How many clowns should i get?

[Meloco14]

I want to get a family of tank raised percs or occellaris, i'm siding towards the occels because i've heard they are a little more peaceful, though I like the coloring of the true percs a little better. Anyway I would like to eventually have a small family of them, or at least a mated pair. I plan on buying them young, and was wondering how many is a good number. If I only get two is it guaranteed that one will become the female and they will be a pair? Or do I need a group so they can naturally form dominance? If I get 3 or 4 and 2 pair up will they pick on the ones that aren't paired? Thanks for the help...

 

[Anonymous]

What size tank do you have......how much liverock? I recommend you read Clownfish:A guide to their care,breeding,and natural history.

 

[Len]

It's best to get just a pair of small ones and let one of the two juveniles morph into a female (the other one staying a small male). There isn't 100% assurance that this will occur, but more often then not, this is what happens.

Clowns aren't social animals and do not do well in groups.

 

[Meloco14]

Yeah sticking with 2 might be best. They wont get too crowded this way either. I have a 40gall tall with 60 pounds of live rock. Its probably too small for more than one or two clowns in case they dont get along...

 

[Anonymous]

Check this out. http://user.aol.com/cebrezzie/aquarium/CLOWNFISH.htm

 

[shr00m]

make the music stop PLEASE.