Fish Wish List

[tebstan]

Before impulse buying a pretty fish, I'm trying to compile a list that will (theoretically) restrict my purchases. I have a 90 gallon with ~10g sump, T5s, and koralias. I want reef safe occupants. I’ve whittled down my wish list to the following, but it still seems to be too much for a 90 gallon. I just love all the ones left on the list, so I can’t make an unbiased judgment with my lack of experience. Any opinions and insight would be appreciated.

Maroon Clown, pair
2 Banggi Cardinals
Firefish Goby
Starry Blenny
Diamond Goby
Scott’s Fairy Wrasse

[alton]

You left out GBTA. GSMC's have to have an anenomoe. If you don't want one due to the damage they can do, I would change to two Ocellaris. I love my two and they do great with out one. Diamond Gobies are jumpers so hope your tank is covered. As far as will they all get along, it is always a hit and miss. Good luck with your adventure, I am sure others will chime in.

[Kristy]

We did the same thing, wrote up a wish list for the fish we were planning to put in our tank. It's a great idea!

I think you have a good list here and I don't think it will be too much for a 90, as long as you don't try to put all that in at the same time and give the tank a chance to stabilize in between adding new life. You have done a good job of covering different "territories" so they don't all compete for the same space.

Alton is correct that the diamond goby could be a jumper, as is the fairy wrasse, so just plan to have something over the top. And the GSMs would definitely appreciate an anenome in there!

Good luck! -Kristy

[OrionN]

i would rethink about the Maroon clowns. IMO, they are really aggressive and make life very difficult for other fish. The wrasse will jump out for sure with Maroon clown in it.

[msmith619]

I don't think you have too many on your fish list. You could probably double it. Think about the clowns, those Maroon clowns are MEAN!! and might keep your population down thru agression.

[OrionN]

Maroon clown is suitable for in tank with larger fish only or species tank of 30-45 g range with it's own BTA. Mix them with small fish is not a good idea. A full grown Maroon female is one mean fish. You cannot possible believe how mean until you keep them. I never buy a Maroon for the rest of my life because I like community of small fishes that live in harmony

[Rychek]

Before impulse buying a pretty fish, I'm trying to compile a list that will (theoretically) restrict my purchases. I have a 90 gallon with ~10g sump, T5s, and koralias. I want reef safe occupants. I’ve whittled down my wish list to the following, but it still seems to be too much for a 90 gallon. I just love all the ones left on the list, so I can’t make an unbiased judgment with my lack of experience. Any opinions and insight would be appreciated.

Maroon Clown, pair
2 Banggi Cardinals
Firefish Goby
Starry Blenny
Diamond Goby
Scott’s Fairy Wrasse

I think the number of fish in your list is good. I would also suggest rethinking the GSM clowns though. Dartfish are known jumpers as well(firefish are a type of dartfish), so keep that in mind.

In my 90 gal mixed reef I have the following fish:

Flame Angel
Yellow Tang
Percula Clown
Oscellaris Clown
Firefish
Purple Firefish
Chalk Basslet
Target Mandarin
Sailfin Blenny
Randall's Shrimp Goby

[Bill S]

As noted above, rething the clowns. Clownfish are damsels. Some/most damsels are mean. Maroon Clowns can be extreme.

[4fun]

I guess I got lucky then my gold banded maroon is the best fish I got. I can almost pet it during feeding me

[recoiljpr]

I love my diamond Goby. Of all my fish, he has the most personality and is a really hard worker. Whenever he sees me come to the tank, he shoots up towards the top waiting to be fed.

As per clowns I've always had good luck with false perc's.

[tebstan]

I am worried about the Maroon Clowns. At first they were my "must have," but now that I'm watching the peaceful behavior of other types, I'm hesitant to have a bully in my tank. They're so darn pretty, though.
I do plan on having an anemone, whichever is best for the clown I decide on. But their care is so much more difficult, I know that's a ways down the line. I plan on getting ORA clowns so they won't be stressed without one.

[mabel_photo6]

I personally like the false perc's too but I keep getting suckered into black & white clowns :)

[JoshOdphi]

ive had my pair of gold striped maroon clowns for about a year and a half...without an anemone....and to this day no problems....the female i think is about 3-4"...the male 2"....i have em in a 110 with a six line wrasse and a firefish goby and a horseshoe crab........actually need more fish!

[dmweise]

Before impulse buying a pretty fish, I'm trying to compile a list that will (theoretically) restrict my purchases. I have a 90 gallon with ~10g sump, T5s, and koralias. I want reef safe occupants. I’ve whittled down my wish list to the following, but it still seems to be too much for a 90 gallon. I just love all the ones left on the list, so I can’t make an unbiased judgment with my lack of experience. Any opinions and insight would be appreciated.

Maroon Clown, pair
2 Banggi Cardinals
Firefish Goby
Starry Blenny
Diamond Goby
Scott’s Fairy Wrasse

Sounds like a good list of fish to me. Firefish are also jumpers. If you have an running topless then you may want to consider getting some lighting grates from Home Depot. Its really cheep and will keep the fish from jumping out.

I agree that the Maroon Clowns are aggressive. They may end up hurting some of your more peaceful tank inhabitants. You may want to consider one of the skunk breeds of clown. I have a pair of pink skunks. They are amazingly beautiful and friendly... except when you get close to their anemone.

[tebstan]

I've already got the crate over the tank, I'm trying to be as prepared as possible.

I'm resigning myself to giving up on the maroons. :(

Even though I want ORA clowns for hardiness, I don't want to deprive them (or me!) of an anemone. I want to consider anemone care when I make my clown choice.

Can anyone recommend a good site or book about the hosting preferences? I'm reading Joyce Wilkerson's book, but I'd like to have more than one source. The sites I've read are contradictory. I'm interested in Clarkii, Orange Skunk, and Coral Sea clowns.

[dmweise]

You may also want to consider a Marine Betta. I have one and love him.

[tebstan]

mmm... I do like those. Is getting one ruling out the other? I have to admit, without the maroon, the beta appeals to me more than the other clowns. So many options, so little tank space!

[OrionN]

Marine Beta are very shy fish. in my 450 g tank, I did not see him for 6-8 months initially then he would come out sometime after that. I never did see him eat for 1 year then he would come out with feeding. Very beautiful fish bet certainly not flashy like some other fish.

[OrionN]

The fish I really like are Randal shrimp goby with it's pistol shrimp, Several Royal Gramma (you can keep a male and 2 females and they will breed in your tank), Orchid Dottyback pair, Mandarin Dragonet, Onyx Percula pair,
All the fish above are well suit for a small community fish tank.

[Jamie]

Well, here's my .02...

I have a 150, and I have a GSM Clown. He has his own RBTA and pretty much sticks with it. He only bullies the other fish if they get too close to the anemone...otherwise, he's not the tank bully. With that though, please keep in mind that he is aggressive. Any time I put my hands in the tank on "his" side where the anemone is...I can be sure that he's going to try to bite me. If my hand have been in the water for a while, and my skin is soft, he can easily draw a little blood. Also, if he doesn't like where something is placed in the tank, and it isn't somewhat permanently fixed....he'll let you know by remodling. But he is beautiful and has quite the personality. I sort of have a love/hate relationship with him...but I don't think I'd ever let him go.

As far as being the big bully/king of the tank though...it's not him. My yellow tang has done the most damage to newcomers. My flame angel can be a bugger too...and my 6 line wrasse can pitch a fit every now and then...mostly it's those three that are waging the power struggle...but again, that's my tank. Someone could set up another tank with the same fish list I have, and observe different temperments.

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet (I don't think) is in addition to compiling your list, you should make a plan as to when you're going to add each fish. Usually it is best practice to add the least aggressive first and keep adding by aggression until you lastly add the most aggressive fish on your list.

One thing I found in searching for the balance of what fish were going to "work" in my tank was that a QT is almost essential if you want to minimize damages.

You're already going down the right path by having a plan...good luck.

R, Jamie

[msmith619]

Here is an idea! If you buy 2 black percula clowns, they look very similar to maroon clowns (I have seen them at the local pet shop here in Boerne and mistaken them for maroon clowns) and they are peacefull. They might satisfy your desire for a maroon clown.
Also, none of the clowns require an anemone, they will all do fine without it. The maroon and tomato clowns seem to immediateatly 'dive' into any anemone you put in the tank but would still be happy, well-adjusted clowns without one.

[Jamie]

BTW, if you don't have one yet...this is a perfect QT...and priced right!

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53661