keeping conspecifics

[PMc]

Hello,

I am looking at starting a 75G with 40 breeder as a sump. Mostly it will be a coral garden but I would like some interesting fishes. To say that there is conflicting information out there is putting it mildly.

I don't have a "must have" fish. Anything larger than about 3 inches seems too large for a 75 but I suppose pipefish would be the exception there. I would really like to keep multiple individuals of the same species. Various sources say that chromis or cardinals work well this way but the reality, it seems, is that there are very few fish that can live comfortably with a conspecific in a 75 G. Can you point to a few choices? Anthias? Midget chromis (Chromis acares) - 3 X 2" fish in a 75 G?

Or is this wrong thinking? Perhaps keeping singles is a less stressful (for the fish) way to go? My longest lasting fish was a Rainford's goby that lived about 5 years in a 29G AIO. He saw a few chromis and other gobies come and go. He (she?) was a single the entire time.

Thanks

Mc

 

[o2manyfish]

Yellow assesors, firefish, several choices of mild damsels, royal gramma, pipefish are going to need a very established refugium.

So there are some options of multiples to add to your tank.

Dave B

 

[PMc]

Thanks! Care to name the Damsels? Other posts here, including a sticky I think, suggest that no damsel or chromis will co-exist in less than 100 G unless a mated pair. Firefish are attractive but the firefish and the darts are also listed as those that will kill conspecifics until there is only one. Assessors are very attractive in pictures but I don't think I have ever seen one in the flesh. An assessor was on my original list.

Fish will go in last so I still have several months to look around. Interesting how opinions vary.

Mc

 

[Fish_Kid99]

I have two scissortail damsels that are relatively peacful except for the male ocasionaly nipping at the female. I would recomend them to anyone that asks.

 

[SantaMonica]

I forgot all about the yellow assesors; will need to look at them again.

As for chromis, if you feed enough floating food particles like I do with my coral feeder every 20 minutes, you can keep as many as you want (I have 10)

 

[rachenbrazil]

Fridmani pseudocromis would work fine as well

 

[PMc]

Thanks for the suggestions! Fridmani are very attractive. Scissortail damsels and scissortail dartfish the same? I like the shape on the dartfish. Zebra barred are also interesting.

Mc

 

[accordsirh22]

no they are different one is a chromis/damsel the other is a goby/dartfish. fwiw the stc is listed as peaceful on several sites, but overall i'd say its about 50/50 i have a couple in my FO and i see the big one get after other fish from time to time.

if you want small fish you can keep in groups: scissortail goby, bar goby (very cool imo lol), blue gudgeon (they hide A LOT at first til they get comfortable), chromis (as long as you can feed them very often). you could go all damsel, and put in quite a few, kinda like a cichlid tank too. but that would not allow you to have much else

 

[o2manyfish]

The damsels that I have experience with which are well behaved are the Kupang, Yellow, Jeweled, Starkii (a little bigger) and Stegassi.

Frimandi are great fish, I have 4 and all of mine have hidden caves and spend no time in open water, in the past I have had Frimandi that are open water fish, and they are much more enjoyable and less frustrating

Accord mentioned the Bar Goby, I have had great luck with Trios of those over the years. They are hardy, they eat up the excess food when you feed too much, they don't bother anything.

Dave B

 

[PMc]

How about a trio of flasher wrasse? Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots to look at.

Mc