Ideas?

[ostrow]

Heading into unknown territory. But I took down my frag tank, solved (I think) my overflow/flood issues, and set it back up for now holding my "extra" Onyx clown. Once I find a home for that, I'm thinking of putting a fish in there. It's a 20H. I'd like something that is interesting but not necessarily reef safe. Maybe something that would eat xenia even ... that'd be cool. I have plenty growing in my fuge.

But obviously has to be small. Even though the system is 300gal, this tank is only 20. Is there a smallish puffer, or a cool angel or trigger that people would recommend?

 

[little_squid]

small angel rare?

 

[ppurcell]

most non pygme angles, puffers and triggers would all get to large for a 20 I'd think.

A tilefish maybe, peacock mantis or an eel?

Or something too timid for the display like pipefish or garden eels.

 

[BenjieC]

Scorpion, Frog, or angler fish. Very cool fish IMO.

 

[ostrow]

I don't want sand. So I think eels are out, no?

Aren't there dwarf puffers? Or maybe one of those frogfish or whatever they are called? I'd like something oddball.

 

[ppurcell]

having a frog which only eats live food. I would probaly shy away from another animal with that kind of a dietary requirement. It's a pain in the tail to have to go get feeder food for it a couple days a week. Factor in time and gas and it gets to be a relatively expensive as well as inconvenient.

 

[ostrow]

Those things only eat live food? Screw that.

Ok, revised request: an oddball fish that isn't a PITA but can live in a 20gal.

 

[Pufferpunk]

How about dwarf FW puffers?

 

[FiberLux]

Joel,

Here are a few poissibilities:

Angler:
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/anglers/sargassumangler/

Helfrichi: http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/gobies/helfrichifirefish/

Garabaldi Damsel:
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/damselschromis/garabaldi/

Anthias: http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/anthias/sunburstanthias/

Valentini Puffer: http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/puffers/valentinipuffer/

Pigmy Hawk: http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/hawkfish/geometricpygmyhawk/

Hope you find a good one!

Boyd

 

[Pufferpunk]

IMO, a 20g is not large enough for an adult Valentini or any other sharpnosed puffer species.

 

[ostrow]

This tank is plumbed into my system. That angler looks cool. Thanks!

So Jenni no puffers that would be a good idea for my situation then, huh?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Tobies love to swim, so a 20g tank really isn't fair to them. You need to check into the adult sizes of the different angler species. Many get quite large.

 

[MBasile]

I say angler or frogfish. maybe a sargasum fish?

A big mantis shrimp would be cool.

Boyd: I think garibaldis get pretty large and like cooler water.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yeah Joel, you'd love a Peacock mantis! The most interesting animal in this house. I love watching him moving rocks around to make & remake his home & he will eat from my hand.

 

[ostrow]

Ya know? Not so into the whole shrimp thing. Just don't interest me. And seahorses freak me out so those are out too.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Check out the recomended tank sizes for these anglers: http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productList.asp?cid=34&did=1

 

[ostrow]

Those same fish on liveaquaria are listed with max sizes half what bluezoo says, and tank sizes from 20 to 30g.
http://liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+19

 

[Pufferpunk]

I have always felt Liveaquaria to be a bit shortsighted on tank sizes (maybe to sell more fish?) & have had them correct many profiles of the FW pufferfish they sell.

 

[ostrow]

Went the angel route. Nothing rare. Just a bicolor. They are striking though. Toyed with the idea of a pipefish but seems it'd be a hassle. The 20 just doesn't seem big enough for the anglers.

 

[ostrow]

Well, went away for 2 days, came home, and the last thing I expected to have trouble died. The bicolor angel. No clue, obviously, as to cause. I shouldn't think 48hrs without being fed would kill it, given there is rock and critters in there. Oh well.

Anyway: changing focus here -- I'd like something that both fits and eats xenia. But I can't get any clear handle on the latter. What eats that stuff? Or isn't there anything reliable?