fishcounter
03-11-2006, 05:09 PM
I'm interested in keeping a tomato clown - (Amphimrin frenatus) in my tank and I had a few questions.
I was reading that clowfish are actually a subfamily to the damsel fish - (Pomacentridae.) I know that clows can be territorial even to the death if the have an anemone they are protecting, but is their behavir comparable to a damsel? Are they as agressive?
If I do house a tomato, I am thinking about adding a bulb anemone - (Entacmaea quadricolor.) I have a lot of reading to do before I decide on this combination but if I do decide to house the two, would it be a good idea to get a paid of tomatos or just one?
I am also interested in Porcelain anemone crabs - Neopetrolisthes ohshimai and I wonder if the crab and the clown would fight to the death over the anemone.
I'm interested in keeping a tomato clown - (Amphimrin frenatus) in my tank and I had a few questions.
I was reading that clowfish are actually a subfamily to the damsel fish - (Pomacentridae.) I know that clows can be territorial even to the death if the have an anemone they are protecting, but is their behavir comparable to a damsel? Are they as agressive?
absolutely.. they "can" be quite aggressive. now it can vary from species to species, but specifically the tomato clowns, are probably one of the most aggressive of the Amphiprion genus. There aggression is more defensive than offensive. The are most aggressive when going through certain paring and mating stages. all that said, the generally are not a nuisance, and usually will get along just fine in a community tank.
If I do house a tomato, I am thinking about adding a bulb anemone - (Entacmaea quadricolor.) I have a lot of reading to do before I decide on this combination but if I do decide to house the two, would it be a good idea to get a paid of tomatos or just one?
its more preference than recommendation, there is no need for a pair, but if you do, i would recommend adding them both as juveniles, or as a male female pair to prevent excess quarreling.
I am also interested in Porcelain anemone crabs - Neopetrolisthes ohshimai and I wonder if the crab and the clown would fight to the death over the anemone.
yes, they will likely fight each other for the anemone, and the clown will likely win... i personally would not recommend this
kj_yoda
03-13-2006, 09:01 AM
I have a tomato clown (tank raised) that i got as a juvinile. It is now about 4 years old and is EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE. She moves coral, and even rock, when she doesn't like where it is placed. I also have a BTA that the tomato clown lives in. There is a porcelain crab in the tank that goes nowhere near the anemone, but is doing well.
Here is a picture
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e196/kj_yoda/Invertebrates/Anemone-Full.jpg
gwen_o_lyn
03-13-2006, 10:00 AM
Nice pic Kevin!
My clowns attack when I go near their home, a toadstool leather.
Mean little boogers- the attack is more startling than anything else.
fishcounter
03-13-2006, 10:39 AM
Wow! good to know. I knew they were territorial, but I had no idea. Kevin, does your clown move stuff around enough to actually tip rockwork over? Does your BTA stay pretty stationary or does it roam into powerheads and such?
Thanks everyone. Great pic kevin.
kj_yoda
03-13-2006, 11:13 AM
My tomato clown has moved rockwork (biggest about 2 lb rock). has THROWN CORAL. My anemone has been eaten by powerheads 3-4 times, being shaped as a heart or an apple at times. This weekend he moved, extending his stalk and getting closer to the lights, but still in the same location.
Really, he doesnt' move that much. I have a maxijet located right near his stalk, but I made sure the intake is covered by a rock so he can't get caught.
Keep in mind, my clown didn't move stuff around until she got BIG!!! She is about 5" long and 3/4" thick! She is strong. She fights with me a lot and will actually attack me when I get near her anemone. I had to move my other anemones to the other side of the tank (tube anemone and carpet). You can see more pics at my webiste, the link is under my signature.
yes, tomatoes are quite aggressive as mentioned.
a better option might be skunk clowns, ocellaris, or perculas.
i have kept ocellaris and percula, and there have been aggressive moments, but overall mine show no where near the aggression shown by tomatoes.