PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

I got the replacement yellow tang and the diamond goby jumped (I now have a screen).

screen must have 1/4 inch holes; egg crate will not work

So now I have:

yellow tang
2 osc clowns
blue chromie
flasher wrasse

everybody is healthy and happy.

I want to add my one or two final fish. I am considering:

Lamarck's Angel really needs a bit larger tank (125 gallons); female strongly preferred

and either:

bicolor dottyback or bicolor blenny the blenny is fine, the dottyback will not do well with a flasher wrasse

any problems?

thanks!

 

[milonedp]

Steve this is fantastic and is such a great help! Thanks for all you do for the hobby! I took your input and updated my list, incorporating your comments, if you don't mind let me know what you think of the revisions...

First batch in QT now:
- Flame Angel
- Scopas Tang - Zebrasoma scopas
- 7 small female lyretail anthias
- royal gramma

Future:
- Should I do tangs next then fill in with other fish? I think that'd help "fill in" the tank faster but I don't want to do things unbalanced or too fast either, this is a long term plan
- I have 2 40g breeders to do QT in, but I only fill them to 31.5g (to make cupramine dosing easier to measure)
- Tangs
- In general for the tangs I want to start with smaller ones and let them grow
- I got rid of a few and prioritized as you asked, I probably still have too many (so I inserted a breakpoint) but I figured some might not work with others so wanted to get to the full list then I'll ask about the stocking order so please have at it again (thanks so much!)
- Scopas Tang - Zebrasoma scopas (this is the one from above just keeping the tangs together for evaluation)
- Kole Tang - Ctenochaetus strigosus
- Blonde Naso Tang - Naso elegans
- Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus
- Powder Brown Tang - Acanthurus japonicus - would the Brown get along better?
- Yellow Belly Regal Blue Tang - Paracanthurus hepatus var.
Too many after this point? Other Tang Suggestions?
- Desjardini Tang - Zebrasoma desjardini
- Powder Blue Tang - Acanthurus leucosternon
- Purple Tang - Zebrasoma xanthurum

Other Fish
- Algae Blenny
- pair of true percula clowns
- Some sand sifter - with caution on corals - I understand your recommendation, I'll have corals but not to the point where I'll be too upset about drifting sand (I hope)
- Pair of Red Mandarins (once tank much more established, both at same time or female first)
- Bellus Angel - females are more stable and transport better
- Black Cap Basslet
- Banggi Cardinals - a male and two females
- BiColor Blenny
- Tahitian Butterfly - had the Tahitian before with corals and did okay, based on your comment not sure I want to go with this but I'm leaving it in the list for now
- gobbies
- jawfish (not blue spotted - per your advice)
- fill in Anthais (resplendent / square)

Still undecided on wrasses - would require screen or top with 1/4" holes max
- Mystery Wrasse - not shrimp safe
- McCoskers Fairy Wrasse
- Whipfin Fairy Wrasse
- 6 line Wrasse

Again thanks so much for all you do!

 

[Barro777]

Have 2 ocellaris clowns and 1 allen's damsel in a 40 g tank. Looking to add either golden head sleeper goby or flame hawkfish. Will these new guys get along with the clowns and damsel?

Also, with golden head sleeper, will it create too much mess with the sand? Can I quarantine it in a bare bottom QT, or should I add substrate to the QT?

 

[snorvich]

Have 2 ocellaris clowns and 1 allen's damsel in a 40 g tank. Looking to add either golden head sleeper goby or flame hawkfish. Will these new guys get along with the clowns and damsel?

The flame hawkfish is an awesome fish, will get along with virtually all fish, but it's only downside is that it is not shrimp safe.

Also, with golden head sleeper, will it create too much mess with the sand? Can I quarantine it in a bare bottom QT, or should I add substrate to the QT?

A goldenheaded sleeper goby is likely to starve in a tank this size, and it will deplete your sand bed of beneficial organisms.

 

[kissman]

what would be the stocking order in a 55g for the following please?

stocking list

1 Royal Gramma
1 Diamond Gobie
2 True Perc
2 Green/Blue Chromis
1 Wrasse (not sure which yet) I really liked my Six Line

would like to add 1 maybe 2 more fish to the list just not sure of what yet

 

[snorvich]

Steve this is fantastic and is such a great help! Thanks for all you do for the hobby! I took your input and updated my list, incorporating your comments, if you don't mind let me know what you think of the revisions...

First, although behavioral compatibility is in some ways easier in a larger tank, it is also more difficult to predict as it somewhat is determined by individual fish characteristics and their perceived territorial imperatives (especially for larger fish, smaller fish have greatly reduced territories) rather than species characteristics. So I am going to provide, your case, the areas where I have found combination risk in the past in large tanks. But these will be indications and will not be definitive.

First batch in QT now:
- Flame Angel
- Scopas Tang - Zebrasoma scopas
- 7 small female lyretail anthias
- royal gramma

all zebrasoma tangs once established tend to be more territorial than other types of tangs

Future:
- Should I do tangs next then fill in with other fish? I think that'd help "fill in" the tank faster but I don't want to do things unbalanced or too fast either, this is a long term plan

In general, the longer a tang has the tank to him/her self, the more territorial it becomes, especially with zebrasoma but also acanthurus

- I have 2 40g breeders to do QT in, but I only fill them to 31.5g (to make cupramine dosing easier to measure)

That is correct. Cupramine level must be checked at least daily, or alternatively you can do tank transfer (which works for cryptocaryon irritans but not for oodinium of brooklynella

- Tangs
- In general for the tangs I want to start with smaller ones and let them grow
- I got rid of a few and prioritized as you asked, I probably still have too many (so I inserted a breakpoint) but I figured some might not work with others so wanted to get to the full list then I'll ask about the stocking order so please have at it again (thanks so much!)
- Scopas Tang - Zebrasoma scopas (this is the one from above just keeping the tangs together for evaluation)
- Kole Tang - Ctenochaetus strigosus
- Blonde Naso Tang - Naso elegans
- Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus
- Powder Brown Tang - Acanthurus japonicus - would the Brown get along better? both are similar in behavior; acanthurus would ideally be added concurrently
- Yellow Belly Regal Blue Tang - Paracanthurus hepatus var. While pretty, P. hepatus once mature can be ornery and is also highly susceptible to parasites; I would skip this one
Too many after this point? Other Tang Suggestions?
- Desjardini Tang - Zebrasoma desjardini
- Powder Blue Tang - Acanthurus leucosternon
- Purple Tang - Zebrasoma xanthurum

In this sized tank, I would guess the right number is 5 non-naso tangs

Other Fish
- Algae Blenny
- pair of true percula clowns
- Some sand sifter - with caution on corals - I understand your recommendation, I'll have corals but not to the point where I'll be too upset about drifting sand (I hope) corals on the sand are the worst effected, but these fish rise in the water column and make a mess
- Pair of Red Mandarins (once tank much more established, both at same time or female first) correct
- Bellus Angel - females are more stable and transport better
- Black Cap Basslet
- Banggi Cardinals - a male and two females this will sometimes work in very large tanks, otherwise a male plus female; three will not hang out together, one will be the lone ranger
- BiColor Blenny
- Tahitian Butterfly - had the Tahitian before with corals and did okay, based on your comment not sure I want to go with this but I'm leaving it in the list for now a roll of the dice; I can not accurately predict
- gobbies
- jawfish (not blue spotted - per your advice)
- fill in Anthais (resplendent / square) I prefer resplendent or carberryi but ideally feed multiple times per day for long term success

Still undecided on wrasses - would require screen or top with 1/4" holes max as will the jawfish
- Mystery Wrasse - not shrimp safe
- McCoskers Fairy Wrasse may have a problem with the mystery wrasse but perhaps not in your sized tank
- Whipfin Fairy Wrasse
- 6 line Wrasse

In moderate sized tanks, this combination of wrasses would be problematic, but in your sized tank, it should be ok.

Again thanks so much for all you do!

 

[snorvich]

what would be the stocking order in a 55g for the following please?

stocking list

1 Royal Gramma
1 Diamond Gobie
2 True Perc
2 Green/Blue Chromis
1 Wrasse (not sure which yet) I really liked my Six Line last but otherwise the order will be immaterial as there are no other aggressive fish

would like to add 1 maybe 2 more fish to the list just not sure of what yet

well the six line will determine which other fish can be added

 

[kissman]

well the six line will determine which other fish can be added

Thanks great thread by the way! What ever I add if I do, the Six Line will be last. If I were to add anymore to the list how many more could I add? I am running an oversized skimmer Warner Marine MF 181

 

[snorvich]

Thanks great thread by the way! What ever I add if I do, the Six Line will be last. If I were to add anymore to the list how many more could I add? I am running an oversized skimmer Warner Marine MF 181

Depends on which one

 

[kissman]

Depends on which one

I was thinking a Cardinal or two maybe YellowStripes

 

[snorvich]

I was thinking a Cardinal or two

should be fine

 

[kissman]

sweet thank you

 

[JohnnyHT]

Mucho Mahalo!!!!

 

[milonedp]

Thanks again this is fantastic help!

So when you say 5 non-Naso (forgive my ignorance here) are you saying 5 plus a naso would work?

If not would the 4 below plus the 1 naso would work or is that still too much?

- Scopas Tang - Zebrasoma scopas (In QT now)
- Kole Tang - Ctenochaetus strigosus
- Blonde Naso Tang - Naso elegans
- Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus
- Powder Brown Tang - Acanthurus japonicus

If this list would work and knowing that the Scopas is already in QT and could be the first in the DT would you recommend holding him in QT till I get through the rest of the list or could I add him to the DT and could I QT the other 4, 2 per tank with a egg crate divide so that I'm adding all of the 4 others at once (assuming I can find small ones of each at the same time)? Or how would you work your way through this listing to increase the odds of success? My QT plan is get them in and stable (feeding), then do a paraguard dip, then cuprimine for 2 weeks, then 30 days observation. So if all is good its about 50 days...

 

[The_Vee]

Thank you for what you do! Looking for input on my planned stocking please. 135g 72lx18dx24h reef tank. Recently setup (my second reef tank), 4-5" sand, 180lb live rock. The plan is to slowly add:

snails (no turbos), no crabs, pep/fire/cleaner shrimp, lots of corals, 1 or 2 mini brittle star fish

- 3 pearly jawfish
- 5 Zebra Barred Dartfish (initially was thinking of firefish but i would like more than 1)
- 1 Royal Gramma or white banded possum wrasse. If white banded can I have other possum wrass varieties?
- 2 carpenter's flasher wrasse (m-f pair) - otherwise single
- 1 pink spotted watchman Goby (or diamond goby) w/ tiger pistol shrimp. Can I have 2 pink spotted (even if not m-f pair?) found some conflicting information.
- 2 Small Ocellaris clownfish
- 1 Bristletooth Tomini Tang or 1 Chevron Tang
- 8 months: 1 mandarin

Thanks again

 

[jenergizerl]

hi. does anyone know if you can keep more than one serpant starfish (60g tank) also if you can keep a serpent and a brittle together? I want 2 or one of each of I can.
Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

Thanks again this is fantastic help!

So when you say 5 non-Naso (forgive my ignorance here) are you saying 5 plus a naso would work?

yes, exactly.

If not would the 4 below plus the 1 naso would work or is that still too much?

works fine

- Scopas Tang - Zebrasoma scopas (In QT now)
- Kole Tang - Ctenochaetus strigosus
- Blonde Naso Tang - Naso elegans
- Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus
- Powder Brown Tang - Acanthurus japonicus

should be fine, order should also be pretty good

If this list would work and knowing that the Scopas is already in QT and could be the first in the DT would you recommend holding him in QT till I get through the rest of the list or could I add him to the DT and could I QT the other 4, 2 per tank with a egg crate divide so that I'm adding all of the 4 others at once (assuming I can find small ones of each at the same time)? Or how would you work your way through this listing to increase the odds of success? My QT plan is get them in and stable (feeding), then do a paraguard dip, then cuprimine for 2 weeks, then 30 days observation. So if all is good its about 50 days...

The quarantine options are beyond the scope of this thread. However, I wrote a bunch of stickies in the Fish disease forum that may be useful. Cupramine needs to be monitored daily and should be for four weeks minimum ideallyh followed by observation.

 

[snorvich]

hi. does anyone know if you can keep more than one serpant starfish (60g tank) also if you can keep a serpent and a brittle together? I want 2 or one of each of I can.
Thanks!

This thread is only about marine fish compatibility. A separate thread in new to the hobby should get response.

 

[snorvich]

Thank you for what you do! Looking for input on my planned stocking please. 135g 72lx18dx24h reef tank. Recently setup (my second reef tank), 4-5" sand, 180lb live rock. The plan is to slowly add:

snails (no turbos), no crabs, pep/fire/cleaner shrimp, lots of corals, 1 or 2 mini brittle star fish

- 3 pearly jawfish
- 5 Zebra Barred Dartfish (initially was thinking of firefish but i would like more than 1)
- 1 Royal Gramma or white banded possum wrasse. If white banded can I have other possum wrass varieties?
- 2 carpenter's flasher wrasse (m-f pair) - otherwise single
- 1 pink spotted watchman Goby (or diamond goby) w/ tiger pistol shrimp. Can I have 2 pink spotted (even if not m-f pair?) found some conflicting information.
- 2 Small Ocellaris clownfish
- 1 Bristletooth Tomini Tang or 1 Chevron Tang
- 8 months: 1 mandarin

Thanks again

I see no behavioral issues with the plan. Be sure the tank is tightly covered as you have several prolific jumpers (1/4 inch mesh not egg crate)

 

[xCuttyx]

hello, new to saltwater but would like a little info on the combo of these if you wouldnt mind. 29g biocube

1 Greenbanded Goby
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Fairy wrasse
1 clown
CUC