Recommendations for centerpiece fish?

Well, I know it has a lot to do with how well fed the fish are as to whether any new fish poses a risk to anything in a tank. I got rid of my queen and Singapore angels before I got my clams. I'll read up on the blue jaws to see if other people have had issues with them.

Actually, I'm leaning toward that yellow pyramid butterfly. I haven't seen one in town yet, they're not expensive, they have a real eye-catching look, they aren't jumpers, and I can't find anything that says it's a danger to my tank inhabitants--in fact, I've found references saying they're "safer than copperbands". I'm sure that I can meet its dietary needs. It may fit all of my criteria.
 
Could you define the genus and not only the species. I am VERY curious about this. There are 8 different genus in the Xanthichthys family (I think). I know one for a fact that does not touch clams, however they are illegal.
 
[i

Actually, I'm leaning toward that yellow pyramid butterfly. I haven't seen one in town yet, they're not expensive, they have a real eye-catching look, they aren't jumpers, and I can't find anything that says it's a danger to my tank inhabitants--in fact, I've found references saying they're "safer than copperbands". I'm sure that I can meet its dietary needs. It may fit all of my criteria. [/B]
Click to expand...

Can i say good christ or is that against the rules? LOL. Those are some of the best fish to keep and completely reef safe. That is why I mentioned them at the beginning. They are also on the more seldom seen end of the spectrum. I learned about them because of where I saw one once, I was intrigued by the fish and wanted to learn more about it.

It was on my shower curtain.

Outside of that they are also extremely hardy.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8594612#post8594612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Leopard Wrasse
Paul Murphy has kept Xanthichthys sp. with clams,
as has Eric, I can't recall either of them having any
problems with this species.
Click to expand...

Ahh that goes back to what I said earlier, for everyone who has not been successful there is sure to be those that have been.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8594630#post8594630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crit21
How long were they in the same tank? Are they still together?
Click to expand...

Dan, you'll have to contact Murf to get the specifics,
but I believe he added that fish last summer.

Here is a link to the species he has:


Xanthicthys ringens
 
I had my Sargassum Trigger (Xanthicthys ringens)
in my 125 with Lyn's Crocea and my Squamosa clams. I never ever saw it go near them. The Sargassum stays up toward the top of the water column. I have had him bite me 3 times though. Maybe he thinks I am clam flesh??? I don't have any clams now, Lyn got hers and Eric L. kill.. I mean got him back from me (long story) Ohhh and

Eric L. "No Clams for you!!!!!!"
 
So yours will bite you, but you won't worry about him biting the clam? LOL. (for those that are like, 'I can't believe that he just' or ‘no he didn't with that'. I am just pointing out the obvious aggression of the fish). This shows that the fish is obviously aggressive and will pick on things as needed. I don't want something in a sessile tank or clam tank that is going to go after my hand. These are natural patterns for these any several other fish (especially groupers). If you get bit or it bites and mames something else, there really is not anything that you can do. These things have reflexes like a HAWK which obviously Paul has seen. If something is "herky-jerky" in the tank, it will draw the triggers attention. Part of the time the biting of clam is by mistake, the other part is for food. Either way, anything under 50/50 should not even be attempted in hopes to get lucky. It shows HUGE disrespect for every organism in your tank. While there are other fish that are 95%.

I walk by my tank, and half my clams close. It’s just because of the light coming from the outside of the tank and my shadow walking by. Still it is a reason for MANY fish to jump.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8595668#post8595668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tominicane
So yours will bite you, but you won't worry about him biting the clam? LOL. (for those that are like, 'I can't believe that he just' or ‘no he didn't with that'. I am just pointing out the obvious aggression of the fish). This shows that the fish is obviously aggressive and will pick on things as needed. I don't want something in a sessile tank or clam tank that is going to go after my hand. These are natural patterns for these any several other fish (especially groupers). If you get bit or it bites and mames something else, there really is not anything that you can do. These things have reflexes like a HAWK which obviously Paul has seen. If something is "herky-jerky" in the tank, it will draw the triggers attention. Part of the time the biting of clam is by mistake, the other part is for food. Either way, anything under 50/50 should not even be attempted in hopes to get lucky. It shows HUGE disrespect for every organism in your tank. While there are other fish that are 95%.

I walk by my tank, and half my clams close. It’s just because of the light coming from the outside of the tank and my shadow walking by. Still it is a reason for MANY fish to jump.
Click to expand...


So buy your reasoning clownfish should not be kept with clams as the are know biters of hands. This reasoning makes little sense to me, the trigger is defending his territory because he feels Paul's hand is a threat, whereas he would not see a clam as an invasion and therefore would have no reason to bite it. Since you are a Marine Biologist surely you could identify the difference between a defense mechanism and a feeding response.
 
So yours will bite you, but you won't worry about him biting the clam? LOL. (for those that are like, 'I can't believe that he just' or ‘no he didn't with that'. I am just pointing out the obvious aggression of the fish). This shows that the fish is obviously aggressive and will pick on things as needed.
Click to expand...

I'll give you this...you are excellent at stating the obvious, or what you believe to be the obvious. :rolleye1:

It is evident to me, and I'm not marine biologist, that his fish associates his hand with food, therefore, the fish goes for the hand. It's a case of biting the hand that feeds it. If this fish had an instinct to go after clams it would have done so by now. I can tell you right now, even your tangs are prone to nip at a clam...its a distinct possibility, but not a probability, unless you do not feed the sucker. Is a BJ Trigger 100% safe with clams??? Of course not, but neither is that Tang, or butterfly, as you suggested, etc. Again, this fish feeds from the water column in nature, it is a planktivore. It isn't going to take a liking to clams UNLESS you purposely tear one apart and feed it to him. I have kept plenty of Triggers and clams together with zero consequence...count it pal, ZERO.

Now Dan, if you don't want it...don't get it...but certainly don't take this guys opinion into consideration(he has zero credibility), because there is plenty of literature and experience here to the contrary.

BTW John, where are these articles and books you have written/contributed to???
 
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by tominicane
My biggest tank is three thousand seven-hundred gallons. I thought you knew that already though? I was sure I told you somewhere along the line. About the jacks under the floor boards and cutting out the drywall and what not to get it in.

I think I finally found a buyer for it in Wyoming though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8593168#post8593168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by racer69
WOW... What are the dimmensions of that tank, and how did you get it in there? Did you take precautins for mold as the humidity would be out of this world. What thickness of glass or acrylic is it? Maybe some of us fellow reefers would like a setup like that. I know I am interested. Maybe you have a buyer here in Colorado.


Also, is this where you have bread your Maximas clams over 30 times? I am very interested.
Click to expand...

I really am interested in this. Is it set up as a reef? I really would like the dimmensions.
 
Im interested in seeing a 3700g reef tank too thats owned by an individual. A 12'X12'X42" tank is a tad over 3700g. It will definitely be a sight to see.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8595884#post8595884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Deuce67
Im interested in seeing a 3700g reef tank too thats owned by an individual. A 12'X12'X42" tank is a tad over 3700g. It will definitely be a sight to see.
Click to expand...

Hey Russ...how many circuits would it take to power something like this???
 
It would take a direct tap from the power plant to run this bad boy. 3700 g tank is huge. I think I know where the 17000 hrs of dive time comes from now.
 
Well, one of my criteria is that it be a fish you don't see very often. You'll remember that once the first person got a sargassum, suddenly everybody wanted one. I may be one of the few to get the pyramid. If people like the looks of it, maybe they'll want one too, as with the sargassum. Maybe I should just get one and not tell anybody, LOL.

As far as experts go, the one thing I've learned in life is that the qualifying trait of every expert is that they disagree with every other expert. You've seen commercials that say "experts agree"? I say that's an oxymoron, like customer service, jumbo shrimp, and industry standard. On the positive side, you can always learn something new from people of all experience levels. I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I can't learn from others, but I do know that I'm to the point where I can give beginners some very good advice, which also includes the advice that they should also talk to others in the hobby before deciding on anything. There are many right answers.

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions. I've gotten great suggestions for fish that I wouldn't have considered otherwise. The good thing about getting any of the suggested fish is that there could also be room for one of the other fish mentioned in here sometime soon (Christmas?).
 
Murf,

I'm sure you could find the Personifer or the Queensland Yellowtail
( which looks the same but stays about 6 inches smaller ) in the
$150 to $200 range. These are a couple of species I been looking into as a possible centerpiece to the larger system I'm
working on setting up.
 
When are we going to get the specs on the tank tominicane?
You've been dodging the questions? Also yeah the contributing articles and books? Your name would be in the index or the foreword or somewhere. I'd love for you to prove us all wrong here.
Unfortunately I have come across so many people like you, they come on so strong at the beginning claiming to be pro motocross racers, or pro this or that and the stories are always so over the top its hard to believe and then in the end you end up going away because you dont deliver. I'd get together with a few others here and see this tank and learn about breeding maximas, It sounds incredible, thats why Its so hard to believe.

So do you want to put up or shut up? heres your chance invite us all over this weekend.

Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

OrionN
Naso elegans, the Blonde Naso
Replies
1
Views
154
OrionN
OrionN
T
New 55g setup. Advice for fish appreciated
Replies
6
Views
186
Uncle99
Uncle99
JeannineC
Fish suggestion
Replies
19
Views
2K
rwbroadnax
R
Tamara Marshall
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬 - 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞
Replies
0
Views
79
Tamara Marshall
Tamara Marshall
Tamara Marshall
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬 - 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞
Replies
0
Views
92
Tamara Marshall
Tamara Marshall
Back
Top