Should I get two clownfish or just one?

[Meloco14]

I was planning on getting two baby tank raised ocellaris for my tank, in hopes that eventually one will become a dominant female and they will pair up. I realize there isn't a huge chance of this actually happening. If it doesn't happen I'm afraid the two fish might become hostile toward eachother. My tank is only 40 gallons, so there isnt much room for two to choose their own territory if they don't like each other. What do you think? Is there a high risk of them fighting? Or should I stick with my original plan and get 2? TIA

 

[hdtran]

If you get the two small ones at the same time, and they are small from the store (so they haven't established dominance yet), what you want to happen should happen.

I did that with my 29g. (Although one was slightly bigger). The slightly bigger one became lots bigger; the smaller one got slightly bigger, and they hang out reasonably together.

So your 40 should work.

I specifically searched for tank-bred Ocellaris, btw.

 

[Brad Moehl]

Howdy

Really glad you asked for that information, it's good to know. I'm just getting started and my daughter wants a Nimo fish. I've been telling her OK But the water isn't ready yet. Got a seventy five gallon so I guess I'm good for two small as well. Great question thanks.

Peace
Brad Moehl

 

[Meloco14]

Yeah I figure the tank raised will have a better chance of getting along than wild caught, not to mention i want to promote aquaculture, so hopefully it will work out for me.

 

[Dubge]

I bought one then 2 months later bought another (from the same place)and they paired up took less then 2 days. They just recently started taking to a BTA that I added 2 weeks ago

Ray

 

[bhanson]

Pairing juvinile Amphiprion clownfish can be quite easy as long as they are well cared for. Especially if they are introduced to the tank at the same time.

Difficulties come when trying to form Premnas or Maroon pairs as juveniles can sometimes fight to the death. Tough life huh?

 

[melanotaenia1]

Got two ORA true percula clowns at random out of a tank of about 100 and they paired up instantly. I think size and age and the way they are introduced play the biggest part in their getting along.

Mine sometime scatter eggs.......my pseudo LOVES that hehehe.

 

[bhanson]

A good source for captive care, breeding, taxonomy and thier host anemones is the following book. IMO it is probably one of the best Clownfish books around.

Clownfishes
by Joyce D. Wilkerson, Thomas A. Frakes
Publisher: Microcosm Limited; ISBN: 1890087041; (June 1998), 240 pages