Considering another fish, please help decide!

[DamnPepShrimp]

I am considering getting another fish, guess I am getting bored with my setup. I keep hearing how smart triggers and puffers are, and I have always wanted a lionfish and grouper (miniatus!!) as well, they look so cool! I finally got my eel, always wanted one of those too. Currently I have a 125 with 100lbs of LR in it. It has a DSB and connected to a coral tank with a DSB and a refugium with chaeto algae in it. In my 125 I have a 3" queen angel, 3" emperor angel, 6" snowflake eel, 2 2" damsels and a 2" ocellaris clown. I am considering getting another fish. I would love a lionfish, trigger, or puffer (really all of them!). I have seen small lionfishes, about 2-3 inches max at lfs. What kind of trigger or puffer would go well in my tank? I was thinking of a dog face puffer, how big do they get? I know they aren't all that aggressive? A blue throat trigger isn't really aggressive, same with a niger but I know they get big. I plan on upgrading to a bigger tank at the end of the year, probably a 265 or so. I would love to set up an aggressive tank, minatus grouper, lionfish, my SFE, trigger (clown?) and some puffer? I have the option to get another 125g tank, I could set this up, but I think it would be too much for my little apartment, I have two 150g skimmers. But what would be a good addition to my current tank? I understand I would probably have to remove my damsels and clown, they would get eaten eventually, any ideas though? Thanks.

 

[SaltyMember]

A dogface puffer would do well with your current inhabitants. I would just pick just one of the fish (between the puffer and trigger) until you upgrade. No sense in pushing the limits of your biofilter. Anyway, that is what I would do. Let us know what you decide.

 

[EdKruzel]

The angels will eventually outgrow your 125. Ocellaris Clowns don't do well with larger more aggressive species, especially if they don't have a large host anemone for protection.

None of the lionfish species stay at a maximum of 2-3''s and even Dwarf's will reach around 7''s.

Triggers, Lionfish and Puffers are not all compatible with one another; while lionfish will eat anything that fits into its mouth, it is not aggressive and will not pick on anything it can't eat. Because of their docile nature, many more aggressive species like triggers pick upon their flowing fins and often kill lionfish.

I'd suggest smaller fish like small species wrasse, hawkfish or groups of cardinals.

Save the bigger fish for after your upgrade.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I know the angels will out grow my 125, I said I am getting a bigger tank. I am thinking about not going the aggressive puffer, trigger etc route. I'll get another tank down the line for them.

Now I am considering getting a flame angel, they are supposed to be ok with larger angels. I am also thinking about getting a tang of some sort. I want something with different color, thinking about a naso tang or possibly a purple tang. My brother has a PT and it has bad HLLE, don't know if that is a common problem with them? I need a tang that will be able to hold it's own because I know my angels, especially my queen will get aggressive. Any thoughts?

 

[tangyreefer05]

Triggers shouldn't usually be mixed with puffers or lions since they are docile and the trigger isn't. Puffers also tend to sometimes nip at the fins of lion fish, but not in all cases.

I am not sure how your angels will like a new angel friend. They are all small so it might work out for you. So I would say if you must add either one of the fish you listed but not more than that.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Yeah I am definitely not getting an aggressive fish (puffer,trigger etc) I will set up another tank down the road for that. Unfortunately, my emperor died this morning, he didn't eat for a day and lost his colors. I don't know why he died so quickly, all my other fish and fine and eating. I am going to quarantine everything for 2 months and let whatever in the tank die off. I guess I will be looking into getting a french angel next, since they are from the atlantic like the queen, and also a lot more hardy. Sad sad day....