Clarkii Clownfish Tank Mates
Clarkii Clownfish is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 12 freshwater species that pair well with a clarkii clownfish — plus the 2 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a clarkii clownfish
- Clown Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Neon Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Banggai Cardinalfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Blue Damselfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Firefish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Green Chromis ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Royal Gramma ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Six Line Wrasse ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow Watchman Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Bicolor Blenny ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Lawnmower Blenny ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 13 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Mandarin Dragonet ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Clarkii Clownfish tank mates that can work with care
- Bicolor Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Blue Tang ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Cleaner Wrasse ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Coral Beauty Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Diamond Goby ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Emperor Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Semi-aggressive · 38 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Flame Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Foxface Rabbitfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 24 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
+ 12 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a clarkii clownfish
- Maroon Clownfish ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Clarkii Clownfish and Maroon Clownfish will hold territory and clash.
- Domino Damselfish ⛔ AvoidEasy care · Aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Clarkii Clownfish and Domino Damselfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
Check any fish against a clarkii clownfish
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a clarkii clownfish, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Clarkii Clownfish?
We compare each fish against your clarkii clownfish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Banggai Cardinalfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Bicolor Blenny✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Blue Damselfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Clown Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Firefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Green Chromis✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Green Chromis in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lawnmower Blenny✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 13 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Mandarin Dragonet✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Neon Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Royal Gramma✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Six Line Wrasse✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow Watchman Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Bicolor Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Blue Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Cleaner Wrasse⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Coral Beauty Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Diamond Goby⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Flame Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Foxface Rabbitfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 24 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Kole Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Melanurus Wrasse⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Ocellaris Clownfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two clownfish (Clarkii Clownfish + Ocellaris Clownfish) will likely battle over territory — keep one per tank, or only in a large system with both added together.
- Percula Clownfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two clownfish (Clarkii Clownfish + Percula Clownfish) will likely battle over territory — keep one per tank, or only in a large system with both added together.
- Purple Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Regal Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~480 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Tomato Clownfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two clownfish (Clarkii Clownfish + Tomato Clownfish) will likely battle over territory — keep one per tank, or only in a large system with both added together.
- Yellow Coris Wrasse⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Yellow Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Domino Damselfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Clarkii Clownfish and Domino Damselfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Maroon Clownfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Clarkii Clownfish and Maroon Clownfish will hold territory and clash.
- Two clownfish (Clarkii Clownfish + Maroon Clownfish) will likely battle over territory — keep one per tank, or only in a large system with both added together.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Setting up a clarkii clownfish community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 110 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for a clarkii clownfish
Being semi-aggressive, clarkii clownfish can nip or harass smaller, slower or long-finned fish — give it space, broken sight-lines and similarly robust companions. It ranges across the whole water column, so tank mates that keep to one level help reduce friction.
Clarkii Clownfish grows to about 14 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 7 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–27 °C (75–81 °F), pH 8–8.4 and 8–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Clarkii Clownfish doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a clarkii clownfish live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 12 compatible freshwater species for clarkii clownfish. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.
What is the best tank mate for a clarkii clownfish?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Clown Goby, Neon Goby, Banggai Cardinalfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a clarkii clownfish?
Avoid Maroon Clownfish, Domino Damselfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.
How big a tank do clarkii clownfish tank mates need?
Start from Clarkii Clownfish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 110 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.