TOMATO CLOWN tankmates!

[hien.nguyen80]

Searched about 10 pages in the archives! Saw a few threads about CLOWNS and DAMSELS but moreso the opposite of what I'm looking to do.

I have a clown that's been in my tank for about 2-3 years now (at least). He's been surviving a very tough environment--I inherited this tank and the past owner hadn't done a water change in a year plus!

Anyways, now that I'm slowly rearing things in the right direction I want to add a couple more fish (this is a 25g).

I don't have any time for anything special--this is strictly going to be a simpleton's 25g FOWLR...

Will it be a problem if I add a couple of damsels to the tank? The YELLOW TAIL ones...

The last thing I'd want is for the damsels to beat up on the tomato clown and have him die after all these years!!!

I figure if anything w/ the aggressive nature of the tomato clowns that the damsels would be able to hold their own!

[hien.nguyen80]

One and only bump :)

[c-horseman]

maybe a bottom dweller like a goby?

[xcreonx]

Tomato Clowns are pretty aggressive. I have one that's about 4 years old and he is not afraid of anyone, even me! He doesn't seem to mind the bigger fish though. I used to have him in a 180g with a yellow tang, a swallowtail angel and a copperband, all much larger than him. He never bothered them. He did pick on the small red-headed goby I had, as well as the blue damsels.

Now I have him with a blue damsel, a spotted cardinal, a bicolor blenny and a copperband. The only one he doesn't bother is the copperband. I am thinking of putting him in his own tank with a bubble-tip anemone and nothin else (rock and and of course :P). I love this guy, but he is a pain sometimes.

[xcreonx]

For kicks, here's some photos :P

Just a pup, 4 years ago (notice the second stripe):
<img src="http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/521/44480clown.jpg">
<img src="http://www.goodmorningheartache.com/extras/clowninleather.jpg">
A little older, maybe 2 years ago:
<img src="http://www.goodmorningheartache.com/extras/clowninzoas.jpg">

[hien.nguyen80]

Haha, he looks cool hanging around all those zoos!

What do you guys think of the sixline wrasse? Would the clown even be QUICK enough to bother it?

[hien.nguyen80]

As far as aggressiveness go and being able to hold it's own... what fish would I possibly be looking at going w/ that the clown wouldn't bother?

[msman825]

i would try another smaller tomato clown, hoping it will pair up

[ionredline0260]

sixline might work, mine held it's own great with my clarkii pair.