suggest a bottom dweller

[flashyleopard]

Can someone suggest some fish from the indo pacific, that are visible, occupy the sand bed, are peaceful, and colorful? I need 1 or more for my 125 gallon with a shallow sand bed, but with plenty of open sand.Thanks

 

[flashyleopard]

I thought I might add, that I would love a madarin, but I already have 3 leopard wrasse and a CBB on my stock list, so I am afraid he would be out competed. If this fear is unfounded, please feel free to comment.

 

[joshkennedy07]

Your right about the mandarin, he wouldn't have enough to eat. Can't think of any good bottom-dwellers for a shallow sandbed at the moment, sorry. Unless cost is a factor, I think you should consider a DSB. The leopard wrasses would also like a DSB.

 

[flashyleopard]

The sand bed will be deep enough for the wrasse at about 3'', but won't actually be functioning as part of my nutrient reduction plan. I will have a remote DSB in my sump.

 

[Recty]

Get a goatfish of some type. A very cool fish that you dont see very often in home aquaria. They are active, interesting and do a good job of keeping a sand bed stirred. They dont need a DSB, they can get by with scavenging through a 1/2" sand bed if that is what you have.

I personally like the looks of the yellow goatfish but there are other more commonly offered ones that are pretty good looking as well.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

I'd steer clear of a goatfish. The ones available all get over a foot long.

 

[flashyleopard]

I liked your suggestion and would never have thought of it myself. However it appears they get rather large and may be a danger to my smaller inverebrates.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13006922#post13006922 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flashyleopard How big does the yellow goatfish get? Will my blood shrimp or anemone shrimp be in danger?[/B]

19". Yes.

 

[Recty]

I've had 2 yellow goatfish over the last 10 years, both have never gotten bigger than 6". I just did a little research on WWM here too, they too state that goatfish dont attain nearly the foot or two foot claims that sites like live aquaria states.

In a fish tank, expect the goatfish to get around 6", I can speak that from experience. They have tons of personality too and are always moving, you'll get annoyed when your friends come over and think your cute little goatfish is the best fish in the tank

 

[Recty]

But yes, they can be a danger to inverts. I think a blood shrimp would have a pretty good chance of making it, but a little anemone shrimp would probably go down fast.

 

[franv]

randalls goby!

 

[snorvich]

along with a pistol shrimp!!

 

[flashyleopard]

19'' is all? Well, in that case I might as well go for the gold and get me a bamboo cat shark to share my reef j/k. Way too big and not reef safe as far as I have read. Any other suggestions?

 

[flashyleopard]

Aren't pistol shrimp known to kill other ornamental shrimps and hermit crabs, spread sand over bottom living corals, and maybe even eat small fish and pplyps? I hate to seem like I shoot down every suggestion, I just want to be sure that what I place in my tank is suitable for the long term and safe for all of my future inhabitants. I like the yellow goatfish. Does anyone have any other experience with them in regards to size and their safety with fire shrimp, hermits, brittle stars, and other common reef inverst? I can probably do without anenome shrimp and just keep fire shrimp, but I don't want my stars, CUC, or corals to be in danger. Thanks everyone.

 

[nikon187]

bluespotted jawfish but known to be jumpers

 

[flashyleopard]

I really like these. They are pricey and the track record isn't so good for survival, but I am not sure why they would be difficult. Any comments?

 

[Recty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13010237#post13010237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flashyleopard
19'' is all? Well, in that case I might as well go for the gold and get me a bamboo cat shark to share my reef j/k. Way too big and not reef safe as far as I have read. Any other suggestions?

Not even close to 19" in home aquaria, much closer to 6".

But yeah, reef safe is iffy at best.

 

[flashyleopard]

I would love a frog fish, if the weren't likely to eat everything else in the tank. i know theyare small, but leopard wrasse, firefish, fireshrimp, banggaiis, and similar things, would surely be on the menu, since they can and will eat things as big as they are. Anyone know, if they are well fed, if they are still very risky. I shouldn't even ask....I know better already...lol, but they are soooooo neat.

 

[prugs]

A pistol shrimp/goby pair is an awesome addition. I don't have any problems with ornimental shrimp, snails, crabs, but the shrimp will dig up the bottom of your tank making tunnels. Not as bad as a sand sifting goby.

 

[seapug]

Gobies, Gobies, Gobies. Many to choose from. Pearly Jawfish are good, too.