Clown fish questions

[MMAX]

All tank bred clowns start off as males. I'm not 100% sure but once they switch to females I don't think they can switch back to males again.

[Acipenser]

Ok then i guess I may need to add 1 more small clown and hope they pair off I guess Ill need to start an other tank.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by MMAX

All tank bred clowns start off as males. I'm not 100% sure but once they switch to females I don't think they can switch back to males again.

Actually they start off as neither sex. The most dominant becomes female and the 2nd becomes male.

If the female dies the male becomes female but once a female they cannot turn male. Only forward not back.

[ponokareefer]

You should only keep 2 clowns in one tank. Any more than that and eventually the dominant pair will kill off the other clownfish.

[Acipenser]

Originally Posted by ponokareefer

You should only keep 2 clowns in one tank. Any more than that and eventually the dominant pair will kill off the other clownfish.

I have seen multiple clowns kept together successfully !

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Acipenser

I have seen multiple clowns kept together successfully !

3 is a bad number for clownfish they almost always kill off the third or stress him out bad.the bigger the tank and hiding the better the chances.

[Ryan]

I agree with reefwars although if you must attempt 3 A. ocellaris are probably your best bet.

True Perculas are notorious for having 3 then all of a sudden the female kills the adolescent (3rd clown) in preperation for breeding.

A. ocellaris pairs will almost treat the 3rd as a nurse allowing it to help tend/gaurd the nest. Some pairs wont let the 3rd join in.

I know a breeding trio up for sale right now where the little guy is accepted by the breeding pair if anyone is looking.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Ryan

I agre with reefwars although if you must attempt 3 A. ocellaris are probably your best bet.

True Perculas are notorious for having 3 then all of a sudden the female kills the adolescent (3rd clown) in preperation for breeding.

A. ocellaris pairs will almost treat the 3rd as a nurse allowing it to help tend/gaurd the nest. Some pairs wont let the 3rd join in.

I know a breeding trio up for sale right now where the little guy is accepted by the breeding pair if anyone is looking.

a breeding trio thats prety cool trusting female for sure

[lee9]

Originally Posted by Acipenser

I have seen multiple clowns kept together successfully !

Yeah, I thought I saw a program on TV that said in nature clownfish typically live in social groups in their anemones. A large female and a smaller male which is the dominant pair and then a number of decreasingly smaller males. I wonder if this is ever imitated in an aquarium environment?

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by lee9

Yeah, I thought I saw a program on TV that said in nature clownfish typically live in social groups in their anemones. A large female and a smaller male which is the dominant pair and then a number of decreasingly smaller males. I wonder if this is ever imitated in an aquarium environment?

Correct except the smaller fish are not males nor females they are "adolescents" waiting for one of the pair to die and take place of the male.

In the ocean there is a huge amount of room for the smaller clowns to swim away vs in our aquarium. Not to mention 10 adolescent clowns in the wild vs 1 or 2 in our tanks.

Another cool fact; studies have shown in areas where clown fish hosting anemones live without a hosting clown pair the anemones get eaten and the other way around. Those small little clowns help protect the anemone and the anemone returns the favor.