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Help: Fish to Go With Agressive Clownfish Pair


Wisenheimer

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I haven't had much luck with fish choices lately so I'm hoping for a little help.

 

Originally I had a Firefish in my BC14. I added a pair of clowns and after a couple of weeks everything was good. I moved them to a IM30 cube - still good.

 

Fast forward a year or so and the Firefish started looking not so good and eventually dies. I tried adding a few different fish one at a time. All were bullied by my larger clown (female?).

 

My best success was with a Scooter Blenny, poor choice I know, this is what happens when you listen to the guy at the LFS. I didn't realize that he was a Dragonet or I never would have bought him. He did eat frozen food but couldn't get enough away from the clowns. He lasted a few months but eventually starved.

 

I'd really like to add a 3rd fish to my tank. Any suggestions on something that will be able to hold it's own against the clowns, isn't too big for a 30g and won't turn into an even bigger bully than the clowns?

 

I know it might be tough because the clowns have had the place mostly to themselves for the last year and a half or so.

 

A pair of Cardinals, maybe? Any other suggestions are welcome.

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I actually just got a Diamond Watchman Goby to go with my pair of clowns and he holds his own just fine. My female is a complete bitch and was actually named Cruella when my dad first saw her. After a few days they have been doing just fine. I made sure to order a "medium" from LiveAquaria and it is about 3" from nose to tail so the clowns give him plenty of space. For feeding, I simply feed the clowns first on the opposite side of the tank and then target feed the goby. I have been feeding mysis shrimp with a turkey baster and just let it rain over him and he even picks it out of the water column. After giving him 5-10 minutes of scavenging what is around him, I turn on the power heads (not the return pump) and let the fish go after the remaining shrimp. During this time he swims all over chasing food.

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I actually just got a Diamond Watchman Goby to go with my pair of clowns and he holds his own just fine. My female is a complete bitch and was actually named Cruella when my dad first saw her. After a few days they have been doing just fine. I made sure to order a "medium" from LiveAquaria and it is about 3" from nose to tail so the clowns give him plenty of space. For feeding, I simply feed the clowns first on the opposite side of the tank and then target feed the goby. I have been feeding mysis shrimp with a turkey baster and just let it rain over him and he even picks it out of the water column. After giving him 5-10 minutes of scavenging what is around him, I turn on the power heads (not the return pump) and let the fish go after the remaining shrimp. During this time he swims all over chasing food.

I tried a Rainfordi Goby and he couldn't get anywhere without being pestered. Would the Watchman be better because it's larger?

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I tried a Rainfordi Goby and he couldn't get anywhere without being pestered. Would the Watchman be better because it's larger?

How big was your goby? Before ordering my goby I knew that the female in my tank likes to be a boss and keeps the little guy hiding. That's why I made sure to order the "medium" size of the watchman goby. He came in at a solid 3" and longer and bigger than the female so she hasn't bothered with him. I looked up that goby and their max size is 3" and I'm assuming when you got him he was closer to 1.5" and therefore right around or smaller than the female. That could pose problems simply because the clown can see that it is bigger and will try to boss that fish around as well. So far my clowns kind of awkwardly just stare at it from a distance or are just doing their own thing.

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You need to pick fish that are non aggressive but that aren't affraid to hold their own. One great fish would be a fan blenny. Since they have venomous fangs the other fish seem to leave them alone for the most part. Also i have a mandarine in my tank that eats frozen and nobody ever bothers him. I thought I read somewhere they have some sort of toxin in their slime coat that makes other fish less likely to pick on them. If you go that route don't buy one that won't take frozen. It'll take some looking but it's the only way one would live in that size tank.

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How big was your goby? Before ordering my goby I knew that the female in my tank likes to be a boss and keeps the little guy hiding. That's why I made sure to order the "medium" size of the watchman goby. He came in at a solid 3" and longer and bigger than the female so she hasn't bothered with him. I looked up that goby and their max size is 3" and I'm assuming when you got him he was closer to 1.5" and therefore right around or smaller than the female. That could pose problems simply because the clown can see that it is bigger and will try to boss that fish around as well. So far my clowns kind of awkwardly just stare at it from a distance or are just doing their own thing.

The Goby was small, maybe 1.5". How do you like your Watchman? Is he active or does he just hide out in the rocks. I really miss how active my Firefish was but I worry that adding one now would be a death sentence.

 

You need to pick fish that are non aggressive but that aren't affraid to hold their own. One great fish would be a fan blenny. Since they have venomous fangs the other fish seem to leave them alone for the most part. Also i have a mandarine in my tank that eats frozen and nobody ever bothers him. I thought I read somewhere they have some sort of toxin in their slime coat that makes other fish less likely to pick on them. If you go that route don't buy one that won't take frozen. It'll take some looking but it's the only way one would live in that size tank.

My Scooter took frozen no problem but I just couldn't give him enough to keep him going. The clowns would finish theirs and come over to pick off his because he was a slow eater. He just slowly seemed to fade away.

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I'd really like to add a 3rd fish to my tank. Any suggestions on something that will be able to hold it's own against the clowns, isn't too big for a 30g and won't turn into an even bigger bully than the clowns?

 

I know it might be tough because the clowns have had the place mostly to themselves for the last year and a half or so.

 

A pair of Cardinals, maybe? Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

A starki damsel would do well in that setup.

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Do you have a QT tank? Take the female out of the display tank. Introduce your new fish. Then add the female back about 4 - 6 days later. I got that advice from Ray at Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society club. Worked like a charm for a pair of mean skunk clowns and a new Sunrise Dottyback. I only removed the female.

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My Scooter took frozen no problem but I just couldn't give him enough to keep him going. The clowns would finish theirs and come over to pick off his because he was a slow eater. He just slowly seemed to fade away.

One trick to help with feeding them is to put a shot glass or something on the sand that the mandarine fits in and the clown won't. You can then put the food in there and eventually they will learn to always feed there.

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A starki damsel would do well in that setup.

That looks like a cool option. Are they pretty active or do they hide out most of the time?

 

Now the trick is to find one in Southern Ontario. Lol

I have same issue with my clowns. I now have a long nose hawk and a dwarf lionfish to keep them in line.

Those would be really cool. Are they out enough for you to enjoy them? What do they eat and how often do you need to feed them?

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Longnose is always out and about. Can be hit or miss with shrimp and tiny fish. I never had any issues with the ones I have had. Dwarfs can be hard at times to get to eat but mine ate everything from the start. I feed heavy so they get at least one meal per day.

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That looks like a cool option. Are they pretty active or do they hide out most of the time?

 

Now the trick is to find one in Southern Ontario.

 

They are very active and always out and about. I'm sure your LFS could secure one.

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A starki damsel would do well in that setup.

 

this

 

 

3rd this.

 

I have a starkii, awesome fish. I have one I have kept with a large variety of fish, both peaceful and aggressive. Mine isn't aggressive towards peaceful fish but if someone tries to bully the starkii, she will hold her own no problem, mostly flares up to look big and gives the other fish an evil eye. Active and always out.

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reefernanoman

I haven't had much luck with fish choices lately so I'm hoping for a little help.

 

Originally I had a Firefish in my BC14. I added a pair of clowns and after a couple of weeks everything was good. I moved them to a IM30 cube - still good.

 

Fast forward a year or so and the Firefish started looking not so good and eventually dies. I tried adding a few different fish one at a time. All were bullied by my larger clown (female?).

 

My best success was with a Scooter Blenny, poor choice I know, this is what happens when you listen to the guy at the LFS. I didn't realize that he was a Dragonet or I never would have bought him. He did eat frozen food but couldn't get enough away from the clowns. He lasted a few months but eventually starved.

 

I'd really like to add a 3rd fish to my tank. Any suggestions on something that will be able to hold it's own against the clowns, isn't too big for a 30g and won't turn into an even bigger bully than the clowns?

 

I know it might be tough because the clowns have had the place mostly to themselves for the last year and a half or so.

 

A pair of Cardinals, maybe? Any other suggestions are welcome.

I have a 28G nanocube and my huge female maroon clownfish will tear apart ANY other fish in there. So It's just my two clowns and that's it.

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I have a 28G nanocube and my huge female maroon clownfish will tear apart ANY other fish in there. So It's just my two clowns and that's it.

Luckily she's not too big. Just a 2.5" Black Ocellaris.

 

I might wait until spring when the warm weather makes shipping easier.

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