Suggestions? Fish stock for a 40 gal

[WaReefer458]

I'd remove the damsel as that is only going to frustrate you. Also forget the mandarin, people don't realize it but they eat 4-6000 pods a day. I personally love the look of them but it's just not practical in a tank under 180gal. I have a 40b and here is my list.

Diamond goby
Pair of Darwin clowns
Sand sifting starfish
Conch
Solon wrasse
Long fin fairy wrasse
Mccoskers wrasse
1 chromis ( put 3 in right after tank cycle killed the weaker ones )
Bicolor blenny


Everyone is peaceful except the mccoskers wrasse. He nips at the other wrasses but other than that I consider my tank " full " as far as fish load goes. I tried a small Kole tang a while back, he didn't nip at anything that didn't eat algae but chased my bicolor and goby all day. So he was removed. Good luck with the tank!

 

[Kizzy911]

That long fin fairy wrasse sounds awesome.

Im thinking:
long fin fairy wrasse
2 regular clowns
carpenters wrasse
1 blue/green chromic
1 orange spot goby
1 royal gramma
maybe 1 mandarin, we'll see.

 

[00101]

If you have your heart set on a mandarin, I've seen it done, but as always your mileage will vary. That said, you definitely stack the deck in your favor if you get one that's accepting other foods (or train yours to).

 

[Kizzy911]

My LFS can notice me if theres a mandarin thats accepting frozen foods, but then again, how long will that last. I have a refugium thats pretty well of in terms of pods.

 

[Genera]

Sailfin Mollies! Beautiful fish and free fish/coral food!

 

[BlueMac92]

Flame hawkfish have great personality and really pop. Mandarin isn't a write off, but be prepared to replenish your pod population should he ever look like he's loosing girth....

Starki damsels are a great option as well.

 

[shifty51008]

Wont wrasse compete for pods with the mandy?