Recommendations for centerpiece fish?

[tominicane]

I will continue to explain why what I am saying makes sense. You can continue to tell me not to offend people and then try to offend me by basically calling me a jerk. LOL.

There may be people that would stoop down and argue with you. However only the intellectually lost every need do that. So I will add responses according to my area of expertise - Marine Biology. I appreciate your feedback and will let you know that I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. It’s one of the benefits of being me. Now if there are any more questions that are actually to the topic. Then please, I am more then willing to answer them. However notice that I am not the one that started this juvenile debate.

 

[Crit21]

Keith, I agree, but I'm still considering all options and opinions. I thought I wanted a blonde naso, but I've learned that there are factors to consider--size, aggression toward othe fish, disease/pest resistance, etc.

As you'll heartily agree, I'm not yet any kind of expert, particularly with some of the rarer fish. I do like a lot of the suggestions, and wouldn't have considered those fish as candidates if people hadn't recommended them in the first place.

The field has grown to one butterfly, two angels, anthias, and several fairy wrasses.

I'm still looking for recommendations.

 

[tominicane]

I will continue to add fish as I can think of ones that match every criteria that you are talking about.

The Zebra and the Swallowtail Angels are two VERY viable options, smaller fish and they are attractive.

 

[Mustang394]

Dan don't you have a clam in your tank?

 

[Crit21]

Two, why?

 

[Mustang394]

You didn't list them in the beginning of the thread, and that can make a difference in fish selection as you well know.

 

[Crit21]

I know. In the second line of the opening comment I said it had to be "reef/invert/clam safe".

 

[COreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8586337#post8586337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tominicane
IMO you feed A LOT!!!! I mean a HUGE amount. Fish in the wild will normally eat every 5-7 days. Corals usually once a day because of the free floating plankton that is so readily available.

This is an innaccurate statement...if you had in fact logged over 17000 hours or even 1 hour of bottom time, you would know this to be inaccurate.

Fish are always grazing, and eating from the water column in the wild. Predatory fish like lions, and scorpionfish will eat almost daily if the chance presents itself. Go 5-7 days without feeding your fish in your tanks...I guarantee they will graze on something, if not each other.

Additionally, their metabolic rates in captivity are much slower, and I can guarantee you that if you fed your fish once a week it would begin to get thin.

 

[murfman]

Go with the Blonde Naso, just get a bigger one. I had mine and he was a model citizen.

 

[Mustang394]

You know with time your unicorn could become the fish your looking if you can wait for him to grow

 

[tominicane]

I know their metabolic rates are a lot slower - that is why you feed them less, sir. Also the symbiotic enzymes that they have in their stomachs, does not allow them to break down what they are grazing on or pulling out of the water column, for nutriontal value. Did you ever wonder why fish are constantly grazing? It is because they get nearly no nutrition from it for the above stated reason.

However it is like one of us trying to live off of, oh I don't know, a soft drink. It would PROBABLY keep us alive for a little while, until the next meal comes along - yet we do not have the complicated stomach enzymes to turn it in to any sort of meaningfull nutritional value. That is the best way that I can explain it. Besides, I don't recall the posts talking about grazing. We were talking about fish actually schooling of individually feeding in the wild. You are comparing some crackers to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Now can we PLEASE stick to this man's post.

Now Eric, don't be mean. We all make mistakes.

 

[COreefer]

Fish in the wild will normally eat every 5-7 days.

deep breath....ahh exhale. ok...





Dan, I think you have a few fish that could qualify as a centerpiece fish. If you're looking for another fish to add I would look in the direction of a wrasse, like a fairy or even a hawkfish like I previously suggested.

 

[reefkoi]

You know I dont want to stir up the pot, but a marine biologist studies the ocean right? If you think about a closed reef aquarium, its so much different. We can try to mimic the oceans conditions but its still not ever going to be the same.
So as hobbiests we actually know more than most marine biologists when it comes to a reef tank. We are studying our tanks every day for years and years. So sometimes you have to look at us dummies as actually knowing something about a reef tank and listen to our "experiences" with an "aquarium" enviroment. So with that said I think we can learn from you and you the same from us. Lets all just keep an open mind.

And I agree with Mustang, that unicorn will grow into your centerpiece fish, just keep feeding it and watch it grow

Chris

 

[tominicane]

Then again, if you have an open top aquarium or rather large areas that are opened in the back of the aquarium - the wrasses will attempt to jump. I can only assume at the least open top with canopy because of the fact that you have clams and most likely halides because of those clams.

Also you said that you want something that swims around more. This is more difficult for fish that do not have swim bladders, including hawkfish. Their inability to float. I am still looking for you though. In about an hour I am going to get a chance to read about some smaller angelfish that are rather new to the hobby.

 

[tominicane]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8587962#post8587962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
You know I dont want to stir up the pot, but a marine biologist studies the ocean right? If you think about a closed reef aquarium, its so much different. We can try to mimic the oceans conditions but its still not ever going to be the same.
So as hobbiests we actually know more than most marine biologists when it comes to a reef tank. We are studying our tanks every day for years and years. So sometimes you have to look at us dummies as actually knowing something about a reef tank and listen to our "experiences" with an "aquarium" enviroment. So with that said I think we can learn from you and you the same from us. Lets all just keep an open mind.


Chris

I couldn't agree more. Wait, what are we talking about? I had to learn to crawl before I could walk. AND that included studying local aquariums. Then basically I just try to replicate as precisely as possible the exact components of the ocean, in a closed system. Than again, I may just be a complete idiot that is getting lucky with Genus names. Who knows, i'm banking on the idiot part.

Now the sooner that people take their foot off my head, and realize that I am in fact here to help - and stop trying to "outwit" me.......the better we will all be. I know several of people who have all ready taken a step back and emailed me with multiple questions, then 10's followed them. I never said or even implied that I was smarter. I merely said that I was here to help. Which is the fact. I don't want to see things die, and I want to help people get the best for their money.......plus I want to see people succeed. Have any of my 20 something posts proven otherwise? Outside of people that automatically began bashing me? Or my quick responses in the same demeanor that I was spoken to?

 

[Crit21]

Keith, that unicorn has some real growing to do before that happens. He's definitely a good eater though, and should grow pretty fast. In the mean time, I'd like something with real flash for the instant gratification.

 

[Crit21]

John, How big is your largest tank, and what do you keep in it?

 

[racer69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8588028#post8588028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tominicane... I don't want to see things die, and I want to help people get the best for their money.......plus I want to see people succeed.

Then I highly recommend feeding your fish way more than once a week.

 

[Crit21]

So........back to the thread. Todd, what would you add to my tank if you were me. Don't say tabasco.

 

[Mustang394]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8588255#post8588255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crit21
So........back to the thread. Todd, what would you add to my tank if you were me. Don't say tabasco.

Now that was not very nice....

You know Wal-mart sell this little nemo fish that you hook to an air pump.


Just a thought