Stocklist suggestions for a 120; personable fish?

notjhh

notjhh

New member
I recently set up a 120 and have moved the livestock from my old tank into it. Unfortunately my hippo tang is becoming more and more aggressive, bullying everything and working himself into an ich frenzy over it. I think it's time for him to go to a larger tank.

My current stocklist is a medium to large foxface, five chromis, and a lawnmower blenny (along with the usual assortment of inverts). I plan on adding two or possibly three jawfish at some point down the line, and after a year or so maybe a mandarin.

I'm looking for a peaceful softy and LPS safe fish to replace him with - something on the larger side. Most of all, I want something that isn't an ich magnet (no more tangs) and has some personality/likes to "people watch".

Suggestions, anyone?
 
personally i dont think anyone can go wrong with a maroon, they get a nice med size, beautiful, and have tons of personality.
 
LisaD said:
How about a small pebble toothed eel?
Click to expand...

I've never had an eel before, but won't they decimate the cleaning crew and any small easy to catch fish?

I know there are several other threads about reef safe triggers - what's the general opinion on those? It sounds perfect if it decides to be a "model citizen".
 
get a blue throat trigger. theyre pretty darn reef safe as i understand it, and my buddies will spit water at him when it wants food
 
Is this a standard 4x2x2? I think that would be a little cramped for most trigggers. I think you'd see the same issues you're seeing with your hippo tang.
 
I am not trying to pry, but what price range do you want to be in?

For me the obvious choice is an angelfish, a "smaller" large angel.
I have kept many fish and for me the most personable have been my angels, here are a few videos of mine :)














My L. carmabi is a very personable fish as well.


~Michael
 
Last edited:
Yes it is!

It is amazing how a black and white fish can be so utterly beautiful. I get more comments on these fish than my neon candy basslet. ;)

~Michael
 
michael_cb_125 said:
I am not trying to pry, but what price range do you want to be in?

For me the obvious choice is an angelfish, a "smaller" large angel.
I have kept many fish and for me the most personable have been my angels, here are a few videos of mine :)

~Michael
Click to expand...

Price range isn't all that important (so long as it's reasonable). I'd rather not spend several hundred dollars on a single fish, but I don't particularly object to buying a $100 fish so long as it's not a very fragile or short lived one.

Which of the larger angels are considered the most reef safe (LPS and zoas mostly)? I'd prefer one that is not an ich magnet like the tang is.

Re: rssjsb's comment on space: It's a standard 4x2x2 120. The tang isn't full grown, he's maybe only about six inches long. Don't think it's a space issue as he almost never ventures out of his third of the tank, which he zealously defends against anything getting in to (my hands included). He's always been a little on the aggressive side, even when he was tiny. It's only lately that he's becoming a real terror.

Edit: He's schizo too. One minute he's trying to kill everything, the next he's happily swimming right along side one of the other fish.
 
Last edited:
If you are very attached to your corals I would steer clear of the majority of the larger angels. Any of the Genicanthus sp. would work and are very safe with corals. I am particularly fond of the G. bellus females. This species stays relatively small and is a very active outgoing fish.

~Michael
 
michael_cb_125 said:
If you are very attached to your corals I would steer clear of the majority of the larger angels. Any of the Genicanthus sp. would work and are very safe with corals. I am particularly fond of the G. bellus females. This species stays relatively small and is a very active outgoing fish.

~Michael
Click to expand...

G.Bellus looks pretty interesting. Will a single one (probably female) do okay on its own, or do I need a male in with it as well? While I understand that each fish has its own unique personality, how likely would it be for one to bother small benthic fish (jawfish)?

I'm also considering a different Siganus species, perhaps a scribbled rabbitfish. I've heard different verdicts as to whether the different looking Siganus species will fight with each other.
 
In your size tank I would only keep a single female bellus angelfish. This is a very active species and IMO a pair needs a larger tank than what you have.

As for rabbit fish, I am clueless. ;) This is a genus that has never done it for me.

~Michael
 
Have you looked at the Australian Harlequin Tusk? I think they are amazing in coloration and the intimidation look but docile.
 
HT are awesome, but I wouldn't put one in a 4 foot tank - they are too big and active. I'd at least have a 6 ft tank.
 
I love Harlequin Tusks but I don't think he'd have the room, judging by the activity levels of the ones I've seen before. Also, he'd probably decimate my cleanup crew.

I think it's down to one of the following:

Trying another rabbitfish species (siganus doliatus or stellatus). I know the similar looking rabbitfish will be aggressive towards one another, but S.doliatus and S.stellatus look very different from S.vulpinis. I haven't been able to find a definitive answer on whether the two will get along or not.

Sargassum trigger. One of the smaller ones at less than 10" fully grown, and supposedly semi-reef safe. He'll probably chow down on my hermits and possibly snails. If he eats my cleaner or fire shrimp I'd be rather unhappy.

G.Bellus or Lamark and hope he doesn't eat my zoas.

I haven't entirely discounted the idea of the eel either, but I don't know much about how to care for them yet.
 
A Genicanthus angel would be a pretty good choice - they are pretty active swimmers but a 4x2x2 should be fine if the aquascaping is fairly open. Really, a female of any of the ones you are likely to encounter in the hobby would be fine: bellus are very popular but lamarcks get nice streamers and wantanabe, swallowtail and zebra would do well also.

Don't discount butterflies either. One of the Hemitaurichthys species like the yellow pyramid or zoster would be a nice, active fish that should leave your corals alone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

JeannineC
Fish suggestion
Replies
19
Views
2K
rwbroadnax
R
M
20 gallon stocking ideas
Replies
9
Views
2K
MC Blowfish
M
T
New 55g setup. Advice for fish appreciated
Replies
6
Views
363
Uncle99
Uncle99
A
Stocking Recommendations for established 92 gal
Replies
8
Views
2K
Aquado
A
K
Compatibility
Replies
3
Views
1K
wvned
wvned
Back
Top