Mixing two pairs of clowns

[LoLo1221]

I’ve seen many different opinions on this but not really one exactly related to my position.

I have a 75 gallon tank with a pair of black snowflake ocellaris clownfish. (Just got them about 2 months ago so still not fully grown) They do not have an anemone yet. One of them is almost double the size of the other now (was hoping it was gonna go through the change soon lol)

Well I have decided to upgrade to a 125 gallon. It’s 6 feet long. (Couldn’t turn down a complete set up) this tank already has livestock in it. It has a pair of pink skunk clowns that’s fully grown and already hosting a blue magnefica (absolutely beautiful)

The tank also has two bubble tip anemones on the other side of the tank that are smaller. It split. One is about 4 inches. Other is smaller at about 2-3 inches. I know that one would be perfect for my other pair (if they will host one of them)

I saw that skunk clowns fish are very timid and really don’t go far out of their hosted anemone. Do you think a 125 gallons is big enough to try to put one pair on one side and a pair on another? Also does it even matter with one pair being fully grown and the other pair being young.

 

[FernBluffReef]

I tried four Occellaris and failed in my 5’ - 112 gallon display. I had to move two to a different tank. I also ended up with a mixed couple as one of my two storms decided he preferred orange vs his same color :-(.

Also bubble tips are not the natural host for Ocellaris so it may take some time, if ever for those to take to the bubble tip.

Below is my couple and their first clutch. Regardless of the eggs they rarely leave the safety of their anemone, you’d think they would starve. Well the female occasionally makes a quick trip for pellets but rarely the male.

 

[LoLo1221]

I tried four Occellaris and failed in my 5’ - 112 gallon display. I had to move two to a different tank. I also ended up with a mixed couple as one of my two storms decided he preferred orange vs his same color :-(.

Also bubble tips are not the natural host for Ocellaris so it may take some time, if ever for those to take to the bubble tip.

Below is my couple and their first clutch. Regardless of the eggs they rarely leave the safety of their anemone, you’d think they would starve. Well the female occasionally makes a quick trip for pellets but rarely the male.

I know it’s not the natural but most posts I see bubble tip is best for them. Like this post I found.

Thread 'Best host anemone'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/best-host-anemone.1047246/

What type would u recommend for them?

 

[FernBluffReef]

I know it’s not the natural but most posts I see bubble tip is best for them. Like this post I found.

Thread 'Best host anemone'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/best-host-anemone.1047246/

What type would u recommend for them?

As OrienN says in the post you linked. (He’s is the local expert)

OrienN. “The natural host anemones for A. ocellarisclown fish are S. gigantea or H. magnifica. However, these two anemones are on the difficult side in term of the ease to keep them alive.”

Ours is a Ritteri (Magnifica) and it is big - year old and 1/3rd if the tank is reserved for it. The clowns took to it in minutes. My other tank has three bubbletips and is only 32 gallons vs 112 gallons and the other two Ocellaris refuse to go near them. That isn’t to say they won’t eventually but they have had 6 months to try it out.

 

[LoLo1221]

As OrienN says in the post you linked. (He’s is the local expert)

OrienN. “The natural host anemones for A. ocellarisclown fish are S. gigantea or H. magnifica. However, these two anemones are on the difficult side in term of the ease to keep them alive.”

Ours is a Ritteri (Magnifica) and it is big - year old and 1/3rd if the tank is reserved for it. The clowns took to it in minutes. My other tank has three bubbletips and is only 32 gallons vs 112 gallons and the other two Ocellaris refuse to go near them. That isn’t to say they won’t eventually but they have had 6 months to try it out.

The 125 has a magnefica in it with the skunk now. I love my snowflake pair. So torn on what to do.

 

[littlefoxx]

The 125 has a magnefica in it with the skunk now. I love my snowflake pair. So torn on what to do.

Are you getting rid of your 75 gallon? Was thinking maybe put the skunks and the nem in that tank and move your snowflakes to the big tank

 

[LoLo1221]

Are you getting rid of your 75 gallon? Was thinking maybe put the skunks and the nem in that tank and move your snowflakes to the big tank

I was going to get rid of it. A 75 and a 125 keeping up with them…. Lord have mercy…. guess I might be keeping both. I didn’t want to be cruel to kick the skunk pair out of the magnefica for my snowflakes the magnefica in the 125 is huge. About 12 inches.

 

[exnisstech]

Maybe rehome the skunks.

 

[littlefoxx]

I was going to get rid of it. A 75 and a 125 keeping up with them…. Lord have mercy…. guess I might be keeping both. I didn’t want to be cruel to kick the skunk pair out of the magnefica for my snowflakes the magnefica in the 125 is huge. About 12 inches.

I ran a 70 and a 125 at the same time. But both were FOWLR so that made it easier. Eventually shut them down and merged to the 300 gallon I have now

 

[LoLo1221]

I ran a 70 and a 125 at the same time. But both were FOWLR so that made it easier. Eventually shut them down and merged to the 300 gallon I have now

That’s ultimately what I was wanting to do was merge what I have with the 125. I was also going to research about mixing adult fish with juvenile
Fish and would that cause issues. The 125 I’m getting has a couple fully grown fish (fox face, skunk clowns, diamond goby, 6 line) and I do have a few newer additions in my 75. (The two clowns, tomini tang)

Did u have any issues combining yours?

 

[littlefoxx]

That’s ultimately what I was wanting to do was merge what I have with the 125. I was also going to research about mixing adult fish with juvenile
Fish and would that cause issues. The 125 I’m getting has a couple fully grown fish (fox face, skunk clowns, diamond goby, 6 line) and I do have a few newer additions in my 75. (The two clowns, tomini tang)

Did u have any issues combining yours?

With my clowns yes. Was all out war. My adult female went nuts on the smaller pair that came with the 125. She killed them so fast. I couldnt get her out in time. So they got the tank since my 70 had maroon clowns. I then went to move them to the 300 and was cycling a biocube and had them in an acclimation box since the maroons were bigger. My regular black and white female ripped through the netting (mesh box) to start a war with the maroons. Her male went nuts too. Dug them out and was able to put live rock and quickly cycle the biocube. I had a pair of regular clowns from another tank I broke down and had them in a box in the biocube waiting for the weekend since someone was going to get them from me. My big female jumped INSIDE the box and murdered the female. She was fine with the little male. Had a trio for about 2 weeks then she decides she doesnt want her original male and kills him and then bonded with the tiny juvenile male. Clowns are crazy. Point being is I only will ever keep a pair after all that drama with them lol