Help me decide on my last fish.

Ssteve

New member
Currently have a juvenile clown pair, yellow clown goby, and a watchman goby in my 40g. All are peaceful and would like to keep it that way. I would like to add one more fish in about a week or two so I need to decide soon to get my lfs to order it. What are my options? I'm slightly leaning towards a firefish, but only by default really. What would you suggest?
 
i love my firefish! it's the purple varient. it was pretty shy and reclusive at first, but now its all over the tank like a boss!
 
Going by what's in there I'd go for something active. You currently have fish that tend to hangout at particular spots. A firefish would be just as bad and a gramma has that tendency too. I'm guilty of stocking heavy, but I think you could get 2-3 more fish in there if you planned right. Clown gobies take up next to no space or bioload the same can be said of firefish.

Flasher wrasse if you've got a covered tank. I know LA recommends a 55, but there's actually more swimming space in a 40b than a 55.

Depending on how you value your corals you could also get away with a centropyge too.

If it was me I'd choose 3 out of flasher wrasse, centropyge, royal gramma or firefish. If you only want one i'd go with flasher wrasse or centropyge.
 
If you are willing to spend the money, a Helfrichi firefish has an amazing look.

A flameback angel would also be a nice addition
 
I actually just returned a potters angel. One of the coolest dang fish, but it had a serious attitude already, and after reading up a little, I think it will be best to do the dwarf angel at the end as I'm sure he wasn't going to allow me to add another fish after he became territorial over his tank. So the plan is to get something else that will fit in and be a good member of the tank, and then maybe after a few more weeks try a flame angel.
 
I'd get the gramma. In a 40g with that stock, you'll see it all the time.
 
Ehhh, not really a fan of the coloring on the gramma..


I was also considering a six line wrasse, but think a six line and potential dwarf angel might butt heads. Thoughts?
 
If you liked the potters angel what about a Potters Wrasse. I have one and love him. They don't have the attitude of a potters angel but still have the blue brown patterning. Also mine is always cruising.
 
If you liked the potters angel what about a Potters Wrasse. I have one and love him. They don't have the attitude of a potters angel but still have the blue brown patterning. Also mine is always cruising.

Very cool fish indeed.. I might ask my LFS if they can get me one, but live aquaria states expert only.. Any specific reason why?
 
I actually just returned a potters angel. One of the coolest dang fish, but it had a serious attitude already, and after reading up a little, I think it will be best to do the dwarf angel at the end as I'm sure he wasn't going to allow me to add another fish after he became territorial over his tank. So the plan is to get something else that will fit in and be a good member of the tank, and then maybe after a few more weeks try a flame angel.

In the tank size you have, I wouldnt get a flame angel. If you want an angel, I would go with one of the smallest, like a flameback or pygmy. A flame will be too big for your tank
 
Very cool fish indeed.. I might ask my LFS if they can get me one, but live aquaria states expert only.. Any specific reason why?


Probably because it's similiar to a leopard wrasse; problem with getting them always to eat. However mine eats everything. Just ask to see it eat bofore you buy it at the LFS.
 
LFS has a cherub/pygmy that will being going in my tank next week sometime. Ive read several places that a dwarf angel should be the last fish added to a smaller tank. Whats everyone thoughts on adding something like a firefish down the road?
 
You definitely want to add a firefish prior to an aggressive fish. You want the firefish to get comfortable in the tank and then you can add the angel. A pygmy angel is not a rare find and you can always get one at a later point. Find the firefish you like, add it, wait a month or two and then find the angel that you like.
 
You definitely want to add a firefish prior to an aggressive fish. You want the firefish to get comfortable in the tank and then you can add the angel. A pygmy angel is not a rare find and you can always get one at a later point. Find the firefish you like, add it, wait a month or two and then find the angel that you like.

The more rare thing is finding a fish my girl really likes and ok'ing the purchase. So basically the angel will be the last fish added then. The other major bonus is that this fish came from a customers tank that moved and brought their fish in, he was said to not pick at corals, and was placed in qt for me with corals to make sure. Its not really a situation I would get to duplicate later on, and its only $25. Pretty fish, great price, doesnt nip, AND it wont cause problems on the home front. My little nephew also loved him and named him already, so theres no going back now.
 
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