What kind of clown?

[reef3r]

Hi, Soon I will be adding fish to my 29g reef tank. I know I definitely want a pair of clownfish and I don't know what kind to get. They will be my first saltwater fish ever, and probably the first fish added to the tank. I don't really want occelaris or percula, just because they're so common. Looking at liveaquaria and a few other sites, my favorites were Clarkii and Sebae clownfish. Would they get too big for a pair in a 29g? If they do, what other kinds of clownfish would be good (not occelaris or percula)? I look forward to a response.

[kkyyllee]

sebea and clarkii both get 6" so they get to big, what about pink skunk clowns?

[criccio]

How about black variant A. ocellaris. They stay smaller, and aren't nearly as popular as their orange cousins.

[reef3r]

Maybe. I was thinking about them... Do they behave like normal occelaris?

[Slakker]

Pink skunks would probably be okay.

[reef3r]

I don't really like pink skunks. What about this:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2625

[Slakker]

It's just a fancily named misbarred ocellaris...if you wanna pay twice as much for the same fish, go ahead...but IMO not worth it. You can probably find misbars at the LFS for standard price.

[reef3r]

Hmmm... I'll probably get the black and white, then.

[chrispc66]

Why not try red saddleback anemone fish, sometimes referred to as fireclowns, a 29G is plenty for a pair. They seem to take to anemones real well.

I have a pair and they are great, however they do not tolerate other clown species well, I have had to move my percula pair into another tank.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/chrispc66/Fireclown-4.jpg

[reef3r]

Sorry to bring this back up, but the tank I got is 37g. Is that enough for a pair of Clarkiis? It's 30" x 12" x 22".

Also, how big do those saddleback clowns get?

[Slakker]

red saddleback (A. Ephippium) gets to about the same size as other clowns in the Tomato complex. They are a bit harder to come by...I have never seen them at my LFS.

[reef3r]

Yeah, I"ve never seen them...
They aren't on liveaquaria, but they have a brown saddleback and a black saddleback. I kind of like the brown, but the black doesn't look too different than a black percula or occelaris. Maybe I'll ask my lfs if they can get some in.

[reef3r]

I would rather have the clarkiis, though.

[raleej337]

Get a B/W Ocellaris.

[BristlewormKing]

It is kinda hard to suggest one particular species over the other - perhaps it is better to start with specific parameters - color, hosts, other characteristics. If it is something as simple as color, go through the gallery and look at different images. If you find one or two that catch your eye, check the threads for details about that particular type (i.e., percs may jump more, fire clowns may bite more, etc.). Or you can do like some of us and just get every species you can find (in different tanks of course) and sit back and enjoy! :D

[bencozzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10177044#post10177044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrispc66
Why not try red saddleback anemone fish, sometimes referred to as fireclowns, a 29G is plenty for a pair. They seem to take to anemones real well.

I have a pair and they are great, however they do not tolerate other clown species well, I have had to move my percula pair into another tank.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/chrispc66/Fireclown-4.jpg

looks to me like you have A. melanopus, they are much smaller than Amphiprion ephippium, Saddle anemonefish: aquarium (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=11840)

[reef3r]

Sebaes and Clarkiis are still my favorite. Is my tank big enough for a pair of either one? It's 37g.

[BristlewormKing]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10263557#post10263557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bencozzy
looks to me like you have A. melanopus, they are much smaller than Amphiprion ephippium, Saddle anemonefish: aquarium (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=11840)

No, that is a red saddleback in the pic - the saddle and coloration changes as they age - the saddle on my older pair has actually faded out to a dark purplish color and the bright red/orange has turned into blood red - gorgeous at that age, but the stinkers won't stay still for a decent pic.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/521/133898DCAM5856.JPG

[reef3r]

bump

[Moonstream]

is it a 37 gallon bow front? if it is they think about getting a smaller clown.
the b/w Ocellaris clowns are the same as the normals, just a diff. color. They would be ideal if you plan on having any passive fish in the tank.
The larger clowns are more aggressive, and would do best alone w/ only each other for company. The arger clowns are cinamon, maroon, clarkii, tomato, sebae, ect...
Check out the clowns here and rank them in the order you like them, then we can tell you the best kinds of clowns for you.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=27

[reef3r]

Okay, ranked:
1. Clarkii
2. Sebae
3. Blue Stripe
4. Three Stripe
5. Red Saddleback
6. Occelaris
7. B&W Occelaris

That should be far enough.

The 37g in not a bowfront. And I am going to have a jawfish, but I'll probably add it first.

[Moonstream]

what are the dimensions of the tank? you could likely have the clarkii pair. They are some times aggressive to other fish, but as long as the jawfish is added first then it should be fine! :)
after you add the jawfish wait until it has a burrow, then you can add the clowns.

[reef3r]

Planning on it, because I've read jawfish are very stressed without a burrow, and having a pair of clowns picking on him won't be good. The tank is 30"x12"x22" (LxWxH).

[Moonstream]

Yeah, def. could add the clowns! :D
You could get a T5 light for the tank and maybe get a BTA.

[reef3r]

I bought a light already - It's the dual satellite pc light, 260watts. I would love an anemone, but I'm afraid it would die, and they're supposed to live a long time in the wild so I wouldn't want to kill them. I'll stick with torch corals.

[Moonstream]

cool :)
I love the torch corals. I think that a BTA would be okay under those lights, they would place themselves at the top of the tank, but would be fine w/ frequent feeding. Actully if they are at the top of the tank they would be farther away from the jawfish, so the clowns would have less of a chance encountering the jaw.

[reef3r]

I dunno. It'll be a while until I get fish anyways because we will be going on vacation for two weeks in august, and I don't have an auto feeder, auto top off, or anything in case the electric goes out, which it almost always does in august. So I don't want the fish to die.

[reef3r]

Umm, well, I don't know where I got the 260 from, I guess it was just a major typo on my part, but the light's only 110 watts. NOT 260. Anyway, I've been told that's enough for a torch which is probably the highest light coral I'm gonna get.

[reef3r]

OMG. I don't know what my problem is, but I don't have 110 watts either. I have 130!!!!!!!!! Maybe that's where the 260 came from... 130 times 2? Anyway, I have 130 watts. NOT 110. NO! 260

[Moonstream]

be careful w/ the torch coral, if my math is correct then you have just over 3 watts per gallon. Thats not a huge amount for a 22" tank, you really have to be sure you put the torch in the middle, or at the top. Def. no nem, and no higher light corals then a torch!

[reef3r]

Yep, I know, high in the rocks, I don't really want an anem, anyway. All I wanted was some shrooms, a torch, maybe some zoas, and the fish.

[Tyler.L]

jaw fish usually need pairs...that way they're not stressed out as much. they do best in pairs from what my friend told me

[chrispc66]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10267072#post10267072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BristlewormKing
No, that is a red saddleback in the pic - the saddle and coloration changes as they age - the saddle on my older pair has actually faded out to a dark purplish color and the bright red/orange has turned into blood red - gorgeous at that age, but the stinkers won't stay still for a decent pic.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/521/133898DCAM5856.JPG

Thanks bristlewormking, I had doubts after reading the previous post, however with more research, I am confident I have Amphiprion ephippium and not Amphiprion melanopus