Check my fish list Paleeze!

[electricbluelizzy]

Hi Folks!

After almost two years of reading, I think I have a tentative list of fish I'd like to keep in my 75g tank. If y'all would look it over and point out what I've missed, I'd sure appreciate it.

A coupla notes.... Hoping for a mostly SPS dominated tank, with some LPS & softies, variety is the spice of life, ya know? So no coral eating fish. THis is my first reef tank, and I'm setting my sights pretty high to begin with, and I don't need livestock problems to contend with.

I love shrimp, crabs, crustaceans in general, so no crustacean eating fish.

My favorite fish are fairy wrasses and mandarin dragonets, which are very docile, easily dominated fish. (not so much the dragonet, cuz they just don't seem to care, but definitely the fairies.) so no really aggressive fish.

Keeping those notes in mind, here is the list I am considering at this point, which is up for your approval/edit...

2 pink skunk clowns ( or possible Clarkiis)
3 fairy wrasses (prolly carpenter's, but they are all beautiful)
Watchman's goby (w/shrimp if possible)
Mandarin Dragonet (don't worry, I'll wait)
PJ Cardinal (but I just saw something 'bout these guys eating shrimp, so maybe not)
One large fish: I love tangs, except yellow tangs which I find a little overdone, and I dont have the space for these guys so oh well... Thought about a copperband butterfly, or foxface lo, but both of these are a little risky... Any suggestions,...

Also, I love anthias, but fairly sure I don't have the swimming room a group would require, plus I already got a lot of pink fish (which is weird cuz I don't dig pink... purple, blue and green are my favorite colors)

Fish I do not like (for one reason or another)
standard clown fish--Nemo
yellow tangs--overdone
firefish--you never see them, chicken...
damsels--little devils (yeah I know the clowns are, but the skunks I think are pretty passive(I hope))

Really trying to avoid the Finding Nemo tank/fish collection just like everybody else's.... I like fish with jobs, or unique personalities... or that make friends...

Would somebody please start selectively breeding for miniature pacific blue tangs, that max out at about 3 inches?? You could make a fortune, I SWEAR.... (like a miniature pony, but a fish?) (just kidding, but wouldn't it be great?)

Anyway, thanks for the advice/check up... I'm open to suggestions.

What am I missing? Will these guys get along? Anybody else that would be good? I don't want to be a fish killer.....

Thank You ALL!@@@

EBL

[xtopher]

Your patience and research are commendable! I would stick to purely small fish in that kind of system, gives you a lot more options. I myself went with a nemo dominated tank not b/c of the movie just b/c I like those fish. I absolutley hate what that movie has done to our hobby argh! a good site to go to strictly for what the fish look like is www.liveaquaria.com . they have some good info but I wouldn't take it as gospel. Good luck and keep us posted

[Cosine]

Originally Posted by electricbluelizzy

2 pink skunk clowns ( or possible Clarkiis) I hear the skunks are very peaceful when compared to most other clowns. The clarkiis however get bigger and meaner from what I read. I really like the orange skunks personally(Amphiprion sandaracinos) but that's just my opinion.
3 fairy wrasses (prolly carpenter's, but they are all beautiful) - fairies and flashers are great looking fish never had any though
Watchman's goby (w/shrimp if possible) - good and peaceful (Not sure if pistol's are good with other shrimp)
Mandarin Dragonet (don't worry, I'll wait)
PJ Cardinal (but I just saw something 'bout these guys eating shrimp, so maybe not)
One large fish: I love tangs, except yellow tangs which I find a little overdone, and I dont have the space for these guys so oh well... Thought about a copperband butterfly, or foxface lo, but both of these are a little risky... Any suggestions,... As for tangs if you want to try one I'd suggest something from the ctenochaetus genus (like the yellow eye Kole tang). They are smaller and go nuts eating algae off the rock

not bad pics if you are going to keep the manderin set up a fuge and have lots of rock. But from what you said it sounds like you know about them.
As for fish with jobs take a look at lawnmower blennies everybody that has one loves them.

Good luck hope this helps

[reef_noob]

I agree with cosine about the Blenny, they have a lot of personality and they have a job (eating algae) the only issue is that if you don't have much green algae(mine won't eat red...darnit), you will need to supplement with seaweed. Also, it was difficult to convince my Lawnmower Blenny to eat what I provided him. He nearly starved before he finally decided to eat what I was offering. He now eats new life spectrum, flake food and julian sprungs sea veggies.

Other than that, I'm not sure how three wrasses will behave together, It would certainly be good to add them all at the same time so that they can establish territory together.

Anywho, I'm no expert, that's just what I've read/experienced. Good luck!

[electricbluelizzy]

Thanks guys! Feeling pretty good about this!

Kole tang? Good idea! Somebody else recommended one of the genicanthus angels... but I can't find a whole lot of info on those... really cool fish though, definitely worth checking them out... reef safe angels.. I didn't know there was such a thing..

xtopher... Thank you for the compliments. My husband agreed to this only if I promised to research it really well first. Well, I said sure, no big deal, how much info. could there be? Well, 2 yrs later, about $1200 in equipment, and no fish, I still feel like I have a ton to learn. As for your clownfish, I think thats great.. its just not for me. All my neices & nephews would INSIST upon calling it Nemo, along with half my friends and that would just drive me NUTS! so I'm opting out, but I agree, they are cool fish... Thanks for the tip on liveaquaria. Its always nice to have a picture.

Cosine: I'll be checking into the Kole tangs, I really hadn't considered them as an option. I haven't gotten into researching the shrimp yet. So far corals & fish have been more than enough. The lawnmower blenny is on the optionals list right now, and is getting some pretty serious consideration. I just tend to go for flashier fish colorwise, but sometimes color isn't everything. Also a good point with the Clarks, so I prob won't go with those.

Reef noob: I LOVE the banana! That is hysterical!! Also, I THINK fairy/flasher wrasses get along pretty well, and actually do better in groups, but feel free to correct me cuz I have a long way to go! Hey, is that a lady's chin with man hair on it? Eeewww... You're a trip...
Gawd, am I long winded or what?!?!

[pnkpanther]

Nemo stinks for the hobby

but the fact is, clowns are very active and reef friendly, and very easy to maintain, therefore good fish to have. I have yellow striped maroons, which get a bti meaner then most, but i like em. I originally wanted not clowns, but found em inescapable. I wanted b/w percula or saddleback, but couldnt find one.

[Loverotties]

That's the right way of doing it waite plan and do it slow!

[reef_noob]

>Nemo stinks for the hobby

Ugh, no kidding...everytime a non reefer sees my tank I get "OMG you have nemofish!"
I just smile through gritted teeth and move on to another topic. Glad you like the banana. If you don't know, it's from this hilarious series of cartoon shorts called "rejected" by don hertzfeldt. About the wrasses, I'm sure you know more than me about them, I just wanted to raise it as a point to consider.

Enjoy your new fish.

[wharyat]

The list looks great

Yep, ocis stink; I can't stand docile fish for some reason, they need to have a mean streak (maybe all the years of oscars and piranha ). I really like my cinnamon clown.

[Twitterbait]

Ok, my turn

Originally Posted by electricbluelizzy

Hi Folks!


2 pink skunk clowns ( or possible Clarkiis) pink skunks in pairs are some mean little monsters. maybe look at the clarks or even a black clown (tempermental)
3 fairy wrasses (prolly carpenter's, but they are all beautiful) they should be fine in a group. i have seen 4 playing together.
Watchman's goby (w/shrimp if possible) bad mojo, not recommended. the shrimp is a killer when hungry and VERY teretorial.
Mandarin Dragonet (don't worry, I'll wait) as long as you wait for a good pod population... awsome fish
PJ Cardinal (but I just saw something 'bout these guys eating shrimp, so maybe not) they will eat shrimp they can fit in their mouths. don't know about keeping these in the tank.
One large fish: I love tangs, except yellow tangs which I find a little overdone, and I dont have the space for these guys so oh well... Thought about a copperband butterfly, or foxface lo, but both of these are a little risky... Any suggestions,... if you want something exotic look at the surgeonfish (oval type of tangs). many angels will nip the polyps so be careful. I have also always wanted an achilles tang. or the powder brown/blue's.

Also, I love anthias, but fairly sure I don't have the swimming room a group would require, plus I already got a lot of pink fish (which is weird cuz I don't dig pink... purple, blue and green are my favorite colors)

Fish I do not like (for one reason or another)
standard clown fish--Nemo cute but yes very common
yellow tangs--overdone i agree
firefish--you never see them, chicken... get eaten easily too IMO
damsels--little devils (yeah I know the clowns are, but the skunks I think are pretty passive(I hope)) only worth it if you get the cool ones

EBL