Colorful reef safe free swimming fish?
- Thread starter Jim96SC2
- Start date
inktomi
Aviator
You might want to consider a few Bartlett's Anthias. They're colorful, and would be out and about in the water. Divers Den at liveaquaria.com often has trios of them available.
I've only have my trio of Evansi Anthias since 10/19, but they're growing (one has changed into a male as well) and seem to be active and all around the tank. I did a lot of research before I bought them - I think if you get them to eat cyclops or flake or pellets, and you're willing to invest in an auto feeder to feed while you're at work, they're not so bad.
In retrospect, I would have gotten a trio of Bartlett's Anthias - they're just as colorful and easier to care for.
I've only have my trio of Evansi Anthias since 10/19, but they're growing (one has changed into a male as well) and seem to be active and all around the tank. I did a lot of research before I bought them - I think if you get them to eat cyclops or flake or pellets, and you're willing to invest in an auto feeder to feed while you're at work, they're not so bad.
In retrospect, I would have gotten a trio of Bartlett's Anthias - they're just as colorful and easier to care for.
Frogmanx82
New member
Bangaii cardinals are nice. Very peaceful, won't mess with corals, and a pair is interesting to watch. Black and white, but striking patterns.
Chihuahua6
Premium Member
Not exactly free swimming I guess but a trio of Royal Grammas would look beautiful. Get them small and add all at once. I have four currently in a 55 gal.
Frogmanx82
New member
I don't think you'll get many to agree with a trio of royal grammas. They are pretty aggressive and likely not get along. Rules can be broken. I have 4 clowns that I had heard wouldn't get along and so far so good at 5 months but it could all end any time.
I like the idea of a C. flavicauda or Kole tang, dwarf angel or maybe a few anthias in there. Although I just brought a small coral beauty home today and my juvenile Ctenochaetus layed the beatdown on him for a good 10 - 15 minutes. He seems to be ignoring it now but the aggression definitely wasn't expected and I'll be surprised if the angel makes it past the next few days. I would add them at the same time if possible. This is in a 65 gal total SPS system with a 6 line being the only other fish.
Last edited:
Psionicdragon
New member
barletts and dispars are nice. They school together and brings out a lot of activity in the tank.
kingfisher62
New member
How about a foxface!
Chihuahua6
Premium Member
It's not a rule. It's more like an old wive's tale. They live together in the wild. I added one older one and four young ones at once and all are living peacefully together. I have spoken to several people with the same experience. I don't feel this is an exception to the rule. I feel this is natural for this breed of fish.
Royal grammas can and should be kept in groups. More people need to keep fish of the same species together. The old books that say all fish will fight with those of their kind are false. I think the NEW exception to the rule is those that DO fight with their own kind.
Give them some macro algae and let them build nests and spawn.
Give them some macro algae and let them build nests and spawn.
Frogmanx82
New member
I keep african cichlids. A large group of a dozen or more can be kept together but 3 or 4 would likely not work out. I don't buy the argument that because they school in the wild, you can get a very much smaller group in a very much smaller space to get along. Not that it can't be done, but I think throwing out a lot of very real experience in the matter isn't good advice.
They have been bred before and raised in captivity. These fish can get along and people do keep them together. Many people never thought mixing angels could work and it can. Pseudochromis too, one of the most readily available captive raised fish, besides clownfish.
African cichlids are different. You can keep 3 or 4 together. Depends on the species, the sex of the fish, and the size of the fish. But that does not pertain to this because you are comparing a whole group of fish to one species and they are freshwater and marine.
I'm not pulling your leg pair up your fish, and let them get along.
African cichlids are different. You can keep 3 or 4 together. Depends on the species, the sex of the fish, and the size of the fish. But that does not pertain to this because you are comparing a whole group of fish to one species and they are freshwater and marine.
I'm not pulling your leg pair up your fish, and let them get along.
Frogmanx82
New member
I only used the african cichlid example because we usually don't have a chance to put 20 saltwater fish of one type together.
In any case there are no absolutes. All you can do is see what others have experienced and try to emulate those that are successful. Its just smart to go into it with realistic expectations and some level of research before you buy. Some fish just do better in small groups than others.
In any case there are no absolutes. All you can do is see what others have experienced and try to emulate those that are successful. Its just smart to go into it with realistic expectations and some level of research before you buy. Some fish just do better in small groups than others.
Chibils
halide loyalist
I'm not sure if it's been mentioned yet (I got tired of people suggesting the same thing over and over and ignoring the op), so here's my suggestion:
Get cardinals if you want shoaling fish. Not pajamas or bangaiis. Anthias are big and incredibly active. Unless you're running this as a full-blown sps reef with a ridiculous amount of flow, the anthias will run circles around your tank. They're more active than surgeonfish, which have a reputation for needing large tanks, and many of them get massive. Lyretails P. squamapinnis, probably the most common species, max out at 15.0cm, or 5.9in. According to Jay Hemdal, many anthias swim miles a day riding the current. Additionally, they need room to hide. About two years ago, when I was most interested in anthias, Peter (SDguy) warned me that they need a good deal of space to hide during territorial/hierarchical disputes. He's very well respected in this community for his knowledge on anthias and this hobby in general. I trust his judgment.
That said, I highly recommend P. kaudernii (bangaii cardinal) if you want one or two (they pair easily and faithfully) small, high-contrast fish. They're hardy and regularly captive-bred. Please ensure that they are should you choose to get them; cb fish are hardier, and the IUCN has redlisted wild bangaiis as an endangered species.
Secondly, multicolor angels have a reputation for delicacy. They're not nearly as hardy as most angels, and like the golden (C. aurotonotus), can be quite cryptic. Not so much as the golden, generally, but moreso than most angels. As I recall, they are collected at a fairly calm, deep range in Hawai'i; I don't recall whether they hail from the Indo-Pacific as well, but I'd avoid them if they do since they're delicate enough as-is from the Hawai'ian islands, which have a good reputation. While they are beautiful, I don't know that they'd be comfortable in the high-flow, high-light environment of an sps reef-crest, especially in connection with anthias. If you decide to get one, give him (or her!) lots of hiding places.
Most dwarf angels in particular are safe with sps. Occasional nipping may occur, and in some cases you may experience an angelfish bent on the destruction of your corals. RCT's site message said that production may pick back up in the coming year, hopefully very soon as they're hardier, more coral-safe, and lighter on the ocean.
My apologies if this is in any way unreadable. It's 2am.
Just read up. Don't get a foxface or any other rabbitfish. Not necessarily coral-safe, necessarily way too big. I gave up a magnificent foxface after two months in my fairly-openly 'scaped 90 because it was too small for him. They are very large fish; keeping one is much like keeping a large Acanthurus surgeon. Would you put a 7" surgeon in your 58G tank? Hopefully not.
Get cardinals if you want shoaling fish. Not pajamas or bangaiis. Anthias are big and incredibly active. Unless you're running this as a full-blown sps reef with a ridiculous amount of flow, the anthias will run circles around your tank. They're more active than surgeonfish, which have a reputation for needing large tanks, and many of them get massive. Lyretails P. squamapinnis, probably the most common species, max out at 15.0cm, or 5.9in. According to Jay Hemdal, many anthias swim miles a day riding the current. Additionally, they need room to hide. About two years ago, when I was most interested in anthias, Peter (SDguy) warned me that they need a good deal of space to hide during territorial/hierarchical disputes. He's very well respected in this community for his knowledge on anthias and this hobby in general. I trust his judgment.
That said, I highly recommend P. kaudernii (bangaii cardinal) if you want one or two (they pair easily and faithfully) small, high-contrast fish. They're hardy and regularly captive-bred. Please ensure that they are should you choose to get them; cb fish are hardier, and the IUCN has redlisted wild bangaiis as an endangered species.
Secondly, multicolor angels have a reputation for delicacy. They're not nearly as hardy as most angels, and like the golden (C. aurotonotus), can be quite cryptic. Not so much as the golden, generally, but moreso than most angels. As I recall, they are collected at a fairly calm, deep range in Hawai'i; I don't recall whether they hail from the Indo-Pacific as well, but I'd avoid them if they do since they're delicate enough as-is from the Hawai'ian islands, which have a good reputation. While they are beautiful, I don't know that they'd be comfortable in the high-flow, high-light environment of an sps reef-crest, especially in connection with anthias. If you decide to get one, give him (or her!) lots of hiding places.
Most dwarf angels in particular are safe with sps. Occasional nipping may occur, and in some cases you may experience an angelfish bent on the destruction of your corals. RCT's site message said that production may pick back up in the coming year, hopefully very soon as they're hardier, more coral-safe, and lighter on the ocean.
My apologies if this is in any way unreadable. It's 2am.
Just read up. Don't get a foxface or any other rabbitfish. Not necessarily coral-safe, necessarily way too big. I gave up a magnificent foxface after two months in my fairly-openly 'scaped 90 because it was too small for him. They are very large fish; keeping one is much like keeping a large Acanthurus surgeon. Would you put a 7" surgeon in your 58G tank? Hopefully not.
Good advice ^ , but I don't think multicolors are that delicate or cryptic. And the flow won't be a problem. Just because they are deepwater doesn't mean they are very cryptic. They are related to the joculator, debelius, nahackyi, and hotumatua. All the ones I have seen have been out and about, way different than goldens. Besides the golden I owned that was very outgoing for a golden, most I have seen have been extremely cryptic hiding almost all the of the time.
Chihuahua6
Premium Member
Exactly what I was posting, my own experience plus that of other seasoned aquarists.
Redseasharks
New member
Sorry to correct you but Anthias are best kept singly or in a small school of 6 or more. So in this case I would advise one because two will certainly fight.
I like the Lyretail Anthias and they are quite hardy though fickle eaters at first, now they are pigs
