I've watched it, it has grown to cover the whole tank. And people think it is so cool.
And they want a tank just like it.
And the store sells the tank, water, sand, live rock, and anenome for like $350.
A new carpet. In a NEW tank. In a SMALL tank. By a NEW hobbyist. Because their kids wanted Nemo.
I personally know some of these people -- the tank is now either:
1. a cesspool
2. empty (in a basement, attic, or garage)
3. Doing well with a giant anenome (1 person!)

Aargh.

 

[Anonymous]

You have a tank large enough do it. I would. That will be a fun tank to watch. You do not need an anemone to do this, Just make sure you supply them with plenty of hiding places and keep in mind that these fish will need some large hangouts when they get to adult size.

 

[nanocat]

Re your LFS with the nano cube...that must be one HECK of an expensive anemone 8O . I just picked up a nano cube on Friday, with 20 lbs. of aragalive, 11 lbs. of Fiji cured rock, catalina water, containers, test strips, etc. for $206 including tax.

I'll be happy with 2 tomato clowns and some corals when the time comes.

 

[shr00m]

im planning on getting another false perc to go with my female. it would be so cool if i could keep tomato clowns too... i would hate to lose my false perc thats been in a tank for 3+ years.

 

[Archmage]

I would get rid of the damsels. They are quite nice but very aggressive to any new fish you might introduce in the future. Took me two weeks to get my one damsel out. He kept harassing my new fishes to the point they sickened and died. kept chasing them into their hiding spots and continued right on harassing them even in their hiding spots.

It was sickening to see.

 

[ebosshard]

easy to say, not so easy to do.

What secrets are there for taking out damsels? I have one that is aggressive towards the others in the tank, but I am having no luck catching him.

(please let someone out there have a trick that works!!!)

Eric

 

[shr00m]

ill let you in on a secret damsel removal method

1. remove all live rock and anything.... ANYTHING the stupid damsel can hide in

2. catch the damsel.

3. traps almost never work with damsels.

 

[ebosshard]

250lbs of live rock set up just right.
I would almost kill myself before I would remove all the rock and try to set it up again.

Any other ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

The ol' food-in-a-clear-jar trick works sometimes, but damsels are soooo fast! You could always get a very small hook, file the barb off, and try to fish them out.

 

[c0yote]

The food in a clear jar trick worked for me when I had to remove my Humbug damsel. I'd recommend using the biggest jar / tupperware / acrylic container you've got. Submerge with one hand, wait for the fish to acclimate to the container and with the other hand add some brine shrimp over the container. (Pretty much the upside down version of snaring an animal in a propped up box)

 

[Meloco14]

Well I had planned on getting 2 ocellaris and 2 cinnamon clowns, all babies, tank raised, as I have heard that tank raised get along better with each other, but it seems from all of your experience this is still probably a bad idea. Should I stick with just one species, even if they are young and tank raised? And even within one species, is it ok to get 4 or 5 fish if they are still young, in hopes that they will form a family without hurting each other? Or should I stick with 2 or just one or fork out the cash for an older mated pair? Thanks

 

[shr00m]

if cinnamon=maroon, then when they get older they will put the false percs through hell.

 

[ebosshard]

as the guy who started this thread I thot I would give you the update

two weeks ago i put in two false percs and a black and white clown.

so far they are all getting along nicely

the black and white looks to have paired up with one of the false percs, but all three hang out quite a bit as well.

I have been warned this wont work long term, we will see

remember, i have a 220g tank with 250 lbs of live rock (lots of room and hiding places)

 

[ebosshard]

Thought you may like an update. Remember that I have a 220g tank, and six weeks ago asked this group about adding a black and white clown to an existing pair of "nemos" false percs.

6 weeks later my three clowns are getting along.

The bigger false perc and the black and white have paired up, while the other false perc is hanging by himself. So everyone is getting along beautifully.

What is amazing to see is the false perc who has befriended the black/white is changing colors. He now has a ton of black on him!! Amazing to see.

Adding an anemone in the next 3-4 weeks (after I get my new MH lights), will see what happens then. Tank has been up for ten weeks no, am=0, nitrite=0, nitrate=0.

Thought those of you who gave me input on this would be interested.

And yes, I know things may change as these fish continue maturing.

Eric

 

[Anonymous]

So let's see some pictures!