CLOWNS

[Markster]

I have one true percula clown (1 1/4 inch) and it will not go to my large green stipe anemone. I had a 2 1/2 inch saddleback that loved the anemone. I can still get him back but want a pair to share the host anemone.

Should I trade in the percula at a local LFS and obtain two small saddlebacks, clarki clowns, or just go back to the one large saddleback?

Thanks for your assistance.

[kaiser]

It may take them a few days before they move in. You could have just gotten a 2nd saddleback to join your old one. I read somewhere that there is no or very little fighting, as long as the new one is no larger than 80% of the old one. I've done something like this with ocellaris and it went fine.

[whatsareef]

I suggest the same as Kaiser mentioned.. I have a pair of saddlebacks hosting in a carpet and in the same tank I also have a pair of maroons hosting in a sebae. I started out with one saddle back and then added a smaller one a month later, they paired up with no problem. How long have you had your perc? Sometimes it takes a day sometimes months... I guess it all comes down to which ones you want to end up to the next step you take...

[Markster]

I have only had the perc for four days, but miss my saddleback already. I will most likely get him back and add a mate.

[matt]

If your carpet anemone is a S. haddoni, which is the most common one, it's not a natural host for the percula. I think saddleback, clarkii, and sebae are the only commonly available clowns that host in this anemone in nature.

[Markster]

I traded in the percula and bought a pair of maroon clowns. They are getting very close to the carpet but haven't entered the 'zone'.

[matt]

Maroons don't host in this anemone in nature either; they go for the BTA, E. quadricolor. Actually, those anemones are considered much easier to keep than S. haddoni, and you can get them tank bred! Assuming your current anemone is S. haddoni, I suggest if you want to keep the maroon clowns, that you trade your carpet for someone's tank raised BTA, either green or "rose" colored. Maybe you'll get lucky with this set up, but you'd probably be better off with the natural host, and then someone could keep clarkii clowns in this one. Just a thought.

[Markster]

I have had the carpet for two years. It has grown quite large (10-12" in diameter) during full daylight. My entire thought was to replace the large saddleback for two smaller clowns that would mate and enjoy the carpet. At 4:30 this morning, the smoke detectors were going off and all I could locate was a burning smell from around the fish tank. It subsided quickly and that was it. I stayed home today to watch for a sign on the smell and the maroons. Well, the maroons were in a hated battle so I removed the larger of the two and placed in the sump. I am stumped to my next move. The moral of my story is to leave it alone if it ain't broken.

[Markster]

I obtained my old saddleback and added to the tank with one of the two much smaller maroon clowns. They are getting along and almost remind me of a sibling and parent relationship. Maybe too soon to tell but looks encouraging. I have the other maroon in the sump and willing to sell cheap! just make an offer.

[Henry]

Clowns will generally fight when they are first introduced, especially for the first time. Hopefully someone else will chime in with some info to confirm or dismiss this. But I would wait before you sell this clown.