Adding fish slowly, stocking order, population strain and territorials

[icebear]

When adding fish to a new tank, i'm supposed to go fairly slow.

but a lot of the research i am doing tells me that the species i am interested in will do well "if added at the same time as the other" because of territorial issues.

how do i work this?


if i add a trigger first, let the bio in the tank adjust, then add another fish, the trigger might attack the newest. if i add, say, dogface puff first, the same thing might happen. or if the foxface is in last, it might get bullied...or might bully right back

if i add all the semi-agressives at once, the tank may not be able to handle the boiload and there may be problems and all might be in danger of suffering.
so, how would i work the additions in?

also, the fish may not be available all at the same time....so i may end up having to add them in at different times anyway, or at least only two at a time.

these are what i am seriously considering. (probably not all of them, but these are my wish list)

Planned Housing: 110g tank that i am still saving up for


Niger Trigger available right now, i may start up a 30long for temporary lodging cause i have grown attached to a certain individual i have named Nigel...

Porcupine Puffer seems readily available, i can order them through work

Foxface Rabbitfish slightly less readily available, but often on the price list 50% of the time

DogFace Puffer not totally sold on having one, i have read some conflicting advice on them, but they are available steadily.

Longhorn Cowfish I really want one, but getting one could be a challenge

Striped Burrfish i have only seen it on the price lists once, and am hoping its not a rarity cause i really want one of those too

i have also read the niger triggers are ok with cleaner shrimps IF the shrimps are in the tank BEFORE the trigger... about the puffers leaving them alone, i'm not so sure. puffers taste-test EVERYTHING


as for the size of everyone, i won't know for sure untill they come in. if all are only a few inches long, it might not be a problem in a well-seasoned 110 all at once, with enough hiding zones.... but the niger trigger is getting bigger by the day...about 3" long without counting the lyre tail filaments...


i think thats it for questions right now...

[tims]

Good to see ya around! i miss our talks..

hmmm sounds like a pretty nice tank you want. as long as you have a few hidding spots and cave areas the foxface should be fine. Releasing two fish at the same time can be done. but you have a good size tank to run it all. watch the toxins with the cow. make sue you run lots of carbon. the puffers are you said will taste just about everyone! so the rabs and shrimp will make a nice lunch

[icebear]

would things like blueleg hermits be at risk too? i figure if they get preyed upon, they will either be cleaned out fast, or i should expect to replace a couple dozen every couple months....

[tims]

hehe i think you would be replacing them in a few days...

[icebear]

lol, how many hermits can fit inside a small puffer?

[Geoff]

have you looked at the sizes those fish get? i think your 110 is a bit small for even one of those when they start growing.

the trigger and the foxface are fine though, not near as large as the puffers.

G~

[icebear]

yeah, i have looked into them... from what i have read, most of the time those fish don't reach even 2/3 the described potential size in captivity.

i'm still looking for info on that stuff and altering my wish list as i go.

[Cosine]

Originally Posted by Geoff

have you looked at the sizes those fish get? i think your 110 is a bit small for even one of those when they start growing.

the trigger and the foxface are fine though, not near as large as the puffers.

G~

Geoff aren't Niger triggers a large fish ~18in and fast growing?

if so I'd think it'd be in the same category as a porc puff... well less mass but lots of swimming needs...?

[icebear]

i'm doing a series of cut/paste webpage research in my blog.....

i just started on the niger trigger. most of the info i have already read and printed on paper for myself, but i think i'll blog it all for faster "yes i looked it up" reference...that way i can just point to it.

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83840

[Twitterbait]

My stocking has always gone thus...

Nice fish first. if you have 1-3 that have the same temperment (nice only) then add them at the same time.

then add the rest of the fish once a week going from nice to mean. if you want to avoid problems each time then make sure you move your LR around AFTER you add the new guys.

make sure everyone has a place to hide.