PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

I was unaware that Chromis are damsels. But that's good to know for the future.

It is also a fact that they will pick each other off and usually result in only one.

And that's a good point on the assessors.

And so if I am to get firefish, no matter what they should be the first fish in the tank just because they are the most shy on my list and could get picked on by others?

Yes, they are shy. NOTE that you can only have a M+F pair in the long run. In the short run, you can put two in your tank, but unless they are a true pair, they will end up being one.

And no on the mandarin because the tank is too small to support the amount if food he will need?

That is essentially correct although more complicated than I am explaining it as.

 

[eledile]

So what are the other factors for keeping a mandarin? Because I am going to set up a larger tank, and I absolutely love them, and want to make sure i have everything I need for one.

 

[snorvich]

So what are the other factors for keeping a mandarin? Because I am going to set up a larger tank, and I absolutely love them, and want to make sure i have everything I need for one.

Mandarins have a metabolism that is based around continuous consumption of copepods. There are tank raised mandarins which have varying degrees of success but most of the successful stories involve spot feeding. Mandarins are slow, deliberate hunters while most other fish are quick intrustive eaters. As such, in a community tank, mandarins lose out. If you have sufficient live rock (about 75 gallons of display tank worth) OR a sufficiently productive refugium, you can maintain mandarins. Virtually all of them will eat frozen and assuming that they can get to it before its neighbors, will benefit. However, getting sufficient nutrition to them is not so easy. So feeding frozen as a supplement is terrific; assuming that will maintain them without sufficient copepods is not.

 

[eledile]

So, if I were to only put a mandarin in my tank I would have a better chance of keeping one? I already have an overly abundant supply of copepods in my tank, and their numbers just keep growing. I wouldn't mind having just him and my corals in the tank. I didnt want many fish in the tank anyways.

 

[snorvich]

So, if I were to only put a mandarin in my tank I would have a better chance of keeping one? I already have an overly abundant supply of copepods in my tank, and their numbers just keep growing. I wouldn't mind having just him and my corals in the tank. I didnt want many fish in the tank anyways.

Well, sort of. A single mandarin goes through a huge number of copepods and would deplete them despite your best intentions. In a 75 gallon tank with no copepod competitors, it would be fine. At the moment I am keeping a mated pair of reds in a 350 gallon tank with lots of fish, none of which eat copepods.

 

[josh.m.collins2]

I know that you aren't supposed to keep tangs in a smaller tank, but my LFS has blue hippo babies that are about the size of a quarter right now and I was thinking about getting one that I can later transfer to a larger tank, but I wondered how long it would be before it got too big for my 20g H?

 

[snorvich]

I know that you aren't supposed to keep tangs in a smaller tank, but my LFS has blue hippo babies that are about the size of a quarter right now and I was thinking about getting one that I can later transfer to a larger tank, but I wondered how long it would be before it got too big for my 20g H?

We recommend that you buy for the tank you currently have. Upgrades rarely happen. In any case there will be hepatus tangs readily available if you do upgrade.

 

[seaponygirl52]

ask before I buy eh?

ask before I buy eh?

Hello, I am getting back into the hobby after about 20 years off. My husband and I have set up a 20 gallon. It has about 2 inches of live sand, 25 lbs of live rock. The 18" double bright white/blue led light strip and a biofilter back filter. No extra powerheads at this time.
Right now we have a yellowtail damsel deciding which cave is the best.
Our plans are to add a pair of pajama cardinals, a pair of firefish, a blenny, crabs and snails and I would really like a dwarf lionfish. If not a lion what would anyone recommend. We have some SMALL pieces of assorted corals. I am not really sure what they are. We have an exchange this weekend and I am hoping to get a few starters.
So.. glad to be here, and we're looking forward to learning from you all.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Hello, I am getting back into the hobby after about 20 years off. My husband and I have set up a 20 gallon. It has about 2 inches of live sand, 25 lbs of live rock. The 18" double bright white/blue led light strip and a biofilter back filter. No extra powerheads at this time.
Right now we have a yellowtail damsel deciding which cave is the best.
Our plans are to add a pair of pajama cardinals, a pair of firefish, a blenny, crabs and snails and I would really like a dwarf lionfish. If not a lion what would anyone recommend. We have some SMALL pieces of assorted corals. I am not really sure what they are. We have an exchange this weekend and I am hoping to get a few starters.
So.. glad to be here, and we're looking forward to learning from you all.

[welcome]

That is entirely too many fish for a 20 gallon tank. Also, the yellow tail damsel will quickly establish the entire tank as it's territory and will likely kill any new additions to the tank. If you want to add more fish, the damsel will have to go. They are notroiously aggressive fish.

Of the fish you listed, I'd recommend only adding three. The choices I'd suggest would be either the two cardinals with a blenny or the two firefish with the blenny. The tank is too small for a dwarf lion.

 

[snorvich]

Of the fish you listed, I'd recommend only adding three. The choices I'd suggest would be either the two cardinals with a blenny or the two firefish with the blenny. The tank is too small for a dwarf lion.

If you take the firefish pair option, they must be a male + female pair for long term success.

 

[rhunter513]

24g nanocube. Filtration - small sponge and protein skimmer, no sump, live rock, barebottom, mixed reef. SG 1.026, ca 450 dkh 7/8 temps 78/79 no trates or Phos. Open top with T5/LED ligting

Currently no fish - need idea of fish that are less likely to jump

Looking at a perc clown and a sunrise dottyback or 6line wrass.

 

[seaponygirl52]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will stick to the cardinals and a blenny. The lion will have to wait for another tank, oh darn.. I'll keep you posted. Would I have to add both cardinals at once?

 

[snorvich]

24g nanocube. Filtration - small sponge and protein skimmer, no sump, live rock, barebottom, mixed reef. SG 1.026, ca 450 dkh 7/8 temps 78/79 no trates or Phos. Open top with T5/LED ligting

Currently no fish - need idea of fish that are less likely to jump

Looking at a perc clown and a sunrise dottyback or 6line wrass.

Unfortunately all fish can jump, it is just that some are more likely to do so. Sixline wrasses have a propensity to jump and they are also very territorial. Clowns during the bonding period often have the males in waiting trying to jump. Dottybacks, while highly aggressive (except P. fridmani) are less likely to do so.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will stick to the cardinals and a blenny. The lion will have to wait for another tank, oh darn.. I'll keep you posted. Would I have to add both cardinals at once?

Not necessarily so, but if you are considering Bangaii cardinals, for two, you would need a male + female. In LFS that have a tank of them, look for two that are "hanging out" together.

 

[rhunter513]

ok my plan is one perc clown. how about a bangaii cardinal or some kind of blennie - bi-color or tail spot, etc?

And thanks a million for the input/advise

 

[Tethered_Limbs]

The problem with Barlett's is that if you add more than one, their social interaction requires a larger tank (125 gallon), but more importantly, they would all turn male and fight.

but if i had 125g the females would stay female?

 

[snorvich]

ok my plan is one perc clown. how about a bangaii cardinal or some kind of blennie - bi-color or tail spot, etc?

And thanks a million for the input/advise

You are most welcome. Sounds like a plan to me.

 

[snorvich]

but if i had 125g the females would stay female?

No bartlett's will still turn male. I suggest carberryi or resplendant.

 

[Tethered_Limbs]

for a 125g, or for my 75? so bartletts dun do well in groups?

 

[snorvich]

for a 125g, or for my 75? so bartletts dun do well in groups?

Either. As I mentioned, if you have more than one, they will turn male. I do not know how to say this more clearly