Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hey guys, got a 36gallon with a pretty cool mix - 1 clown, 1 fire fish, 1 watchman goby, 1 clown goby. Really want to add a black clown, but I've heard it's a no-go unless they're introduced together from the start. Was thinking, what if I take my orange clown and the new black clown, throw 'em in a separate hospital tank for a week, then add 'em both to the main tank? Or am I stuck giving my current clown away and buying two at the same time?

You've got a couple of issues on your hands, Fortezza. Adding another clown, and to make matters more complicated, it's a different colour. Both can work out, but let's be honest, they can also go horribly wrong.

If you're set on doing this, I'd recommend getting your hands on the smallest juvenile clown you can find and introducing it to the main tank like you would any other fish. However, you need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario - have a small tank on standby to remove the new clown if your existing female clown takes a dislike to it. Trust me, if she doesn't get along with the new addition, she'll harass it until it's gone.

Yeah, as Seffie mentioned, size does matter. What's the size of your current clown? I had an orange perc clown and added a smaller black and white one - they get along great, no aggression at all. Key is to add a smaller one, ideally the smallest from a group at the LFS, to minimize the risk of it being a female. Generally, it'll be okay, but be prepared for the worst-case scenario.