pushing the limits of a clown's patience

[BankoLite]

I've been doing some research on oscellaris clowns and it seems they don't really fit well in a 5.5 gallon tank. I've read they can grow up to 2.5" in captivity and sometimes even bigger. I was wondering if it's possible to keep one in a 5.5 gallon tank with close monitoring and optimal conditions, or if it's just not a good idea. I've got experience with a FW tank setup and this tank was previously a planted nano, but I want to make sure I'm not putting the fish in a bad situation. If it's a no, I'll probably just get a clown goby instead. I'm planning on getting a refractometer and pc lighting to set up a reef tank, and I've already got an aquaclear 20 refugium, 9lbs of live rock, and a maxi-jet 400. I'm also considering keeping a mini-rio pump that's 46gph. I think that's all the relevant info. I'm guessing the answer is probably no, but I wanted to check. If there's a smaller species that would work, let me know. I definitely don't want to keep the oscellaris clowns if it's not a good home for them.

[zenoxa]

I voted yes, as they can technically survive in a 5.5 gallon tank. However, personally, I wouldn't put any marine fish in a tank that small - the risks just seem too high for my liking.

[BankoLite]

I voted yes, as they can technically survive in a 5.5 gallon tank. However, personally, I wouldn't put any marine fish in a tank that small - the risks just seem too high for my liking.

To clarify, I'm asking about the general consensus, thanks for sharing your thoughts. It seems there's a divide between having no fish or just one in a 5-gallon tank. I've also come across information that suggests clown gobies might be a suitable option since they typically don't grow beyond 1 inch.

I appreciate your input and I'm not dismissing your advice, I just want to hear what others have to say before making a decision.

[RidgeFlyer]

I voted no. The clownfish might be able to survive in a 5.5 gallon tank, but I highly doubt it would be a happy or healthy life for the fish. I think you're better off with a clown goby - they're tiny and mostly perch, so they don't require much space to swim.

[BankoLite]

That's what I'm trying to determine since I've never had a clownfish before and wouldn't really know if it would be happy in such a small space, though I'm thinking it might be a struggle due to the limited swimming area.

[Vitalox2]

Watching my perc, I can see it needs a lot of room to swim, even at night it's very active. I think a 5.5 gallon tank would be too small for a clownfish. The clown goby is a good alternative, it stays small and doesn't require much space.

[Axiomix]

I'm with the majority here, space is definitely a concern for me. I think it's great you're considering the well-being of the fish, and that's exactly why I'd say no to a clownfish in a 5.5 gallon tank.

[BankoLite]

Yeah I figured not enough swimming space would be an issue. Thanks for the responses.

Considering going with the clown goby now, does anyone think it's feasible to keep two in a 5.5 gallon tank or is that just too much?

[axonify]

I think one clown goby is the way to go. Two might be pushing it, considering the space.

[Vitalox2]

I think two could work, they're tiny and tend to perch rather than swim around much. Consider grabbing a green and a yellow one, just make sure to pick the smallest ones your LFS has.