Seeking new tank ideas

[NicoleC]

As my new aquascaping matures and my seagrass is on the way, it's time to think of new livestock.

My biotope is the edge of a seagrass lagoon in the Indo-Pacific.

Current/planned fish:
Pair ocellaris clowns
Pair yellow assessors (these guys are an anomaly in the biotype)
Scooter dragonette
Lad, the captive-raised yellow watchman goby, whenever he grows up.

Current/planned inverts:
stomatella snails, collonista snails, collumbelid snails
misc critters
I need more snails. I'm going to be picking up cerith snails.
Aiptasia control: I'm going to pick up a couple of peppermint shrimp

Current/planned corals:
Sinularia, sarcophyton, lobophyton
Lobophyllia

It's a peaceful tank, and I want to keep it that way. Any fish I add need to fit the lagoon biotype, need to be fairly small, and need to be from the Indo-Pacific. They also need a unfilled niche, so no more clowns, dragonettes, basslets or sand-sifting gobies. An herbivore(s) would be nice.

Okay... what kind of fish (and other inverts) should I get?

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

i dont know if u want damsels but these might work: Grey Humbugs, Golden damselfish or a Arc-Eyed Hawkfish
hth

 

[NicoleC]

Damsels are outer reef fish.

The hawkfish can be a lagoon fish and is in the right part of the world, but I suspect he'd make short work of my peppermint shrimps... and eventually other fish! Cool looking guy, though.

 

[818]

Indo Pacific Sea Horse

Golden sweepers

Longhorn Cowfish

Ghost Crabs

Those are all pretty chill

Cant wait to se your tank when its fully mature.

Sam

 

[NicoleC]

To get ya'll started, here's my current list of possibilities.

Ecsenius midas (Midas blenny)
Indo-Pacific: Gulf of Aqaba and southeast coast of Africa to the Marquesan Islands.
Inhabits coral reefs, from clear coastal to outer reef walls, usually where currents are moderate. During its orange-yellow phase, it is observed to school with Pseudanthias squamipinnis which it resembles in color. Individuals of Ecsenius midas can change color quickly from when on the bottom to swimming in open water to match the colors of the fishes it mixes with. Reported to feed on zooplankton. Also a planktivore. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive. Up to 13 cm.
-------------------
Atrosalarias fucus fuscus (Black sailfin blenny)
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Pakistan
Inhabits sheltered, shallow reefs, hiding among live or dead coral branches. From estuaries to outer reef lagoons. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive. Up to 10 cm.
-------------------
Istiblennius chrysospilos (red spotted rock skipper, red-spotted blenny)
Indo-Pacific: east coast of Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to about 24°S.
Inhabits clear coastal reef flats, often in exposed habitats, common in outer intertidal reef flats and surge-swept seaward reef; usually where algal growth is prolific. Enter small holes, with just its head protruding. Feed on algae and associated detritus and small invertebrates. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive. Up to 13 cm.
-------------------
Pterapogon kauderni (Banggai cardinal)
Western Central Pacific: Apparently restricted to Banggai Islands, Indonesia. Threatened by extinction due to collection for the aquarium trade. Available captive bred.
Common around the jetty, in silty sand bottoms with seagrass (Enhalus acoroides). Associated with Diadema setosum, the long-spined sea urchins. Individuals of 2 to 60 hover directly above the urchins, with the younger ones about 2-3 cm SL staying closer to the urchins. The fish retreat among the spines when threatened. Probably feed on small benthic and planktonic crustaceans at night. Male incubates the eggs until hatching; the large egg about 2.5 mm in diameter, with the young remaining within the mouth cavity for undetermined period after hatching. Juveniles also use anemones for protection. Has been reared in captivity.
-------------------
Salarias fasciatus (Jewelled blenny, Lawnmower blenny)
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Inhabit reef flats as well as shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. Also found in estuarine areas with algae-rich rubble patches on reef flats and slopes. Intertidal to a few meters depth. Usually found in areas of mixed coral, sand, and rubble. Feed by scraping off algae. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive. Up to 14cm. Available captive bred from Inland Aquatics.
----------------
Gunnellichthys curiosus (Curious wormfish)
Indo-Pacific: Seychelles and Mauritius to the Hawaiian and Society islands.
Found over sand or mud bottoms and take refuge in burrows. Solitary or paired. Feeds primarily on benthic and pelagic crustaceans. Up to 11cm. Can't be with aggressive fish.
----------------
Meiacanthus smithi (Disco blenny)
Indo-West Pacific: northern Sri Lanka, and western Java Sea. Reported from southeast India.
Occurs in coastal and inner reef habitats to about 20 m depth. Inhabits coral reefs Exhibits sexual dimorphism. Juveniles usually found solitary and adults occasionally in pairs. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive. Up to 8.5 cm.

 

[dodgerblew]

I have a black sailfin blenny, awesome fish. Midas blennies are jumpers. Hope you have a top. I have a huge colony of bright green sinularia, just so ya know.

 

[NicoleC]

Indo Pacific Sea Horse

Too much flow, and my fish are too aggressive at feeding. I hope to have a seahorse tank someday!

Golden sweepers

These look cool, but they don't appear to be available on the market. Have you seen them for sale before? Fishbase is pretty vague about them; they don't seem to be lagoon fish but they could be inward reef fish.

Longhorn Cowfish

My tank is not big enough for an 18" fish!

Ghost Crabs

Crabs are the devil!

 

[NicoleC]

I have a black sailfin blenny, awesome fish. Midas blennies are jumpers. Hope you have a top. I have a huge colony of bright green sinularia, just so ya know.

I have bad luck with Ecsenius blennies. I'm just trying to keep my options open for the time being, so if it meets the criteria, on the list it goes!

Have you observed your sailfin eating algae? Fishbase says they eat benthic algae, weeds, plants and detritus. No mention of what KIND of algae they are eating.

 

[dodgerblew]

mine is always going for coralline. I've had since Oct of either '04 or '05