How many fish?

[Dubge]

OK I have a 75 G and in it I have a Hippo Tang, yellow Tang, (both 2 inches) 2 1 inch blue damsel, 1 yellow tail damsel 1 clown both under an inch 2 pepermint shrimp 4 little hermits and 1 large hermit a little bigger then a golf ball. Is the the most I can have in this tank? When the tangs get bigger I plan on getting rid of them for smaller ones unless I get a bigger tank by that time The only other thing I really want to do is get another Clown (to have a pair) of get rid of this one and get a mated pair.
I know the wife wants more so i told her I would find out what we could get in the future

thanks
Ray

 

[taikonaut]

I would stay the way it is. One of my tanks is larger than your, but I will not put more than 3 small fishes in it. A bit extreme, but we have different priority.

Tell her you need more room if she want to see more fish.

 

[ChrisRD]

This is a commonly asked, but tough question to answer (definitively) because, IMO it really depends on the fish. Some fish tolerate each other well in close quarters and some don't.

If you've got adequate filtration and keep after your water quality, IMO you're fine to add another clown so you can have a pair. Beyond that, I would only try adding one or two small, peaceful fish, but I think you'll have trouble with the damsels harassing them.

IMO you're going to find that aggression from the damsels will be the limiting factor now. Personally, I would take the Hippo and the damsels out and make room for some more colorful, well behaved, small fish. The Hippo will get large and needs a lot of room and the damsels will get to be a royal PITA as they mature.

JMO

 

[shr00m]

i have a 75 gallon, i have 1 3.5 inch purple tang, 1 scooter blenny, 1 percula clown, 1 lawn mower blenny, and 1 yellow damsel, few mithrax crabs, 1 big orange crab i dont know what type (black claws and hairy) he was a hitch hiker, blue legs and scarlet hermits, about 20..... i wanted to add another percula to have a pair also, but i was under the impression you have to add clowns at the same time. its ok to add another clown after one is settled in?

 

[Dubge]

Thanks for the input guys down the line I will probably get rid of all the damsels and get a few other fish. I would like more fish rather then larger fish so I will probably get fish that do not get that big and just get rid of the tangs for smaller ones when they get to big. How fast do they grow?

shr00m, I read on one of th boards that you can try to pair them up but the person who was trying said he gave up after 2 tries (one would always kill the other)


Ray

 

[ChrisRD]

i wanted to add another percula to have a pair also, but i was under the impression you have to add clowns at the same time. its ok to add another clown after one is settled in?

I've only added them together, usually as juveniles, but it's possible to add another later and still end up with a pair (provided they are not both female). Maybe someone who has actually done this will chime-in and offer some insight...

 

[Anonymous]

It's defintely possible. Perculas are one of the least aggressive clowns. If you've had one for more than a month or two on it's own, you have to assume it's changed into a female. Just add a juvenile, and it will become a male eventually. Joyce Wilerson's book "Clownfishes" details all this stuff and is an invaluable resource if you're really curious.

 

[shr00m]

cool, thanks a lot.

 

[DaGoldenChild]

i've had my clown for about two months on its on and i added a smaller juvenile and they are doing find together they actually get along better than some of the fish that i added together