Need Help Selecting Last Few Fish

F

Fish Biscuit

Active member
I have a 65 rimless with the below stock, not sure on the last few fish.

Helfrichi Firefish
Randall Goby w/ candy cane pistol
Possum Wrasse
Barnacle Blenny - haven't seen since December but most likely still in there
Mandarin - had for 1 year this month
Hermits - moving out soon
Sexy Shrimp - 1 in the display, 2 in the fuge, & 1 in the overflow - never again
Fire Shrimp
Snails

I need something that won't bother the mandarin. I tried an Earlei fairy wrasse that is back at the store waiting to be sold. I tried a diamondtail flasher I lost to flukes or internal parasites. Both were very pushy with the mandarin. The flasher was the more aggressive of the wrasses. The Earlei would just display & hide once the mandarin displayed back. The Earlei also liked displaying at the firefish which turned into them hip checking each other on occasion just because while swimming past.

Is there another fairy or flasher wrasse with a less aggressive personality or am I in a case where they would be the dominant fish in the tank & pushy? I do have an acclimation box that was used with the flasher.

I'm about ready to just get a pair of ocellaris clowns & be done. I don't think I would add more than 2 fish & that will be it for the tank.
 
An Earl's fairy wrasse? Don't come across those very often. Solorensis and jordani fairy wrasses are very peaceful fish. I'd be surprised if they harassed a mandarin, or much of anything else really.
 
I was in your same position. Same size tank. I planned to get a fairy or flasher to be my showcase fish, but decided against it, because they would just dominate the tank. I opted to get a few more little peaceful fish and am very happy with my decision. I have a pajama cardinal in QT right now that could be my last fish. It's a great little community.
 
I wondered about the Jordani. I'm nervous to try another wrasse after the last 2. I certainly don't want to take the tank apart to catch a fish again. I think I keep getting rogue fish.

No cardinals with the sexy shrimp, they limit me with fish options. I'd like a gold assessor but I haven't seen one lately. Figured clowns might just be easier & always available.
 
Fish Biscuit said:
I wondered about the Jordani. I'm nervous to try another wrasse after the last 2. I certainly don't want to take the tank apart to catch a fish again. I think I keep getting rogue fish.

No cardinals with the sexy shrimp, they limit me with fish options. I'd like a gold assessor but I haven't seen one lately. Figured clowns might just be easier & always available.
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I have a male jordani and next to my starry blenny, he is the most friendly, personable fish in the tank. He isn't aggressive towards anything at all except maybe food...
 
My tank is 110, but I'm guessing the reason Live Aquaria lists 90 is because they are fairly active swimmers. They don't get very big, though. If you tank isn't crowded, I would think a 65-75g would be ok.
 
Thanks, I'll have to see what else stays on the small side. My tank looks like a ghost town since only the possum & mandarin cruise around.
 
I'll have to look at those cardinals too. Not too keen on a dottyback in the tank.

I think what Ora does is great but most of their fish look washed out compared to the colors of the wild caught assessors.
 
GimpyFin said:
I have a male jordani and next to my starry blenny, he is the most friendly, personable fish in the tank. He isn't aggressive towards anything at all except maybe food...
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Couldn't help but ditto to this. I would be careful about a female or a newly transitioning male as they can be agressive. I think from your stocking list it would be alright. I take it the tank is covered. My male is as passive can be..besides the coloring he is my baby. Swims into my hand when cleaning the tank. I joke and show friends that he likes to be petted.

btw...I love it when you basically say your mandrian is the most aggressive fish in the tank. It would make sense from your stocking list but it is still cool.

Couldn't help but share a pic. Sorry the pic there is food in the water.

f3463367babe95bbf414c15f3c07dcf5.jpg
 
Orchid Dottyback are very docile fish, not at all like typical dottyback, never bother any other fish. Stay brilliant magenta color with good diet and will spawn in a well run reef tank. They are perfect fish for a small community reef tank. Look into it. Don't let the name dottyback eliminate them as possible candidate for your tank.
 
My mandarin is not aggressive, he will just straighten himself up & display back if being bothered. Actually my firefish is probably the pushiest fish in the tank & has chased new fish out of his territory.

I was hoping a female wrasse would be less aggressive. Not really wanting to spend the extra $ on a terminal male & not know how long it will live. I'll have to think about that. Also not entirely sure if a 65 is big enough for a single flame.

I've heard good things about orchid dottybacks, I'll have to research them a little more.

Would a single orchid dottyback work with my stock & a small fairy wrasse. If so, should the wrasse be last?
 
In my opinion orchids are ...... I think you would have trouble between the orchid and firefish.

If you like the purple I would look at a blackcap basslet. Love their personality.

Good luck
 
RDtrack said:
In my opinion orchids are ...... I think you would have trouble between the orchid and firefish.

If you like the purple I would look at a blackcap basslet. Love their personality.

Good luck
Click to expand...

That's part my concern, the firefish most likely will not back down from anyone. The earlei was at least twice his size & that didn't faze it.

This would be so much easier to decide if Snorvich were reviewing stocking lists. :)
 
RDtrack said:
In my opinion orchids are ...... I think you would have trouble between the orchid and firefish.

......

Good luck
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I had both in 50-65 gal tanks, no problem.
You can get one Orchid, but a pair is much better. They are small fish and just mind their own business, not bother anybody.
You can also get two or three Royal Gramma.
Get small one so you don't end you with 2 male Royal Gramma. If you have two males, they will fight to the death (death to the looser anyway)
The problem with Royal Gramma is that you have to really have good diet with a lot of variety or they will loose their brilliant color.
Both fishes, Royal Gramma and Orchid Dottyback, are great community fish. They will defend their home but will not seek other fish to attack.
Royal Gramma have a neat upside down swimming habit in their cave which is really neat.

If possible, I always choose breeding group of fishes at the expense of decrease species in a reef tank. The social interaction of these breeding units are so interesting. Getting them to spawn also is a great accomplishment and reaffirmation that we take good care of our animals..
 
RDtrack said:
In my opinion orchids are ...... ......
Click to expand...
Inexperienced reefer may mistake Strawberry dottyback for Orchid dottyback. They may look similar but Strawberry dottyback got to be the one species with highest meanness/weight ration of all reef fishes.
 
OrionN said:
Inexperienced reefer may mistake Strawberry dottyback for Orchid dottyback. They may look similar but Strawberry dottyback got to be the one species with highest meanness/weight ration of all reef fishes.
Click to expand...
I do know the difference between the two. I've never kept a strawberry but I've kept or tried to keep two orchids.

They might do better in a large tank over 100 gallons or in an aggressive fish stock list but in a smaller tank they are terrible. But this is just my experience.

As with any fish they all have their unique individual personalities.
 
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