Want An Active Red Fish For My Tank (45G). Suggestions?

[BigEZ77]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of trapping and returning my 6line and Yellow Tail Damsel (it's taking some time, lol). After that's done, I would really like a red fish with the following...

-Fairly vivid. i.e. 6line is too dull, I can easily see all my other fish from across the room but not the 6line.

-Active and not cryptic so I see it swimming around often.

-Preferably not a jumper, but not a deal breaker. I know all fish have the potential but rather not one that is almost guaranteed to do it.

-Something compatible with my tank size.

I've looked at the Swissguard Basslet and the Tanaka Pygmy Wrasse but apparently both are quite cryptic. Also the Flame Hawkfish but heard it might eat bottom dwelling fish and I have a 3' orange marked goby and someday maybe a target mandarin.

Any suggestions are welcome!

Thanks,

 

[Bent]

My flame hawk is pretty active, and has lots of personality. He's not a "swimmer" though, but he's not cryptic by any stretch.

Red firefish are pretty, not technically a swimmer, and can be shy, but after they get used to things they pretty much stay out in the open.

Don't quote me, but I'm pretty sure there is a red possum wrasse in existence.

If you want to roll the "reef safe angel" dice, a flame angel is really nice.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

There really isn't a cooler red fish available in the hobby than the Flame hawkfish IMO. They come in many different shades of red too.

OH and they're on sale at LA for $35.99 down from $59.99 :thumbsup: :dance:

EDIT: Ben you and I were on the same page at the same time :lmao:

Here's the link to LA's sale page on them

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+34+193&pcatid=193

 

[BigEZ77]

My flame hawk is pretty active, and has lots of personality. He's not a "swimmer" though, but he's not cryptic by any stretch.

Should I be worried about it eating my bottom dwelling fish...or shrimp? Not sure how accurate the LA description is....

"Use caution when adding to an aquarium with small species of bottom dwelling gobies and blennies. They are bottom dwellers and tend to "hang out" on rock perches, waiting and readying themselves for food to come by."

 

[Bent]

Should I be worried about it eating my bottom dwelling fish...or shrimp? Not sure how accurate the LA description is....

"Use caution when adding to an aquarium with small species of bottom dwelling gobies and blennies. They are bottom dwellers and tend to "hang out" on rock perches, waiting and readying themselves for food to come by."

Give us a full list of inhabitants if you wouldn't mind.

 

[BigEZ77]

Mocha And Davinci Ocellaris / Banggai / Royal Gramma / Orangemarked Goby (approx 3") / Cleaner Shrimp / Fire Shrimp / Hopefully a Target Mandarin someday.

 

[Bent]

Mine does not bother my mandarin. But your shrimp will be lunch to a flame hawk.

 

[BigEZ77]

Thanks...even if they're big?

 

[Bent]

Thanks...even if they're big?

Some people have had good luck keeping them together, but it's always a risk keeping predators and prey together. If you really like the shrimp, and have my kind of luck, it will eat them.

 

[BigEZ77]

Gotcha, I'm not that attached. What about a 3" bottom dwelling goby? Could that be lunch for the hawk? I am attached to my orangemarked goby.

 

[Bent]

Gotcha, I'm not that attached. What about a 3" bottom dwelling goby? Could that be lunch for the hawk? I am attached to my orangemarked goby.

It's a possibility that it will get bullied. When I had my LMB he and the flame hawk got into it on a regular basis.

 

[BigEZ77]

K, definitely a contender.

 

[nereefpat]

How about a flasher wrasse, like a carpenter's wrasse or similar. Check out LA reef safe wrasse page for examples. There would be a chance of jumping through.

 

[BigEZ77]

How about a flasher wrasse, like a carpenter's wrasse or similar. Check out LA reef safe wrasse page for examples. There would be a chance of jumping through.

I was thinking that but LA doesn't have any of the red wrasses that are good for my tank size unfortunately.

 

[Taahirs]

What about a red stop light cardinal?

 

[marleesan]

I love my falco hawkfish, very active and great red color. I have a small clown and angel and he has never bothered them

 

[BigEZ77]

What about a red stop light cardinal?

Wouldn't it have an issue with my Banggai?

 

[homer1475]

I second the flame angel. Mine although a model citizen, will at times nip at my sand sifting sea star if its out and about, but has never touched a coral other then to nip some algae off a frag plug.

 

[Silly clownfish]

I have owned 2 flame hawks. Neither showed any signs of eating another fish, small shrimp, hermits crabs - they were eventually a snack.

My first flame hawk went carpet surfing after about 9 months. This froma tank with a full glass canopy. He found a small hole cut around a return hose.

My second (current) FH I have had for 17 years. About 10 years ago, I added a coral banded shrimp taht was significantly larger than the hawk. They have coexisted ever since. Until about 2 years ago, they were both in a 30 g, so not a big tank.

Wrasses are notorious jumpers, I had a flasher i. My 75g that at least twice a week would hit the glass canopy hard enough that it could be heard accros the room. It got out several times when I openned the lid to feed or clean. To this day i am not sure how he squeezed out of that tank, since I have foam around every pipe/cord that requires an openning in the canopy. Maybe into the overflow, down the pipie and out the back of the sump.

Having lost 3 different tuoes of fish to carpet surfing over the years (the third being a neon dottyback) I would never have an open tank. If you are not willing to add a screen, stay away from wrasses. The flame hawk might be an ok gamble.

I love flame angels and think that would fit the bill, but is recommended for a larger tank.

 

[joshbrookkate]

+1 on the Flame Angel. Beautiful, active and a model citizen in my tank.
There is the risk of nipping at corals but I will always have one of these fish in my tank.
He weaves in and out of the caves and is always eye catching.