Fiji reef fish

E

Estee

New member
I've started a new reef tank (~125 gallon in size, but really holds about 95 gallons) and wanted to do a Fiji specific type fish that are reef compatible. My list so far comprises of:


Orange Lined Cardinalfish (Apogon cyanosoma) - school 8
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific

Blue/Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis) - school 8
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific, Melanesia, Tahiti

Zebra Barred Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra) - school 8
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific

Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) - pair
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific

Two Spot Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus)
Origin: Fiji

Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosus)
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific, Vanuatu

Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific

Any comments on compatibility of these? Any other colorful fish i may have missed specific to Fiji region? Also, what invertebrates do you recommend (again Fiji specific)? TIA!
 
Way too many fish for your tank. The pair of clownfish will be aggressive. Six lined wrasse can be aggressive as well.
 
Totally agree with Steve on this one. Six lines are the devil, and those dartfish will be his first victims. I will never again own a six line in a community reef tank. Tomato clowns can be terrors and I would choose a different clown species. Every single time I have tried to keep a group of chromis I end up with a pair, they just whittle each other down until just a pair survives. I love the Talbot's damsel, they are found in the entire Coral Sea area and are very social and passive for a damsel and you could keep a group of them. I love most of the other fish on your list, the dartfish and cardinals are awesome, especially in a group like that. The coral beauty and binotatus are also exellent choices, I keep a bino and love that fish. Heres the damsel, a very underappreciated fish;

chrysiptera_talboti.jpg
 
i would say go with a group of 7 or 9 chromis. What worked for me was introducing a few of the larger chormis first, and then about 4 smaller to medium sized ones so everyone learns their order in rank.

I also have a pair of tomato clowns and the only thing they go after is MY HAND! they leave everybody else alone. But have over 26+ fish in your tank is a little excessive.
 
Thanks for the advice Kahuna and Steve. I was concerned about tank overstock as well, so will be taking out the school of damsels, the Clowns, and the Wrasse (I wasnt going to add everyone one of these, just looking at compatibility and choices in general). I'll look up the Talbot Damsel, but do you recommend any other Clowns or Wrasses (Scott's perhaps)? I want a little more color in my tank, from the mostly yellow and light pastels of the two schools so far.
 
Scott's are the most aggressive of the fairy wrasses and will not get along with a sixline wrasse; it is not clear which one would win, however.
 
Re: Fiji reef fish

Zebra Barred Dartfish get up to 5 inches if you didn't know that already.(I have 2 pairs in my 180 gallon reef)
 
As far as clowns go I only have experience with true percs but I love them. I have had my pair for over seven years now and they are just beautiful and bulletproof fish. I would go with the Carpenters or McCoskers fairy wrasses, maybe a small group, they are just beautiful and very peaceful and stay smaller than most wrasses. Another great wrasse choice for a peaceful or passive tank are the possum wrasses, a little cryptic but a fine fish.
 
snorvich - thanks for the advise on the Scott's....guess i'm going to have to do more research on them.

moses - didn't realize that on the dartfish (was told only get to 3"-4" max), so guess those are also out.

Kahuna - I'll check out those wrasses! thanks!

reef doug - awesome link! that is my dream vacation diving in fiji! :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15338808#post15338808 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Estee
snorvich - thanks for the advise on the Scott's....guess i'm going to have to do more research on them.

moses - didn't realize that on the dartfish (was told only get to 3"-4" max), so guess those are also out.

Kahuna - I'll check out those wrasses! thanks!

reef doug - awesome link! that is my dream vacation diving in fiji! :)
Click to expand...
I wouldn't take ALL the dart fish from your list, but buy like one pair or something instead of 8 lol
 
I'm trying to get a Fijian thing going too. The tank is a 90 gallon. I've got a lemon peal angel, tomini tang, and diamond watchman goby. I've read that they are found there and recently added a marine Berta. Hopefully I didn't screw my Fijian thing up there. If you guys have any suggestions on fish, corals, and other inverts I'd love to hear them. Fyi its a mixed reef.
 
some awesome fish from fiji, what come to mind right off the bat are cirrhilabrus nahackyi and cirrhilabrus marjorie. you can have a great looking tank without having 8 of 1 fish. Id skip the damsels. i dont get why people in the reef keeping hobby cant resist the urge to put a clown in their tank, nothing against them but there are so many nicer fish out there with even more personality.
 
This is a really old thread that I kinda restarted. I had the same idea as OP. While the fish you mentioned were very nice I don't think they work for me. If you read my posts here maybe you could help me with some ideas.
 
I have a Fiji inspired tank, it's centered around my pair of Orange Spotted File Fish. I also have a pair of PJ cardinals and a Fiji Devil Damsel. Somewhere I have a whole list that I researched, I plan on removing the cardinals and damsel eventually but I'm going to wait until moving back east next summer before I do much else.
 
reefjunkie42 said:
some awesome fish from fiji, what come to mind right off the bat are cirrhilabrus nahackyi and cirrhilabrus marjorie. you can have a great looking tank without having 8 of 1 fish. Id skip the damsels. i dont get why people in the reef keeping hobby cant resist the urge to put a clown in their tank, nothing against them but there are so many nicer fish out there with even more personality.
Click to expand...

Blasphemy!
 
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