looking for a swimmer

[the Undone guy]

Hi everyone,

I've had a 34 gallon solana up for about 6 weeks and everything is coming along nicely. My current livestock includes a bicolor blenny, and a percula clownfish (along with misc inverts & shrimp). My girlfriend is starting to complain that we have no 'swimmers'. The blenny perches, and the clown loves his little area and doesn't go around much. What would you recommend for a good reef-safe swimmer (appropriate for a 34gal)? I only plan on adding ~3 chromis at a later date in addition to your recommendation. Thanks!

 

[Angel*Fish]

Maybe a chromis?

 

[SushiGirl]

Why not just add the chromis now?

 

[Angel*Fish]

Oh I missed that. I wouldn't add 3 chromis, just one, maybe 2. They usually kill each other off until one or two is left.

 

[the Undone guy]

Well I wanted to get 3 in hopes that they would school. Would you say 2>3? And think they'd spend a good amount of time swimming through my rock work? I always thought of them as hover'ers...

 

[aquaph8]

I think 2 or 3 will most likely be one.

 

[Ticul]

6 Line will enter holes and what not. Surely a swimmer.

 

[Korrine]

why not throw in a canary wrasse, H. chrysus? Beautiful and they swim!

 

[aarond419]

what about a dottyback or something like that. The ones that I have seen in stores always seem to be active or some PJ cardinals they always seem to be out too.

 

[snorvich]

Orchid dottyback? Possum Wrasse?

 

[Korrine]

PJ's get UGLY with time!!! Trust me :crazy1:


I have a friend that has an orchid dottyback and he said his hardly ever comes out of the rock work and is pretty reclusive. It's in a 125g.

 

[niter]

We recently stock both lyretail and ignitus anthias in our tank and I am quite pleased by them. I know diver's den has a trio of bartletts anthias that would be lovely. I think a trio of anthias + a cleaner shrimp would be a visual crowd pleaser.

Edit: I re-read and saw your tank size. I am not sure if anthias would fit. However, I think a fish that would visit a cleaner shrimp would be a fun watch for observers.

 

[SkullV]

Flame Angel is colorful and will never stop swimming!

 

[Korrine]

Flame Angel is colorful and will never stop swimming!

but he wants reef safe and these are basically a 50/50 shot. You are right...they are beautiful!

 

[Mark 75g]

I would do a six line wrasse and the anthias. I have had over 15 chromis in my 175 and I only have 1 left. They die and any pet store will tell you to buy appx 10 if you want to have 2 or 3 and that is even lucky.

My six line swims all over in and out of the rocks.

 

[Korrine]

6 lines are usually devil fish in the long run...keep that in mind! Is a 34g big enough for even 1 anthias?

 

[Angel*Fish]

Flame Angel is colorful and will never stop swimming!

The tank is too small for a flame angel.

but he wants reef safe and these are basically a 50/50 shot. You are right...they are beautiful!

I don't know why everyone says that. It's not a toss of the coin, there are factors. It is true they are individuals and some may nip and others not, but there are things affecting whether or not that happens that are within our control.

6 lines are usually devil fish in the long run...keep that in mind! Is a 34g big enough for even 1 anthias?

I wouldn't put an anthias in a 34. And 6 lines are a problem for three reasons
1) They eat beneficial algae fighting fauna in your tank
2) They wouldn't be compatible with a mandarin should you upgrade and wantt one
3) As Korrine said, they can become terrors in general

 

[the Undone guy]

I really love the fathead anthias but everything I read says they need ~75gallons. I plan on getting 2-3 chromis no matter what, but I wanted one more in addition to finalize my bioload.

Are all wrasses possible terrors like the 6line? I really want a peaceful swimmer.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Personally, I would suggest a group of three chalk bass over the chromis. Much more colorful, and very peaceful fish. Mine stayed out in the water column for the most part.

I'll second the comment about the fridmani dottyback. Mine is very reclusive and usually only comes out from under it's rock at feeding time.

 

[GhostCon1]

I really love the fathead anthias but everything I read says they need ~75gallons. I plan on getting 2-3 chromis no matter what, but I wanted one more in addition to finalize my bioload.

Are all wrasses possible terrors like the 6line? I really want a peaceful swimmer.

No, not all of them. There are some really beautiful, peaceful ones, but I am not sure what would be suitable for your tank.