Good starter fish?

A

allendehl

New member
Hello again folks,

Most of the stuff is home already for my much expected new tank. I am now planning on my first live friends.

My plan is to start QTing some fish at the same time my tank cycles to save time. My QT tank is a glass 10G bare bottom. I plan in having a HOB filter and some PVC for fish to hide.

Mt TTM is setup with 7.5 G plastic buckets.

They will be in the garage (both QT and TTM), which gets hot down here in Miami, and here goes my first question. Would these fan help me keep the temp down? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DXHFI9E/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=ID2XF62872ZD0&colid=1BFRWM0O8XMLE
I filled them up with tap water to measure the temp at different times of the day to have a better idea of how warm the water gets in there.

For startups what kind of fish would you recommend? I was reading through the site and understand that clown fish are good starters, tough and easy going. What else can I pair with them, some gamma probably?
Can I take them through the TTM and QT together? I am looking for some fun friends.

My projected protocol will be:

- TTM for 12 days with one cycle of PrazyPro
- 2 weeks of QA for observation

Please feel free to critique my plans, setup and projected protocol as I am learning all this now.

Thank you!
 
Personally I think clowns are pretty cool but I don't have good luck with them. They always seem to get aggressive. YMMV. Are you ordering online or are you shopping local? How big will your DT be? I'll list a fed good choices below

Blue sapphire damsel (DONT CONFUSE with any other damsel. This is the only peaceful one I've found)

Clown goby

Various wrasses (depending on tank size)

Candy cane hogfish (depending on tank size)

Firefish

Goby/shrimp pair (do your research)

Flame angel (tank size and coral dependent)

Royal gamma

Midas blenny (dpeneds on tank size)

Chalk bass

Court jester goby

This list can go on. Just really do your homework and always introduce your most peaceful fish first and your potentially more territorial last.
 
Thank you Tcox! My DT will be 75G

oh...and I'm not sure where I'll buy yet. I'll check the LFS for prices and condition and the make the decision.
 
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You could go to liveaquaria and they have a list for beginner fish and gives a very good description of each.
 
Clownfish are an excellent choice and very hardy for a first fish. Although many people are against it, you could even cycle your tank with them in it.
 
Thank you folks! Clownfish seem to be the choice. I'll add probably some others to make it more fun.
Would, lets say two clownfish and two other friendly ones be ok and get along if all go through TTM and QT together?

Tank sizes are above.
 
allendehl said:
Thank you folks! Clownfish seem to be the choice. I'll add probably some others to make it more fun.
Would, lets say two clownfish and two other friendly ones be ok and get along if all go through TTM and QT together?

Tank sizes are above.
Click to expand...



I don't see the display tank size, but if you're limiting yourself to four small fish I'm guessing it's small. Clownfish will become more aggressive as they mature, but if you get them all at the same time you should be okay. I vote leopard wrasse and tail spot blenny. The wrasse has a neat swimming pattern plus it's a beautiful fish, but it needs a sand bed to hide in at night and will probably hate the QT I'd put it directly in the display. It is definitely a jumper so make sure you have a cover of some kind if you get one. The blenny I like because I find that kind of fish to be funny-looking and adorable at the same time. It pecks at algae but its appetite for hair algae is not like the lawnmower blenny's; I like its personality better though.


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Thank you! My DT will be 75G. My limitation is actually in the ttm and the QT. As they will have to coexist in a 7G and 10G respectively for a few weeks.

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Whoever told newbie to get leopard wrasse is smokin some serious stuff DO NOT GET A LEOPARD WRASSE is rated expert only and is unhardy and needs well cycled tank for grazing (at least 6 months) I would definitely suggest buying all fish off liveaquaria because the LFS will rip you off. My Stock list for a Begginner like you who wants playful cool fish in a Fish only is:

Leopard Puffer: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2909/leopard-puffer?pcatid=2909&c=15+39+2909

Your choice of clown pair (probably not maroons (and don't get more than 2)) http://www.liveaquaria.com/category/27/clownfish?c=15+27

3 or 4 Blue/Green Chromis: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/115/blue-green-reef-chromis?pcatid=115&c=15+1634+115

Pair of Carpenter's Flasher's Wrasses: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/329/carpenters-flasher-wrasse?pcatid=329&c=15+1378+329

Pair of Engineer Gobies: These fish are so quirky and interesting (they dig with their mouths) http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/165/engineer-goby?pcatid=165&c=15+31+165

And make sure to add this last, Flame Angelfish:http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/444/flame-angelfish?pcatid=444&c=15+16+444

I would also have a few Mini Maxi Capet Anemones Because they add some color to your rocks (but make sure to get these after tank is stable because even mini carpet nems are somewhat fragile. Do your homework on anemones before getting one and make sure you have proper lighting water flow and any other necessities.):http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/3219/mini-carpet-anemone?pcatid=3219&c=497+499+3219

And finally some peppermint shrimp: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/701/peppermint-shrimp?pcatid=701&c=497+525+701 And an unchin of some sort http://www.liveaquaria.com/category/530/urchins?c=497+530

I do not suggest royal grammas because although their colors are alluring they spend much of their time hiding and 2 royal grammas will probably fight each other.

Also if you are feeling adventurous you could try a snowflake moray eel (cutest eel ever, but may eat your fish D:, But if you do buy one make sure you have a tight lid because it can and will jump. I sadly know by experience (found him under my bed))
 
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Mr. Eel said:
Whoever told newbie to get leopard wrasse is smokin some serious stuff DO NOT GET A LEOPARD WRASSE is rated expert only and is unhardy and needs well cycled tank for grazing (at least 6 months) I would definitely suggest buying all fish off liveaquaria because the LFS will rip you off. My Stock list for a Begginner like you who wants playful cool fish in a Fish only is:

Leopard Puffer: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2909/leopard-puffer?pcatid=2909&c=15+39+2909

Your choice of clown pair (probably not maroons (and don't get more than 2)) http://www.liveaquaria.com/category/27/clownfish?c=15+27

3 or 4 Blue/Green Chromis: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/115/blue-green-reef-chromis?pcatid=115&c=15+1634+115

Pair of Carpenter's Flasher's Wrasses: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/329/carpenters-flasher-wrasse?pcatid=329&c=15+1378+329

Pair of Engineer Gobies: These fish are so quirky and interesting (they dig with their mouths) http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/165/engineer-goby?pcatid=165&c=15+31+165

And make sure to add this last, Flame Angelfish:http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/444/flame-angelfish?pcatid=444&c=15+16+444

I would also have a few Mini Maxi Capet Anemones Because they add some color to your rocks (but make sure to get these after tank is stable because even mini carpet nems are somewhat fragile. Do your homework on anemones before getting one and make sure you have proper lighting water flow and any other necessities.):http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/3219/mini-carpet-anemone?pcatid=3219&c=497+499+3219

And finally some peppermint shrimp: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/701/peppermint-shrimp?pcatid=701&c=497+525+701 And an unchin of some sort http://www.liveaquaria.com/category/530/urchins?c=497+530

I do not suggest royal grammas because although their colors are alluring they spend much of their time hiding and 2 royal grammas will probably fight each other.

Also if you are feeling adventurous you could try a snowflake moray eel (cutest eel ever, but may eat your fish D:, But if you do buy one make sure you have a tight lid because it can and will jump. I sadly know by experience (found him under my bed))
Click to expand...
That's some serious help! Thank you very much!
Now, how many, and which if possible, would you recommend to take through the first TTM. & QT process togetger? My ttm tanks are 7.5g and my qt is 10g.

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Banggai cardinals are cool fish and super hardy. If you do get one you have to get 2 because in my experience a single one stays in one corner of the tank at all times unless it's feeding time. A pair will roam the tank a little. Also a small group of 4 or 5 blue green chromis will make almost every other fish in your tank much more active although I have heard many people say that they will get aggressive with each other as they mature. If you dont plan on adding corals id definitely go with one of the dwarf angels. Sometimes you will get lucky and they won't bother them but more often than not they will at least nip at your coral. Putting it in last is probably your best bet but if you do add other fish after it you could always just do it right before the light goes out for the day and that will help it possibly not be as aggressive towards the new fish
 
How long have you had them? Have they gotten aggressive with each other? I'm curious because pretty much everyone I see post about having 3 or more chromis always say they end up killing each other until they are down to 1 or 2
 
I really like my Chalk Bass; my first and only fish as of right now. Sure, buying local may be more expensive, but ordering online comes with that expensive priority over night shipping, plus it's more stressful.

I ordered my bass from Vividaquariums only because they seem to be the only people who had one at the time -otherwise, I would have purchased it locally.
 
keithw283 said:
How long have you had them? Have they gotten aggressive with each other? I'm curious because pretty much everyone I see post about having 3 or more chromis always say they end up killing each other until they are down to 1 or 2
Click to expand...

5 months no issues, thats how old my tank is. We call them the 3 amigos. No lord of the flies yet. My tank is 110g so they do have room, but mostly hang together. I feed 2-3 times a day( mostly for my 4 athias) that prob keeps down aggression. I prob overfeed but my nitrates and phosphates are fine.
 
I'd avoid chromis unless you just want one. A good shoaling fish for a tank your size are threadfin cardinals. Also, there is no chance you can QT your fish in an un-air conditioned garage in Miami. I am in FL too and my garage gets over 90 degrees. No amount of fans can bring the temp down enough to make that work.
 
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