So, I'm in the late stages of my stocking plan and so far I've decided I'm going to go with an Ocellaris pair / Black Ocellaris (captive bred), a basslet (most likely Royal Gramma because it's too hard to find a Swissguard in China, some dealers sell the Swales for about a similar price so maybe that's an option too, Yellow Assessors are too hard to come by), a Yellow Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp, a Talbot's Damsel / Azure Damsel, and a dwarf angel.
What's causing me the most headache by far is getting the dwarf angel. I can't really make up my mind about which one to get. I've had a look at some species that would probably work in a 3-foot, 36"x24"x24" tank, and I have narrowed it down to the following species:
1. Coral Beauty-By far the cheapest out of all the dwarf angels. Many people say they're among the easiest if not the easiest to care for, but 1 or 2 have mentioned that those from the Philippines or Indonesia warrant caution. I don't know where my CB will be from but it'll be wild caught from Southeast Asia.
2. Flame Angel-I think it's got stunning colors, but many people have said it's not quite as hardy (though still one of the hardier ones?) as the CB and that specimens collected from certain place tend to shop very poorly.
3. African Flameback / Atlantic Cherub / Brazilian Flameback-From what I've heard they're just as hardy as the CB and they only get to 3".
4. Multicolor Angelfish-By far the priciest out of all the options I'm considering, but I think it's beautiful and from what I've read it's fairly hardy too.
5. Half Black Angelfish-Not too pricey, and from what I've heard one of the hardier ones too.
6. Rusty Angelfish-Its color scheme is so so, but again I've heard it's one of the easier ones.
I know that no matter which one I choose, it'll have a semi-aggressive temperament. However, I'm really looking for the hardiest one that can deal with a new system that's not fully established yet.
Of course, I'm also looking at compatibility with the other fish I plan to include. My plan is for the angelfish to go after the basslet, but before the Talbot's / Azure Damsel.
I would appreciate suggestions on which one to pick for my first angelfish, you can even suggest something I haven't mentioned. Thanks.
Another thing I really like about angels is their long lifespan. If I choose CB, Flame, one of the Pygmies, Half Black, or the Rusty, I will have more control over the size of the fish because some dealers put the size of their fish while others don't. If I pick the Multicolor I won't know how big it is (though I may be able to request them to give me one as small as possible).
I'll buy them as small as possibly (4-7cm) because I want to see them grow and live long. Preferably 4-5cm.
*Edit: Make that two Chrysiptera damsels. Either two Azure or two Talbot's. I will be introducing them at the same time. However, I am worried they'll fight with my Clownfish pair which will be established by then.
What's causing me the most headache by far is getting the dwarf angel. I can't really make up my mind about which one to get. I've had a look at some species that would probably work in a 3-foot, 36"x24"x24" tank, and I have narrowed it down to the following species:
1. Coral Beauty-By far the cheapest out of all the dwarf angels. Many people say they're among the easiest if not the easiest to care for, but 1 or 2 have mentioned that those from the Philippines or Indonesia warrant caution. I don't know where my CB will be from but it'll be wild caught from Southeast Asia.
2. Flame Angel-I think it's got stunning colors, but many people have said it's not quite as hardy (though still one of the hardier ones?) as the CB and that specimens collected from certain place tend to shop very poorly.
3. African Flameback / Atlantic Cherub / Brazilian Flameback-From what I've heard they're just as hardy as the CB and they only get to 3".
4. Multicolor Angelfish-By far the priciest out of all the options I'm considering, but I think it's beautiful and from what I've read it's fairly hardy too.
5. Half Black Angelfish-Not too pricey, and from what I've heard one of the hardier ones too.
6. Rusty Angelfish-Its color scheme is so so, but again I've heard it's one of the easier ones.
I know that no matter which one I choose, it'll have a semi-aggressive temperament. However, I'm really looking for the hardiest one that can deal with a new system that's not fully established yet.
Of course, I'm also looking at compatibility with the other fish I plan to include. My plan is for the angelfish to go after the basslet, but before the Talbot's / Azure Damsel.
I would appreciate suggestions on which one to pick for my first angelfish, you can even suggest something I haven't mentioned. Thanks.
Another thing I really like about angels is their long lifespan. If I choose CB, Flame, one of the Pygmies, Half Black, or the Rusty, I will have more control over the size of the fish because some dealers put the size of their fish while others don't. If I pick the Multicolor I won't know how big it is (though I may be able to request them to give me one as small as possible).
I'll buy them as small as possibly (4-7cm) because I want to see them grow and live long. Preferably 4-5cm.
*Edit: Make that two Chrysiptera damsels. Either two Azure or two Talbot's. I will be introducing them at the same time. However, I am worried they'll fight with my Clownfish pair which will be established by then.
That's so kind of you. Unfortunately I live on the other side of the world in China. If only we lived close to each other.....
