50 gal stocking issue- Wrasse or Hawkfish last?

[Filigree]

I have a new 50 gal. tank that's been cycling for about four months so far.
It's got plenty of live rock- lots of caves, nooks and crannies for fish to have a ball in.

It's mostly going to be a reef tank but there's three fish I simply love and have to have them in there- but I don't know what order to put them in, in terms of aggression. (Or feistiness more like it, I wouldn't consider them aggressive.)

The first was a no-brainer: a pair of clowns. (Ocellaris) I've already added them almost three weeks ago and they're doing great.

1. Ocellaris Clownfish Pair ✔

The other two fish I want is a Mystery Wrasse and a Falco Hawkfish.

I know the Falco is feisty but not as aggressive as the other hawkfish, added to the fact that's he's gonna stay a little guy.

About the Mystery Wrasse, I've read posts where they're peaceful/submissive as juveniles but become kind of a bully/pushy after a point.

They both have the tendency to pick on fish added after them. Also note I will be getting the wrasse pretty young/small, so a bullying Falco can be quite stressful, but the other way around- a bullying wrasse can get bad once he's bigger... but then, they won't become bullies until they get bigger... :headwally:

My dilemma is: I'm ready to add the next fish but I don't know which one. I know the ones with meaner tendencies get added last but I don't know which one that is of the two.

They should have plenty enough space as to not get too territorial, but which is the one I can expect to chase the other guy when he sees him?

 

[DustyReefer]

I would add the wrasse first. Even if you waited quite some time and the wrasse got bigger the hawkfish, being that it is a hawk will be able to defend itself. I wouldn't worry about it, but honestly I don't see a problem if you wanted to add the hawk first either. The falcos Iv'e seen haven't seemed to aggressive compared to other hawks.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I don't think it matters much at all.

The clownfish pair isn't always a "no brainer''. Mated pairs of even the smaller clowns are very territorial. Juvi clowns get along with each other and most other fish. But;if you have a mature pair, they may claim all of your tank as their territory. This is common with smaller tanks. You may have to put the clowns in your QT for a while if they won't tolerate other fish. This usually works; most paired clowns are more territorial than aggressive. A "time-out" forces them to claim a smaller territory.

 

[jt_milstead]

I personally would skip the Mystery Wrasse. They get large and can be pretty aggressive. They will also wipe out a pod population pretty fast.