Clownfish in 270 gal

Maui The God

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hello

looking for some infight on clownfish selection. i have a 270 gal tank 84"L x 24"L x 31"H. i really want to get a pair gold striped maroon clowns, but i know they can be a menace. ive had them before multiple times and other than messing with me when i got close to their anemone they were always model citizens with tankmates. now if i decide not to go with maroons and stick with ocellaris clowns how many can i get away with in a tank this size? can i get away with 4? i would love to have 4 with different colors and patterns but i read alot that eventually they will kill off each other until its down to 2 or 1. eventually i will have bubble tip anemones. the maroon clowns ive had always hosted the nems and i love it but again not 100% sure i want to risk it cause each fish has their own personality. ill take any input on this.
 

littlefoxx

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Only 2, clown harems never work even in huge tanks. As for maroons the only thing my pair (more the male) tried to kill was my algae scraper lol. Never bothered fish.
 

Reefing_addiction

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Only 2, clown harems never work even in huge tanks. As for maroons the only thing my pair (more the male) tried to kill was my algae scraper lol. Never bothered fish.
I think clown harems can work - I believe there was a BRS thing with a clown harem tank - and I’ve talked to a few people who have them. You need to feed more frequently and have enough anemones and places for them to find their own spot. Also best if they all go in at once and are all the same size. There is always a chance you will lose a few.

I actually plan to do an anemone and clownfish harem tank - just need to finish getting all the corals out of my 75 and into my 100g!

I don’t know if I’d try a harem in a large tank with other fish.


My 75gallon tank has 3 clowns. No issues.
 

littlefoxx

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I think clown harems can work - I believe there was a BRS thing with a clown harem tank - and I’ve talked to a few people who have them. You need to feed more frequently and have enough anemones and places for them to find their own spot. Also best if they all go in at once and are all the same size. There is always a chance you will lose a few.

I actually plan to do an anemone and clownfish harem tank - just need to finish getting all the corals out of my 75 and into my 100g!

I don’t know if I’d try a harem in a large tank with other fish.


My 75gallon tank has 3 clowns. No issues.
If you look for their clown harem tank it disappeared, no updates or anything, making me think it didnt turn out well O.O
 

F i s h y

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I have successfully kept 2 pairs of oscellaris in an 8ft tank. my only issue is that the dominant pair had the nem on one side, and the other pair hosted and eventually killed some euphyllia on the other side, so they had to go... if you have a suitable nem (assuming they actually host it) on each side this can work.
 

Daz_1978

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Like everything, I think it'll be hit or miss...
They could theoretically develop into 2 pairs and hang at opposite ends of the tank... or fight to see which 2 are left.
I've often wondered if they aren't kind of like tangs... Meaning that if you put enough in the tank to keep them 'confused' about the pecking order, it'll help. If I'm not mistaken, the most aggressive one will become female and the 2nd most aggressive will become male. The others will basically stay in the 'male in waiting' stage.
 
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Maui The God

Maui The God

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Only 2, clown harems never work even in huge tanks. As for maroons the only thing my pair (more the male) tried to kill was my algae scraper lol. Never bothered fish.
i was hoping with the size i could get away with 2 more ocellaris if thats the route i went. but as far as maroons ive had 3 seperate pairs in a 180, 50, and 35. none of them killed fish or really caused issues. my hand got attacked a few times with one pair but thats it. never a fish death because of them. i was much more risky back then though.
 
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Maui The God

Maui The God

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I have successfully kept 2 pairs of oscellaris in an 8ft tank. my only issue is that the dominant pair had the nem on one side, and the other pair hosted and eventually killed some euphyllia on the other side, so they had to go... if you have a suitable nem (assuming they actually host it) on each side this can work.
my hope would be for ocellaris clowns would be after qt to introduce them to the nem in an acclimation box and get them to host it then release them and the nems into the display to hopefully get them to stay with their nems and try to keep them on the opposite sides of the tank
 
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Maui The God

Maui The God

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Like everything, I think it'll be hit or miss...
They could theoretically develop into 2 pairs and hang at opposite ends of the tank... or fight to see which 2 are left.
I've often wondered if they aren't kind of like tangs... Meaning that if you put enough in the tank to keep them 'confused' about the pecking order, it'll help. If I'm not mistaken, the most aggressive one will become female and the 2nd most aggressive will become male. The others will basically stay in the 'male in waiting' stage.
this is also another thought if i just introduce 4 at once and 2 pair off maybe the other 2 would go to the other side of the tank to avoid being killed off
 

GARRIGA

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Don't they form harems in the wild? Perhaps buy from the same clutch and try it out. Only one way to find out.
 

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