Looking for fish to complete list

[hebus13]

Hi all,

In order to complete a list i'm trying to solve what my wife is asking me.

The tank is 50 gallons
Current stocklist is :
- 3 black bar chromis (chromis retrofasciata)
- pair of cryptic sixline wrasse (pseudocheilinops ataenia)

She wants :
- one or few colorfull fish
- not shy fish
- open water fish
- reef safe fish

I thought of :
- Atlantic longnose butterflyfish (Prognathodes aculeatus) but is not safe
- Black bar filefish (Pervagor janthinosoma) also not safe
- Fathead anthias (Serranocirrhitus latus) too shy

I love uncommon fishes that i not usually see in other display tank.
If you have any idea, you're welcome

 

[anarchy02]

If you have a good pod population then I'd say a mandarin

 

[Dmorty217]

Mandarins are colorful but not open water fish. What about a royal gramma? Lots of personality and will be out all the time. Not the most colorful fish but your kind of limited with your tank size

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Chalk bass.

You may have a hard time with the sixlines in there. They are extremely territorial and very aggressive. They will likely attack and kill anything you try to add.

 

[hebus13]

@Dmorty217 : thank you for your anwser. I never had a royal gramma or even seen one in a reef tank. I though they were very reclusive/shy fish just going out of the rock work for few inches.

@anarchy02 : mandarins as Dmorty217 said are not open water fishes, and i think the pod population won't be fine if I had one to the pair of wrasse.

 

[hebus13]

Chalk bass.

You may have a hard time with the sixlines in there. They are extremely territorial and very aggressive. They will likely attack and kill anything you try to add.

It's cryptic sixline also called pink-streaked wrasse

 

[eatbreakfast]

Try a purple tilefish, they meet all of your criteria.

 

[nicoleah]

+1 royal gramma

Mine is always out and follows me whenever I am in the room (you'd think it never got fed.)

 

[Berje]

purple filefish are shy, try a purple dotyback. have great personality and swim around tank all day.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

It's cryptic sixline also called pink-streaked wrasse

Ahh, gotcha.

 

[Waters40]

I would recommend some of the smaller reef safe fairy wrasses. Lots of movement and color.....most stay out in the open. I have a Lubbock's that is constantly on the move whether it be in open water or around the rocks.

 

[hebus13]

Thank you all for your answers, I'm going to have a look to flasher wrasse, royal gramma and tilefish to make my mind.

 

[hebus13]

I found a stunner that my LFS could get : a pair of Hooded Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus).
Would it be ok with my current stock and my tank ?

 

[eatbreakfast]

A 50g may be too small for a pr of hooded fairy wrasses, because the male/female dynamic is based on there being a degree of aggression, and there may not be enough room for a female to escape. But they would pose no problem to your current inhabitants.

 

[hebus13]

@eatbreakfast, my question could sound a little strange but with such an answer would a trio be better ?

Here is my rock work, perhaps this could help to give an answer :

 

[Sleepiness]

What about a green clown goby? Sure they are somewhat timid but as soon as they get comfortable they are fun to watch frolic in soft corals.

 

[Nina51]

i second (or third) the royal gramma. mine is out all the time and he's very bold.

i'd forgo the dottyback as they are mean as a junkyard dog. i had one in my tank and he beat the crap outta my goby. gave him to a friend who banished him to his sump.