Fish Selection for a 55 gallon

[Damsels R Cool]

what fishes should i get my new 55 gallon tank (75 gallon system)

I want ONE big fish so this is either or for the first 3

Yellow eye kole tang
Flame angel
or a Potter's Angel

Anything i should watch out in either of these that would affect me choosing either or

also i want some type of schooling fish any ideas Anthias?

 

[jasonrp104]

I'd do a flame and a few redspots. It'd be a nice color contrast

 

[TripleT]

Potters do better in established tanks with lots of rock.

A Flame Angel might be best added last.

55 is a bit small for the Kole, or a school of Anthias.

Is the tank covered?

Some good choices might include clowns, chromis, blennies, gobies, firefish, red dragonet, cleaner/peppermint shrimp, clown gobies.

Since the tank is new, I'd wait at least 6-8 weeks before adding any fish, and slowly at that point.

Have you set up a QT yet? You will *not* be sorry you did.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Potters do better in established tanks with lots of rock.

A Flame Angel might be best added last.

55 is a bit small for the Kole, or a school of Anthias.

Is the tank covered?

Some good choices might include clowns, chromis, blennies, gobies, firefish, red dragonet, cleaner/peppermint shrimp, clown gobies.

Since the tank is new, I'd wait at least 6-8 weeks before adding any fish, and slowly at that point.

Have you set up a QT yet? You will *not* be sorry you did.

I agree. All dwarf Angels really need a tank with mature LR and I also agree that a 55 is too small for any tang or group of anthias. Yeah, its been done; but I'd bet failures outnumber successes. I think the above list is a good one. A small wrasse would also do well--assuming the tank is covered. I also strongly agree with the QT. You can find a complete QT on Craigs List for less tan the price of one good fish.

 

[Damsels R Cool]

Potters do better in established tanks with lots of rock.

A Flame Angel might be best added last.

55 is a bit small for the Kole, or a school of Anthias.

Is the tank covered?

Some good choices might include clowns, chromis, blennies, gobies, firefish, red dragonet, cleaner/peppermint shrimp, clown gobies.

Since the tank is new, I'd wait at least 6-8 weeks before adding any fish, and slowly at that point.

Have you set up a QT yet? You will *not* be sorry you did.

my clowns are going to be transfered to the 55 school meaning 3 ? and if i do get the potters he would be added when the tank latter on

 

[mrmikeasaurus]

a pygmy angel would be cool ..as for a large fish id say a juvenile kole tang.. i had one in my 60 and i had him in there for 2 years.. now hes in my frag tank

 

[Damsels R Cool]

a pygmy angel would be cool ..as for a large fish id say a juvenile kole tang.. i had one in my 60 and i had him in there for 2 years.. now hes in my frag tank

thats what i was thinking but still a hard choice between the 3

 

[TripleT]

thats what i was thinking but still a hard choice between the 3

Buy for the size tank you have today. Best rule of thumb.

There are many species of anthias. For many, 3 in a 55 would be cramped and stressful. Many also benefit from frequent feedings, which means a tougher job maintaining excellent water quality.

LiveAquaria.com is a decent online resource for researching different fish and their requirements. Although you should probably add a bit to their minimum tank size suggestions.

 

[MrTuskfish]

my clowns are going to be transfered to the 55 school meaning 3 ? and if i do get the potters he would be added when the tank latter on

Not sure what you mean; but clowns only "school" when young. When they mature and pair up; a pair will not tolerate other clowns in the same tank, especially a small tank.

 

[Damsels R Cool]

i mean that there are 3 fishes in my 2 year old 10 gallon thats going to be transfered my 2 clowns and a yellow watchman

 

[RedM3]

I've had plenty of success in my 55 with clownfish, banggai cardinals, chromis, and a coral beauty angel. I've been planning on getting more - likely some wrasses or blennies or gobies.

I'm not sure if you are planning on corals, but if not, your larger fish could be an Auriga Butterfly. They do fine in 55g tanks.

My LFS sold me a Blue Hippo Tang and a Yellow Tang, telling me they would do fine in a 55g. That was before I did enough research online and realized that is really not the consensus (especially with the Blue Tang). Needless to say, they refused to eat and died within 3 days - I'm not convinced that is completely due to the small tank size, but I'm sure it didn't help. The fish probably weren't too healthy to start with, as the green mandarin they sold me a couple weeks later died within 2 days. Needless to say, I don't buy fish from them anymore...

 

[unbelievable]

Yellow eye like tangs are awesome. radiant wrasse, blue or yellow assessor just to name a few of my favorite fish.

 

[Damsels R Cool]

still thkining about the potter's angel think i might give that a try also whats aa nice schooling fish i could get except the blue green cromis