Red fish for a 65g?

T

therman

biodiversity enthusiast
Looking for suggestions for a nice bright red fish to go in a 65g established montipora dominated peninsula tank. Current fish are a large yellow wrasse, royal gramma, yellow tailed blue damsel and a sixline that all get along great. I'm looking for something with slightly different body shape than the current fish and am leaning towards a flame angel. The tank is part of a larger system of roughly 250g total volume that has been running for around three years.

Would a flame angel annihilate sponges in the tank? The reason I ask is that I have two varieties growing really well that I was hoping to harvest down the road for a majestic angel planned for a diff tank.

Any suggestions would be appreciated though preferably in the sub-$50 range.

Thanks!
Tim
 
I think the flame is an excellent choice. No, generally speaking centropyge angels aren't usually big sponge eaters AFAIK.
 
Flames are one of my favorites. Like was said, Centropyge don't really eat sponges from what I've seen. You might not get one for less than 50 bucks though. Maybe a Red Fairy Anthias? They are pretty peaceful generally but they can get pretty large so 65g might be on the small side.
 
Definitely leaning towards the flame angel from the sound of it. Anthias never look right in a small tank or in a small group IMO, so I've never tried them. Maybe in the next tank.
 
Korrine said:
Try to get a flame from Christmas or Marshall Islands.
Click to expand...
+1
I also have a few suggestions:
Flame Hawkfish (tons of personality)
Masuda's Hogfish
Fire Shrimp (not a fish, but pretty active and very red)

Btw, the Majestic is one of my favorite fish. I'm happy to see that you are preparing to keep one by growing sponges now, instead of thinking about that after purchasing a majestic. Good for you!
 
Also there are red fairy wrasses. Mine was a pita, but if he's not the biggest fish in the tank, he'll behave better.
Can't argue with flame angel, however.
 
Something like a carpenter wrasse would work too, but it might be too peacefull for your other tankmates
 
My Flame Hawk is vivid red, totally different from its tankmates, always visible and by far our favorite fish. It's a no-brainer to me.
 
Looked at Masuda's, sounds like they get too aggressive and are also wrasse-shaped.

Already have a filamented flasher in another tank, and I have to admit I'm not terribly impressed...mostly because I can't locate a female ANYWHERE. Does seem too sissy for the other tankmates too.

Already have a pair of blood shrimp in another tank and a pair of skunk cleaners in this one. Will the flame hawks eat cleaners? My original plan was a longnose hawk but I've tried 2 and both were dead within a day or two (one from a not-so-great LFS, the other a fresh import) so I've opted against trying a third...
 
therman said:
Will the flame hawks eat cleaners?.
Click to expand...

Maybe, if the cleaners are very small. Small peppermints may be targets but not fire shrimp or medium to large size cleaners. To be safe, if you decide on the flame hawk, get a lil guy.

Like someone said earlier, there are some really nice red fairy wrasses, but I'm not aware of any that are as red as a flame hawk or angel. I think those are prolly your best 2 options.
 
Well I took the leap and got a flame angel. Nobody in town I would still purchase fish from had any, but a great store less than an hour away had SIX to choose from. And for $40 :)

Initial impressions are that it is a gorgeous fish, very healthy and already testing flake foods. Ate some DIY frozen food within seconds of being poured in from the acclimation bucket.

It looks nice enough I don't mind if it nibbles my sps, as long as it doesnt devour my setosa colony. Hopefully it takes a liking to Xenia...

Thanks for the input everyone!
Tim
 
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