Fish Suggestions Please =)

[ksicard]

Hello all,
I had a ich outbreak so currently everything is in my QT for the next 6 weeks with some copper. And with my spare time I've been thinking about what fish to add next once my DT has been through 6 more weeks of being fallow. So again, I'm purely just brainstorming on what fish to add once everything is in the clear with the ich. QT + cupramine is taking care of my current live stock quite nicely.

I've been in the hobby for a hot minute (10-11 years) and this time around I'm looking to get some "more interesting" fish for my 75g mixed reef. I'm usually a coral guy so this time I'm gonna put some more thought and effort into my fish list for this tank.

So far I have:
1 golden dwarf moray eel
2 wyoming white clownfish

The current ideas i'm playing with is adding a 2nd golden dwarf moray eel, because they are simply just cool little creatures. And I'm thinking about buying a male Lineatus Fairy wrasse. Lastly, I'm also considering some of the less common and more colorful cardinal fish for a nice little fish school.

Let me hear some ideas that are appropriately sized for my tank and of course being reef safe. As long as the price tag is under $500 I'm open to suggestions, I don't mind saving up since every fish is now going to be QT'd for 4-6 weeks before going in the DT. Only tang I'd really give any consideration to is a Tomini Tang.

P.S. other than Live Aquaria what are some good online vendors for fish specifically.

Thank you in advance,
Kyle S.

 

[SoloChromis]

- Wetmorella (possum) wrasses are very fascinating, and highly underrated fish. I currently have a Tanaka's pygmy and he is definitely one of my favorite fish I have kept.
- A pair of helfrichi firefish (if the tank is covered) as well as a pair of fathead sunburst anthias would also be some interesting tank inhabitants.
- The assessors are all hardy, unique fish, and not very common (tank-bred individuals are now available too, which is awesome).
- A Red Sea mimic blenny is another fish I have always wanted, they are definitely the most attractive blenny out there.
- A pair of ruby red dragonets, if you can find some that are eating prepared foods.
- A school of longspine cardinals.
- Jawfish, any of them. Easily one of my all time favorite groups of fish, and really interesting fish to keep (again, make sure your tank is covered).
- Yellowfin fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis)

Good luck :beer:

 

[ksicard]

I appreciate the recommendations,

I agree that the possum wrasse would be a cool addition, but I'm afraid something has small as it might become an expensive meal for my golden dwarf moray eel. My eel is only about 6 inches in length right now, but once he matures he might be able to eat the possum wrasse.

Couple quick questions, is there another name for assessors? I'm not familiar with what assessors are, remember I'm more of a coral guy =). On the Fathead Sunburst Anthias do you think a trio would be to many for my size tank?

I was also looking at maybe trying a Basslet of some kind. I've never kept one before and they seem like interesting fish. Do you have any info on these guys that you could share with me?

 

[fearyaks]

ksi - there are a couple of ORA bred Assessors available on Live Aquaria (actually, one is out of stock). There is a Randall's Assessor and a Yellow Assessor. They appear to be basslets of some type... peaceful and reef safe.

The Wetmorella wrasses are way cool... Not sure if it'd be a meal for your eel. They move pretty slow. Mine is not shy at all and we see it all the time. It's great fun watching it swim backwards / vertical at times.

Question SC - I have some Chalkbass (three) and a Royal Gramma in my 125. Any idea if they would cause problems for an Accessor?

 

[d-man]

Lineatus is awesome, but 75g maybe a lil small.
Get a blenny or two
Or a few disbar/ignitus anthias
Instead of lineatus you can go with a diamond tail flasher wrasse ($300-350 usually)
Or C cf.lancelatus($200-250 usually)

Both are beautiful, not very large and more on the submissive side as far as wrasses go.

 

[SoloChromis]

I appreciate the recommendations,

I agree that the possum wrasse would be a cool addition, but I'm afraid something has small as it might become an expensive meal for my golden dwarf moray eel. My eel is only about 6 inches in length right now, but once he matures he might be able to eat the possum wrasse.

Couple quick questions, is there another name for assessors? I'm not familiar with what assessors are, remember I'm more of a coral guy =). On the Fathead Sunburst Anthias do you think a trio would be to many for my size tank?

I was also looking at maybe trying a Basslet of some kind. I've never kept one before and they seem like interesting fish. Do you have any info on these guys that you could share with me?

Assessors are small basslets (2.5" max), closely related to the marine betta. Very peaceful, and can be kept in groups. Theres the golden, blue, and Randall's (a rare species until ORA got a hold of it). Fathead sunburst anthias are typically found either solitary, or in pairs, they're not like other anthias and do not do well in groups. Royal grammas are one of my all time favorite fish to keep, and always has been, drop dead gorgeous, practically bullet proof, and very interesting behaviors. I have also kept a chalk bass, who was also a cool addition, and looking to get my hands on a black cap :beer: Basslets are without a doubt one of my favorite groups of fish, and if my tank were large enough I would have multiples of many of the species (grammas, liopropoma, assessors etc.).

 

[SoloChromis]

ksi - there are a couple of ORA bred Assessors available on Live Aquaria (actually, one is out of stock). There is a Randall's Assessor and a Yellow Assessor. They appear to be basslets of some type... peaceful and reef safe.

The Wetmorella wrasses are way cool... Not sure if it'd be a meal for your eel. They move pretty slow. Mine is not shy at all and we see it all the time. It's great fun watching it swim backwards / vertical at times.

Question SC - I have some Chalkbass (three) and a Royal Gramma in my 125. Any idea if they would cause problems for an Accessor?

I think you would probably have some aggression at first, but I think they'd coexist peacefully soon after :beer:

 

[fearyaks]

Thanks very much!!! I'll see how the Chalk Bass welcome the Royal Gramma after it gets through quarantine. Pending that I might add an assessor or two.

 

[ksicard]

Thank you for all the info and replies guys. I think I'm going to have to get some type of basslet now after all the chatter about them. Live Aquaria has a bonded pair of two swissgaurd basslets that I like. But I'm going to have to wait till after my QT period before I make any purchases.

 

[Sams Reef]

I highly suggest the bicolor blenny. Mine is constantly picking at the rocks. Very cool and interesting.

 

[ksicard]

After doing some research on basslets I realized they are generally pretty small. So my question is do you think my golden dwarf moray eel would snack on either a swissgaurd basslet or a curaco basslet? I really like these two and would love to keep them, but I'm unsure if they are food size for my eel. Any suggestions or opinions welcome.

 

[SoloChromis]

After doing some research on basslets I realized they are generally pretty small. So my question is do you think my golden dwarf moray eel would snack on either a swissgaurd basslet or a curaco basslet? I really like these two and would love to keep them, but I'm unsure if they are food size for my eel. Any suggestions or opinions welcome.

I have seen small basslets kept with golden dwarf morays without problem. I forget his name, but there is a guy on youtube with a 50g, loaded with small-tiny, uncommon fish (small basslets, gobies, blennies, pipefish etc.) and he keeps a golden dwarf moray with no problem last I heard. Ill see if I can find him...

... 'frnkbonz' that's his name!

 

[Rob6311]

One of my personal favorite fish is the purple tilefish it doesn't get too big and is good in a 50 gallon tank, it is a dart fish so you'll need a lid on your tank, and it is a very gentle fish with a funny personality I love feeding time when you see it just darting back and forth between bits of food. And the color of it is really cool. One downfall is its not a very common fish so can be a little hard to find

 

[SoloChromis]

One of my personal favorite fish is the purple tilefish it doesn't get too big and is good in a 50 gallon tank, it is a dart fish so you'll need a lid on your tank, and it is a very gentle fish with a funny personality I love feeding time when you see it just darting back and forth between bits of food. And the color of it is really cool. One downfall is its not a very common fish so can be a little hard to find View attachment 299969

Great idea ^ How could I forget the tiles? Purple tilefish are actually readily available in my area, but there are several other cool species to consider too (personally, skunks and blue jaws are my favorites). They can have a hard time adapting, but if your tank is covered, your community of fish are peaceful, and it's healthy and eating, I say go for it!

 

[Rob6311]

Great idea ^ How could I forget the tiles? Purple tilefish are actually readily available in my area, but there are several other cool species to consider too (personally, skunks and blue jaws are my favorites). They can have a hard time adapting, but if your tank is covered, your community of fish are peaceful, and it's healthy and eating, I say go for it!

I agree the blue jaw ones are very cool too because they can change color a little bit. But the blue jaw one needs a 100 gallon tank. But like I said this fish is by far one of my favorites

 

[Betta132]

Shrimpgoby/shrimp pair? They're small, yes, but I don't think the eels would get them. The shrimp's burrow would keep them safe, and they're alert enough to hide if they see an eel.

 

[JoelA7]

I love the Hoeven's Wrasse. Great color. Hunt all day. Bash food that's too big to swallow on rock to bust it up. And peaceful with the rest of my tanks occupants. +1 to bicolor blenny midas is cool too the way they swim.