Choosing tank mates

alexkharden

New member
I found an online app once, but I can't find it anymore and I was hoping someone would point me in the right direction. What the app did was take a list of fish you planned on having in the aquarium, compare it to the size of the aquarium, factor in whether it was FOWLER or reef, and then give you a list of potential incompatibility issues. Responses would include things like, "Your Lion may eat your wrasse" or "Your tank is too small for your grouper". It also compared your list in it's entirety to see if you were trying to put too many fish into too small of a tank. Things like that. It was quite brilliant and I'm kicking myself for not bookmarking it.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about or where I can find it?

Just for some background, here's what I'm trying to do. The ONLY fish my wife wanted was a lion, so I bought her a fuzzy dwarf. I don't want to put it into my DT because I have smaller fish that will surely become food. What I'm doing is I bought a 40b from petco. I drilled it and am installing bulkheads and an overflow, and I will be plumbing it to run from my existing 75g sump. I figure that should handle the "dirty" nature of the lion. What I want is to figure out what other fish, and how many, I can add to the tank. Currently the only inhabitants it will have are the lion and a mantis shrimp I extracted from my DT. I'm thinking a flame hawk, a leaf fish, a waspfish....things like that. It'll primarily be a live feed tank, but doesn't necessarily have to be that exclusively.

That's why I'd really like to find this tool.

Thanks everyone.
 
I'm not familiar with that specific app, but LiveAquaria has a pretty good description under each fish including approximate tank size needed, if it's reef compatible or not, and temperament. I believe they also have a species compatibility reference chart as well (Several other sites have these too.)
 
Yes, that's it! Thank you:)

I'm sad though, because already I see they don't have wasp, scorpion, or leaf fish on their list.
:(
 
I know. I don't see any puffers either, it really is rather limited. I found it before I even had my tank set up, so all of my compatibility checking was purely speculative. Now that I know what I want, I wish it was more comprehensive:(
 
Just tried this tool. And it really really doesn't think mixing gobies is a good idea. I currently have a neon goby, clown goby, watchman, and firefish living in harmony. But it told me this:

Note: Firefish Goby needs multiple hiding places amongst rockys or other objects into which it can dart if stressed.
Warning: Firefish Goby is not recommended to be with Neon Blue Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Firefish Goby is not recommended to be with Yellow Watchman Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Firefish Goby is not recommended to be with Yellow Clown Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Note: Neon Blue Goby is a cleaner fish that will remove parasites from your other fish. A pair will spawn in captivity.
Warning: Neon Blue Goby is not recommended to be with Firefish Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Neon Blue Goby is not recommended to be with Yellow Watchman Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Neon Blue Goby is not recommended to be with Yellow Clown Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Note: Yellow Watchman Goby needs a tight-fitting lid to prevent it from jumping out of the tank
Warning: Yellow Watchman Goby is not recommended to be with Firefish Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Yellow Watchman Goby is not recommended to be with Neon Blue Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Yellow Watchman Goby is not recommended to be with Yellow Clown Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Note: Yellow Clown Goby needs multiple hiding places amongst rockys or other objects into which it can dart if stressed.
Warning: Yellow Clown Goby is not recommended to be with Firefish Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Yellow Clown Goby is not recommended to be with Neon Blue Goby - they may aggressively fight.
Warning: Yellow Clown Goby is not recommended to be with Yellow Watchman Goby - they may aggressively fight.
 
Ya, my memory had it being better than it actually is in reality. Guess there's going to be no substitute for individually researching whatever combination ends up working.

I'm thinking in a 40 breeder, plumbed into a large sump, I can probably fit between 6-10 fish. Because of the types of fish there probably won't be much in the way of inverts or corals. Two definite inhabitants are a fuzzy dwarf lion fish, and a smasher mantis.

Yes, I know I run a risk of the mantis being eaten, but I'm hoping that won't be the case.

Any suggestions for other tank inhabitants?

I'm thinking a leaf fish, a Toby puffer, and a wasp fish for starters. Thoughts on these and other additions?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
Lionfish tank? Fu Manchu, Antenatta, Zebra

Other fish to consider:

Blue Dot Jawfish
Harlequin Bass
Jeweled Moray Eel
Yellow Leafish
Warty frogfish
Adult Marine Betta if feeling ballsy lol.

Very loose suggestion and size differential is very critical.
 
That's an excellent list of beautiful fish!

Two questions, wouldn't the frog eat just about everything else, lol? Same with the eel?

Why would a Marine Betta require balls? Liveaquaria says they're peaceful.
 
Oops! I had P.volitans in mind, nevermind the last bit.

Yes, the frog will eventually swallow everything.
I really love frogfish so a biased pick is inevitable ha :rollface:

IMO a combo of d.fuzzy/SF eel/betta should be fine, size differential, introduction sequence is vital to success. Just provide the proper habitat for everyone. Feeding regimen and required diet should be consistent to avoid any aggression (mostly eel once it sizes up). Not an expert by any means, again just an opinion :)

Having those 3 would be awesome tho, right?
 
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