Clownfish in Nano Tank

Hello everyone, I've been thinking of setting up a 10 gallon reef tank and really want to put some clownfish in it. Im having trouble deciding whether to get skunks or clarkiis and wanted to see if anyone else has had experience keeping either of these two. I have a few questions as well, can I have more then a pair of skunks in a 10 gallon? I've always wanted to keep a group of skunk clowns at around 5 or more, but dont know whether 10 gallons would be to small for them. Also, are clarkii clowns aggressive? I've heard they are a bit more feisty compared to the ocellaris or skunk when paired and can get very territorial. Any help is appreciated. Thank you all!

 

Both Clarkii Clownfish and Skunk Clowns tend to be more aggressive than Ocellaris or Perculas, and both Clarkii and Skunk Clowns would need something larger than 10 gallons. I've got a Clarkii in a 55 - I used to have two until the female killed my male. They're beautiful, but nasty.

The only clowns I'd put in a 10 would be Percula or Ocellaris.

As far as doing more than a pair of clowns, that's usually going to take a several hundred gallon tank with dozens of clowns. It's called a harem. It's almost impossible to do with less aggressive species, and I've never heard of someone doing it with the more aggressive species.

 

Both Clarkii Clownfish and Skunk Clowns tend to be more aggressive than Ocellaris or Perculas, and both Clarkii and Skunk Clowns would need something larger than 10 gallons. I've got a Clarkii in a 55 - I used to have two until the female killed my male. They're beautiful, but nasty.

The only clowns I'd put in a 10 would be Percula or Ocellaris.

As far as doing more than a pair of clowns, that's usually going to take a several hundred gallon tank with dozens of clowns. It's called a harem. It's almost impossible to do with less aggressive species, and I've never heard of someone doing it with the more aggressive species.

Well that's a shame, sorry for your male Clarkii as well, they really are beautiful clownfish. I've always heard that skunks were one of the more docile species and do well in schools, must've heard it wrong. thank you for the info though!

 

Well that's a shame, sorry for your male Clarkii as well, they really are beautiful clownfish. I've always heard that skunks were one of the more docile species and do well in schools, must've heard it wrong. thank you for the info though!

Of course!

I'm sure in larger tanks (or the ocean) that skunk clowns may do well in harems. I had a pair of pink sunks a while back and they were almost as bad as the Clarkiis have been. They are damsels, after all.

 

Of course!

I'm sure in larger tanks (or the ocean) that skunk clowns may do well in harems. I had a pair of pink sunks a while back and they were almost as bad as the Clarkiis have been. They are damsels, after all.

Wait, are they not really clownfish, but damsels?

 

Clownfish and Damsels both fall into the family Pomacentridae - so they're extremely closely related. Some damsels exhibit similar pairing behavior to clownfish, and some also form symbiotic relationships with anemones.

 

Clownfish and Damsels both fall into the family Pomacentridae - so they're extremely closely related. Some damsels exhibit similar pairing behavior to clownfish, and some also form symbiotic relationships with anemones.

I've heard of damsels forming symbiotic relationships with anemones, but I didn't know that they were so closely related. Thank you for teaching me something new today!

 

I agree on the clarkii note. Aside from being aggressive they also get pretty big. My LFS had a pair in a display that were at least 5". I have a pair closely related to clarkiis and the female is a terror. They are really cute when they sleep though. Mine sleep in the corner of the tank together laying on the sand.

Ocellaris/percula would be your best bet. They are still very cute and playful!

 

I agree on the clarkii note. Aside from being aggressive they also get pretty big. My LFS had a pair in a display that were at least 5". I have a pair closely related to clarkiis and the female is a terror. They are really cute when they sleep though. Mine sleep in the corner of the tank together laying on the sand.

Ocellaris/percula would be your best bet. They are still very cute and playful!

Yeah the ocellaris is probably my best bet, I just really liked the shape of the clarkii and skunks though. Thank you all for your input I learned a lot!