Non-aggr tankmates

D

David Gibson

Premium Member
[Hi all,

I started trolling here about a week ago and so far I like what I see. I'm going to try to make arrangements to make it down for the Aug. 11th meeting and barring any "incidents" will probably be joining the club.

I've been planning my first saltwater tank for about a month now (sometimes it feels longer because of how excited I am to get it up and running). I'm still in the market for the tank and all, but I've got a few leads (coveting Dean's 140 gal DAS - curse you for lowering the price again, it's about where I can talk myself into it).

I do want to get some opinions though. I am planning on starting slow, doing FOWLR first and eventually hoping to slowly add inverts and corals as I get a handle on maintaining good water quality. I know that I eventually want to have a few clams (Marc's blue Maxima to blame for that) and I aspire to be able to support a striped Mandarin (months of work to get the critter farm going enough). As for the rest of the fish though, I'm semi-undecided and would like some advice.

I like the Black-Cap Gramma (gramma melacara), probably a Banggai Cardinal, but what else? I considered a Flame Angel, or Yellow Longnosed butterfly (Forcipiger), but both of these I am concerned about being tank bullies and taking nips at feather dusters and the clams (or in the case of the butterfly, competing for food with the Mandarin).

What would you suggest as pretty peaceful co-habitants assuming that I only have a 55gal?]
 
[Hi David. Be sure to introduce yourself to me at the meeting (mention you come from Denton, please), and I'll help you avoid any "incidents." :D

Since you are about to start a new tank, you can take your time and keep looking at various fish. You are doing the smart thing by asking first before buying.

I bought a Long nose Butterfly fish once, and was horrified when it went after all my lovely feather dusters. It took me 35 minutes to catch that fish and take it back to the LFS. The owner gave me a lot of crap about returning it, saying "we don't rent fish here," but I was adamant that it was his fault because I clearly stated what was in my tank to make sure I wouldn't have any unpleasant surprises.

Do you like Coral Beauty fish?]
 
[Thanks for the advice.

mwolek - I considered a hawkfish, but was wondering if when it gets full sized if it wouldn't start eyeballing my cleaner shrimp as dinner.

BigStun - Is there a specific species? I've looked on fishbase.org for anything with a common name of "lawnmower blenny" and haven't found anything. Is it really a blenny or a goby?

Marc - If I make it for the meeting, I'll be sure to find you. :;): The coral beauty looks great but I had heard a lot of warnings about problems with imported Centropyge bispinosus not adapting to captivity well. What's your opinion, or do you know of anyone that has been able to breed them?]
 
[The hawk will most likely go after your cleaners unless you buy the cleaners much earlier and let them get pretty big and then add a small hawk. I have seen several people do this with success.

Agree lawnmower blenny is a great choice. They have a ton of common names.

Here is a link. Lawnmower/Sailfin Blenny

The basslet is an excellent choice. I would pass on the angels. They are hit or miss as far as being reef safe. You can chance it if you want as they are beautiful and I know many people including Marc and many other club members who have had great success with them in a full reef with clams.

What about a yellow or regal/hippo/blue tang. They are great fish!

Foxface are cool and great algea eaters (although a 55 is pretty small for them as they get 8" or bigger). Clownfish are great and everyone loves them! Purple Firefish. The list goes on but those are the first to come to mind.

They are all pretty peaceful but if you do go with a tang put him in last.]
 
[I've never once read, heard, or observed issues with Coral Beauties. I do hear that many have problems with Flame Angels, in that they die within 2 weeks of being added although they act perfectly healthy for the duration!

A Longnosed Hawkfish is reef-safe. It won't go after anything, and it does not swim like a fish, because it doesn't have a swim bladder. It'll eat bristleworms when they appear. An Arc Eye Hawkfish (or Horse Shoe Hawkfish) will eat your shrimp and hermits. A Flame Hawk may be a safe addition, but I'd check around.]
 
[David I would love a Yellow Long-nosed Butterfly fish. And Fenner says they are a great fish for an aquarium, as far as adapting and doing well. I you stick with a FOWLR, you never have to worry about it. But he will eat any feather dusters and probably pick at nay clams, if you got one. But any other corals, it would be hit or miss. Tons of people always say the same thing about Copperband Butterfly fish. But I had a beauty, that never bothered anything and was a model citizen with a great personality. Sadly I lost him in a recent disaster. But I went out and found another one that seems to be doing just as well as the first. I would never suggest trying to keep any fish that did not have a good survival rate. But one that does and is great fish, sometimes knowing their behavior ahead of time, you can build around them. Good luck and keep researching. Here is a great link to wetwebmedia, the guys on there are very knowledable about livestock and will answer any question you have about a particular fish.
http://wetwebmedia.com/]
 
[Keith - The link is much appreciated. I'm starting to appreciate more and more just using the Genus species name for some fish because of all the different common names (and sometimes same name) for different species. I had considered the yellow tang, but decided that in a 55 would probably be too cramped and would get cranky. If I had my druthers though, I love the look of the hippo tangs and would definitely include it if it wouldn't outgrow a 55.

Marc - I read about the coral beautys in The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner. Said that you could find good hardy specimens, but warned about a large number of them not adapting well. I'll just take his advice to heart and make sure that a specimen has settled in for a while at the LFS and is eating well before taking them home. And I'm glad to get some specific differences between the Hawks. The long nosed hawk looks pretty interesting, so if I add one, that's probably what I'll look into.

Rick - Thanks for the info. WetWebMedia.com is actually what got me bit by the marine tank bug. Between that site and Bob Fenner's book, that's where I have been doing most of my research up until now. The DFWMAS group is even listed in the back of the book (though I came across you entirely on accident).

All in all, you have all given me some good suggestions and I appreciate it. Since pictures appear to be favored, I'll try to take plenty once I get started.]
 
[Pictures are always welcome.

Longnose Hawkfish
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Coral Beauty
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Hippo Tang
hippo.jpg
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Lawnmower Blenny
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Lots more pictures on my ID page:
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/]
 
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