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Hey guys, I've been wondering about mixing clownfish breeds and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I used to have two True Percula Clowns, but sadly one didn't make it during a power outage caused by a wind storm. Since then, I've been trying to find a mate for my remaining Percula, but it's tough finding one locally - I don't trust online fish stores and the shipping costs are just too high.

My Percula doesn't have really strong black lines, it actually looks a lot like a healthy Ocellaris, so I was thinking maybe I could introduce an Ocellaris or even a Maroon Clown. I know some people say it's fine to mix breeds, while others advise against it. I'm really unsure what to do, so I'd appreciate your honest opinions - I just want what's best for my fish.

stoney wrote: ↑Sun Aug 10, 2025 8:15 am Hey guys, I've been wondering about mixing clownfish breeds and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I used to have two True Percula Clowns, but sadly one didn't make it during a power outage caused by a wind storm. Since then, I've been trying to find a mate for my remaining Percula, but it's tough finding one locally - I don't trust online fish stores and the shipping costs are just too high.

My Percula doesn't have really strong black lines, it actually looks a lot like a healthy Ocellaris, so I was thinking maybe I could introduce an Ocellaris or even a Maroon Clown. I know some people say it's fine to mix breeds, while others advise against it. I'm really unsure what to do, so I'd appreciate your honest opinions - I just want what's best for my fish.

I've had a pair of Tomato Clowns and a pair of Common Clowns in the same tank for a while now, and it's worked out great. The Tomato Clowns were already established, then a few months later I added the Common Clowns. No special intro or anything, just added them in and they've been fine together.

I've read that Ocellaris and Perculas are essentially the same fish, just with different colouration, and they get along just fine - they'll even hybridise without any issues.

The more robust clowns, like Tomatos and Clarkii, are a different story though - they can be quite aggressive and will often bully or kill the smaller clowns.

If you've got a large tank, you might be able to mix them up, as they'll likely establish their own territories. However, in a smaller tank, like a 3ft one, it's likely to be a disaster.

From what I've gathered, Perculas and false Perculas, like Ocellaris, seem to be compatible though.

The reality is, mixing clowns can be a gamble, and it's clear from the differing opinions out there. The safest approach would be to not add another clown, but let's be honest, most people will do it anyway. Given that you're looking to pair up with your existing Percula, it's worth noting that Percula and Ocellaris Clowns are generally the smallest and most tolerant of the bunch. If you had a pair before, they would likely have been male and female, with a size difference between them - sometimes it's small, but it's usually noticeable. Which fish died, the larger or the smaller? It's not crucial to my advice, but I'm curious. The thing is, when the fish died, it created a gap in the clown hierarchy. If it was the smaller one that died, the larger one would still be the female, and if it was the larger one, the smaller one would change to become the female. To minimize risks, you should look for a small Percula or Ocellaris clown - the smaller, the better. This way, you know it's a juvenile and might be accepted. As for other species, especially maroons, I'd advise against them - you'd be putting a fish in harm's way.

I appreciate the input. So it was the smaller one that passed away, and I think stress was a major factor. I remember seeing them do this weird twitching and vibrating dance - I'm no expert, but I thought maybe they were spawning? Though it could've been aggression, who knows?

As for getting a smaller clown, I don't think that's the best idea. My Percula's being really aggressive right now, and I think it'd just beat up on a smaller one. I've seen it nipping and it's just too much. Plus, during that power outage, it was tough keeping him alive. I want more peaceful fish in my tank, and he's supposed to be semi-aggressive, not this intense.

That's why I thought maybe getting a bigger Ocellaris could work. If my Percula could switch to being the male, maybe there'd be less aggression in the tank. What are your thoughts on this?

That's awesome to hear they hybridize. I was really hoping for that. From what I've seen, there isn't a huge difference between True Perculas and Ocellaris except for the black lines - Perculas typically have thicker ones, but mine doesn't really have that, it looks more like an Ocellaris to me.

I must stress, once a clown has moved up the hierarchy, it's a one-way ticket - they can't go back down. Introducing a bigger fish will only lead to a clash of the titans, with one fish ultimately meeting its demise. That's why I emphasized getting the smallest fish possible - it's more likely to accept a subservient role and, fingers crossed, the female might just accept it too.

However, if your Percula was indeed spawning, I'd advise against introducing a new fish altogether. The female's unlikely to accept a newcomer, and it's a risk not worth taking. You might want to consider trading her in at your LFS for a spawning pair or two juveniles - just a thought.

As for hybridization, it's possible with certain clown combinations, but it's extremely limited. Maroons, on the other hand, are a different story altogether - they belong to a separate genus, Premnas, and won't hybridize with other clowns. The presence of cheek spines and their refusal to spawn with other fish set them apart, making them a unique case.

Here's an interesting example, a Percula/Occerlaris hybrid, often referred to as a 'snowflake'. Then there's the Chrysopterus/Sandaracinos hybrid, another fascinating combination.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate all the insight.

I'd say steer clear of maroon and tomato clowns, they're notorious bullies and will chase down other clowns without mercy. I had a tomato in my 5ft 100g and even with that size tank, it wouldn't tolerate another clown. Mtidess, they're known for being nasty.

The advice above is spot on, get the smallest clown possible and try to buy from a place with a tank full of them. That way, no dominance has been established and you're more likely to get a male. I've had success mixing commons, and I've also introduced two black and white sadle backs to the tank with minimal fuss. The black and whites are a bit pricey and rare, but they're super hardy and tough little guys that make a great addition to any reef. My female hosts a clump of pom pom xenia, but she's quite possessive about it.

Take your time, look around, and always have a backup plan ready. A quarantine tank or another reef to put the newbie in, just in case. You can tell within the first few hours how it's going to go. I've found that initially, they're all over each other, but about half an hour later, the bigger fish puts the smaller ones in their place and peace is restored. If it's bad news, they'll go for the kill straight away. I've had one killed in 5 minutes before I could even intervene.