Help us stock our 65g

[Blakperl21]

We are in the process of stocking our 65g and having a hard time figuring out what to add.

What we currently have:

Ocellaris Clown
Purple Firefish
Royal Gramma
Neon Goby
Pink Spotted Goby

Originally we were thinking about a midas blenny and mccoskers wrasee but afraid that they may go after the firefish.

We were considering a tailspot blenny and maybe a rainfordi goby in place of the midas and wrasse.

I would like something yellow but can do with out. Not really interested in angels as we love our LPS and tank is too small for tangs. Any suggestions?

 

[indyjaco]

MCcoskers are very peachful fish. I wouldn't worry about them.

 

[A sea K]

This may a bit on the large side for a 65 but try a Yellow Coris (H. chrysus) . These are great community fish, reef safe with the possible exception of small ornamental shrimp and have excellent coloration. They are usually pretty small at the LFS so it would take awhile before they get full size which is around 4.5 to 5 inches.

 

[Blakperl21]

Do you think the Mccoskers will be fine with the firefish? I just don't want him to go into hiding. They are beautiful and would love to have one.

 

[Blakperl21]

There's also a blood red cleaner shrimp in the tank

 

[sh8g8delik]

From what i'm told by a hobbyist of 10 years, most wrasses don't go well with any shrimps especially if they're bigger than the shrimps themselves. But i'll let the experts in this forum chime in. Hope that helps.

 

[trinidiver]

Nice wrasses that i have in my tank that does not bother any of my shrimp.................
2 Solon wrasses - 3-4", 1 Carpenter wrasse - 2", and 1 yellow banded possum wrasse - 1 1/2". I have 5 pepermint shrimp ranging from 1/2"-1 1/2", 2 skunk cleaners 1 1/2" and 2 fire shrimp 1/2-3/4".............................knock on wood.

 

[A sea K]

There's also a blood red cleaner shrimp in the tank

The Yellow Coris will not bother your fire shrimp. Especially if you start out with a small juvenile wrasse. When I refer to small ornamental shrimp its meant more along the lines of the tiny anemone shrimp or the likes of a sexy shrimp.
I kept several sexy shrimp for quite some time with a Yellow coris, Radiant and Biocellatus wrasse(and a Blue Throat Trigger too). I never saw any of these wrasse pay attention to the sexy shrimp but over the period of roughly 1-1/2 years they all eventually vanished.

 

[A sea K]

Do you think the Mccoskers will be fine with the firefish? I just don't want him to go into hiding. They are beautiful and would love to have one.

The only problem I could see here would be an excited McCoskers dashing back and forth flashing, this will definately spook the Firefish. There would need to be some other livestock in the tank to trigger this reaction from the wrasse and I dont really see that happening so you should be OK.

 

[Blakperl21]

I am really hesitant about getting a wrasse as I'm more concerned about the firefish then the shrimp. Though we have seen the firefish charge the clown and the gramma during feeding. He has seemed to hold his own. Any input on the blenny (midas vs tailspot) or the rainfordi goby? Thanks for everyones input! Appreciate it.

 

[A sea K]

I wouldnt worry about the Wrasse, especially if you get a small one, not to mention the Firefish is already established and the Wrasse will be a newcomer. FWIW I have a large Yellow Coris that has been in my tank for 5+ years so we can easily say he is well established, I recently added a small firefish and the wrasse never even gave him a look.

The Tailspot and the Midas are both great fish also and suited well for your size tank. The Tailspot will stay around/on the rocks, may or may not take prepared foods so be sure you have some algae for him to graze on. Lots of folks report their Tailspot eating prepared foods but mine never did. They lack color but have lots of personality and and a beauty all their own.
The Midas will bring a golden yellow color, they are very pretty fish. Will stay mostly in a hole in the rocks with their head poking out so as not to miss anything and will swim openly in the water column with regular frequency and will easily accept most any prepared foods. I seem to recall reading the possibility of the Midas nipping at the Firefish but not positive.
The Rainfordi IMO is not a good choice. They are hit and miss taking prepared foods and entirely miss with the ones I have tried. A well established system with lots of pods and other substrate fauna seems to be key to success.

If it were my decision to make I would find a smaller and preferrably already acclimated Yellow Coris at your LFS. As an added benefit the juveniles have a good reputation at eliminating common pest in a reef and stay out in the open all day hunting in and around the rocks for food. There is one requirement for the wrasse however, you must have a sandbed of 2 to 3 inches as they bury in the sand to sleep at night.

 

[rssjsb]

There are a few of the larger fairy wrasses that can get aggressive, but unless you get a weird rogue fish, McCosker's flasher wrasses shouldn't bother anything in your tank. They're very passive. And they sleep in the rocks, not in the sand.

I'm surprised to hear people saying the yellow coris (which is actually Halichoeres chrysus, not a coris wrasse at all) is safe with shrimp. I've never had one, but everything I've read says that this family of wrasses is risky with shrimp - maybe 50/50, especially when they get larger.

 

[A sea K]

There are a few of the larger fairy wrasses that can get aggressive, but unless you get a weird rogue fish, McCosker's flasher wrasses shouldn't bother anything in your tank. They're very passive. And they sleep in the rocks, not in the sand.

I'm surprised to hear people saying the yellow coris (which is actually Halichoeres chrysus, not a coris wrasse at all) is safe with shrimp. I've never had one, but everything I've read says that this family of wrasses is risky with shrimp - maybe 50/50, especially when they get larger.

The McCoskers are indeed passive but the ones I had would frequently dart around the tank flashing, I'm sure the firefish will find this behaviour unsettling.
I clarified the fact that the commonly known Yellow Coris is scientifically known as H. chrysus in my first response so as to avoid any confusion.
Having housed three adult Halichoeres wrasses, iridis, chrysus, and biocellatus simultaneously with not only a blood fire shrimp but several diminutive sexy shrimp as well, I would say the 50/50 risk is not at all accurate. Especially considering the manner I suggested to the OP.

 

[rssjsb]

Ok. I've had McCosker's in a harem, but never had that experience. Fish can surprise you.

Sorry I missed the chrysus in your earlier post. I seem to have insulted you, which wasn't my intent. Fist hand experience is always valuable, and, while I've kept lots of wrasses before, I evidently don't have as much experience as you.

 

[Blakperl21]

I think that we are going to go ahead with the McCoskers wrasse. I have been doing more research on it and most everyone who has had experience seems to think that it will be ok.

After watching the firefish last night I was shocked to see that he actually challenged the clown. He doesn't seem to be spooked very often when we are near or working in the tank. Also hasn't seemed to be disturbed by our cat that likes to sit and watch and jump at the tank.

Still considering the midas blenny as well.

Thanks for everyones input.