clownfish lonely????

[fishmaniac]

My friend has a tomato clown in a 45g tank all alone. It swims slowly and methodically around in the tank and seems to be a bit lonely. I told him to give it to me(I'd pay) because I have a tomato clown and they could pair up(carefully of course). He still doesnt think its lonely. I told him the way it acts it seems it. Can a fish really be lonely?? Why does it act lazy?

 

[blout]

it seems all clowns are lazy in there swimming thats cos there not built for speed. if one clown is bigger or smaller than the other then give a go they could even pair up.

 

[fishmaniac]

so you think I should pair them? Yeah mines bigger but not by a whole lot about an inch.

 

[Opcn]

what size are they? if you have two females it will creat problems, if not your in the clear. Personally I wouldn't bother, while some fish can get lonely (schoolers) clowns aren't likely to because of there solitary and territorial nature unless they have a mate that they miss.

 

[blout]

if you dont try you will never know

 

[Opcn]

I dissagree, depending on there size we can be certain that some clowns will not get allong well, we need more info

 

[Mr Miagi]

I agree with Opcn. Why take the chance?

Some fish do get lonely, but generaly clowns are fine single.

 

[blout]

even if you got one from your LFS whos to say that they would get along so why not get it from your friend it would be the same thing

 

[Navarre]

Im sorry but in all my experiences i have never seen a single clown look as happy as a pair of clowns.

Single clowns tend to be less willing to swim far or explore the tank. They are usually too scared to hang around the liverock and will take station in top corners of tanks where they can look down and not be in fear of ambush from liveorck predators.

Pairs of clowns will be far happier and spend far more time exploring together as they will watch out for each other. Its easy to pair up clowns... Just choose a tiny clown of th esame species, this will be sexless or male. this means that your current clown (even if male) will change to female so you are gaurenteed a pair.

I say go for it, you want your fish happy then provide it with the means to be happy