What fish to add?

ThRoewer

ThRoewer

New member
My 100 gallon tank is fairly empty these days. Below the fish I currently have in there. At times, when the regals are deep in the rockwork and the damsel in its cave, it looks as if the tank is empty. And when the regals are out they are quite skittish due to the lack of free water fish.
I really need to add some fish that are more out in the open to give the regals more confidence to come out.

This is the current stock of that tank:
2 Pygoplites diacanthus dux, pair (Yellow Regal Angel, 95 & 80mm, West Sumatra)
2 Amphiprion percula, pair #1 (True Percula Clownfish, Solomons) - these two never leave their anemone.
2 Synchiropus splendidus, pair (Green Mandarin Fish)
1 Chrysiptera starcki, male (Starck's Damsel, Melanesia) - a female will be added as soon as I find one.

1 Neopetrolisthes maculatus (Anemone Porcelain Crab)
2 Stenopus cyanoscelis, pair (Yellow Coral Banded Shrimp)
2 Periclimenes brevicarpalis, pair #1 (White Spot Anemone Shrimp)
2 Lysmata ambionensis (Skunk Cleaner Shrimp)
2 Lysmata debelius (Fire Shrimp)
4 Lysmata wurdemanni (Pepermint Shrimp)
~8 Petrolisthes spp. (Blue Porcelain Crab)
~6 Trapezia spp. (Acropora/Pocolipora Crabs)
+ an uncounted number of hermits and snails

1 Stichodactyla gigantea, purple

Various SPS
Some LPS

Here 2 videos of the tank to get an idea of the setting:
Front view:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wuRw2mB2oiM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Side view:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RIJj9l7AEhM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The fridmanis and the blenny are no longer in the tank.

I have a pair of Yasha Gobies in QT that I may add, though as bottom dwellers they hardly do anything to resolve the issue.

I may also add a pair of bluestripe pipefish if I can get a female for the extra male I currently have in the fuge.

Tangs are not an option - the tank is too small for any and they are too nervous swimmers.

Pseudocheilinus wrasses are also a no-go since I have mandarins.

Fish that like to feast on shrimp and crabs or like to nip on corals are also off limits as I have too many of those in there.

I would like some smaller Anthias, species but I'm afraid the tank is too small for a small group, and a single may just go hiding with the rest of the gang.

The ideal fish would be not to large and predominantly in the upper third of the tank above the rock structure, a rather steady and calm swimmer and not too skittish.

Also, ideally the additions should be pairs or harem groups.

Finally, they should also not like to hide inside of turned off pumps (that's what most likely killed my fridmani gang).

So what fish would fit the bill?
 
A few easy fish that I would consider would be Bengali cardinals. Mine don't really swim much but they are usually just hanging out where I can see them.

An alternative would be a swallowtail angel. Mine is a model citizen. They're suppose to be reef safe not cautionary. And mine always swims at the top of the tank.


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If your tank is 40x28x24 as stated in your description, 4-6 ignitus anthias should be fine. They are quite small and are on the hardier spectrum of anthias. Of course, this is just IME based on the Anthias I've seen (only have kept dispars, they are quite similar to ignitus).

If you don't feel comfortable with Anthias, how about some Fairy Wrasses (Cirrhilabrus sp)? They are open water swimmers, almost all of them are peaceful, and grow to a moderate size (4-5 inches). There are so many ranging from somewhat drab to full on showpiece specimen colors. I would recommend...

- C. Exquisitus
- C. Labouti
- C. Rhomboidalis
- C. Lineatus

HTH, happy reefing.

Side note: Don't want to derail your thread, but I want to ask a couple specific questions, so I'll PM you :)
 
I had a Bartlett anthia for a long time singly. He was hardy and was always out in the top middle of my tank.

If you added a dwarf angel and chromis as well you would have a wide spectrum of color. (I have never owned a regal so I do not know how they are with dwarf Angels).
 
itz frank said:
A few easy fish that I would consider would be Bengali cardinals. Mine don't really swim much but they are usually just hanging out where I can see them.

An alternative would be a swallowtail angel. Mine is a model citizen. They're suppose to be reef safe not cautionary. And mine always swims at the top of the tank.
Click to expand...

I already have way to many Banggai cardinals in my other tanks and they don't do much to encourage other fish to come out more.

I also don't want o add another large angel (if I do it will more likely be a small P. navarchus)

Fish Everywhere said:
If your tank is 40x28x24 as stated in your description, 4-6 ignitus anthias should be fine. They are quite small and are on the hardier spectrum of anthias. Of course, this is just IME based on the Anthias I've seen (only have kept dispars, they are quite similar to ignitus).

If you don't feel comfortable with Anthias, how about some Fairy Wrasses (Cirrhilabrus sp)? They are open water swimmers, almost all of them are peaceful, and grow to a moderate size (4-5 inches). There are so many ranging from somewhat drab to full on showpiece specimen colors. I would recommend...

- C. Exquisitus
- C. Labouti
- C. Rhomboidalis
- C. Lineatus

HTH, happy reefing.

Side note: Don't want to derail your thread, but I want to ask a couple specific questions, so I'll PM you :)
Click to expand...

Not a fan of wrasses due to their jumpiness. Another issue with the flashers is that females are hard to find. And finally they may be too much of a competition to my mandarins.

I have nothing against Anthias, it's just that they are not the easiest fish, and many get to a good size.
But the Ignitus Anthias sounds like a suitable option.
The Carberryi Anthias seems even prettier and stays also smaller. But this may like it darker.
Generally I would prefer Lyretail Anthias, but they get bigger and need a larger tank.

this is me said:
Some 5-7 regular blue/green chromis will be a great addition. They're always out and about an spend most of the time 3/4 up the tank.
I've also tried these blue reef chromis before. They're supposed to be more "friendly" toward each other but I still had them bite each other off.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2730+113&pcatid=113
Click to expand...

No Chromis - HELL NO!

Pericyte said:
I had a Bartlett anthia for a long time singly. He was hardy and was always out in the top middle of my tank.

If you added a dwarf angel and chromis as well you would have a wide spectrum of color. (I have never owned a regal so I do not know how they are with dwarf Angels).
Click to expand...

Dwarf angels are notorious coral nippers - Paracentropyge multifasciata would be one I may make an exception for If I cold get a pair, but they are even more secretive than my regals.
 
Wrasses are great addition but since you don't like jumpers its hard.


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What fish to add?

A harem of ventrail or flavo anthias would be good.

deb83b68c284a5e66e5444d09d2cca19.jpg



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Doesn't P. Navarchus get to about 10-12" in captivity? That's still pretty large IMO.

As for wrasses, the genus Cirrhilabrus consists of fairy wrasses, not flasher wrasses. Female fairy wrasses aren't too hard to find IME, both online and an LFS around me have some in stock time to time. As for your mandarin, wrasses from the genus Cirrhilabrus are planktonic feeders, and do not have any interest in pods and other microfauna which are found in the sandbed and rocks.


How about a Chelmon Rostratus? It's a colorful fish, and since you know about enticing picky eaters like regals, a copper band shouldn't be too much of a stretch. Start it off with live black worms and wean it onto mysis, I've seen many successful this way.

scuzy said:
Wrasses are great addition but since you don't like jumpers its hard.


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Click to expand...

I agree, my new tank is going to have at least 6-8 wrasse... they are not only colorful, but are interesting to observe in pairs. One of my favorite fish next to angels and tangs for certain.

:( but they jump high... need a lid for sure...
 
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Midas Blenny? I really enjoy mine, now that he's settled in he's out and about and swims in my powerhead currents most the day.... Maybe a royal gramma or two?

Longnose hawkfish (mine never bothered inverts) - they are very interesting.
 
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+1 to the longnose hawkfish, always an interesting add (or any other hawk). I would avoid the chromis. I think if you could get past it, addition of any wrasse would open up color and personality. There is a long list of blennies that you could add? At that size you could definitely do anthias, but you need to be able to support their feeding requirements. What about a dwarf puffer?-they have great personality.
 
+1 on the Midas Blenny. Great fish, tons of personality PLUS. Like DWeber said they're always out and about swimming and checking out the tank. Now that I've had one, I can't imagine a reef tank without one. Same goes for Royal Gramma's.

My Yellow Candy Hogfish is always out and about and is a model citizen for the most part. It seems that in my tank my Cherub Angel and Yellow Candy Hogfish have a thing for my McCosker's wrasse. Nothing bad but they do a short charge to scare. This is why I have called my Cherub my Terrorist fish :D
 
Cliving1 said:
+1 to the longnose hawkfish, always an interesting add (or any other hawk). I would avoid the chromis. I think if you could get past it, addition of any wrasse would open up color and personality. There is a long list of blennies that you could add? At that size you could definitely do anthias, but you need to be able to support their feeding requirements. What about a dwarf puffer?-they have great personality.
Click to expand...

Won't the puffer eat the snails, crabs and shrimp?
 
I think that depends, I had a valentine, that never touched anything. I would say for the safe route- you are 100% correct though. Just trying to think other types of fish that may be possible.
 
scuzy said:
A harem of ventrail or flavo anthias would be good.

deb83b68c284a5e66e5444d09d2cca19.jpg
Click to expand...
I'd love a group of Ventralis Anthias as they are colorful and stay small. Blue Zoo actually has them in stock right now, but $200 a piece (females) and restriction on guarantee is huge turn off...

BTW: which species is that in this picture?

Fish Everywhere said:
Doesn't P. Navarchus get to about 10-12" in captivity? That's still pretty large IMO.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's why I won't add one right now.

Fish Everywhere said:
As for wrasses, the genus Cirrhilabrus consists of fairy wrasses, not flasher wrasses. Female fairy wrasses aren't too hard to find IME, both online and an LFS around me have some in stock time to time. As for your mandarin, wrasses from the genus Cirrhilabrus are planktonic feeders, and do not have any interest in pods and other microfauna which are found in the sandbed and rocks.
Click to expand...
I'm gonna take a closer look at Cirrhilabrus. LA has right now Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus on sale and I may get a group of females (why waste money on males if one of the females turns into a male :D)

Fish Everywhere said:
How about a Chelmon Rostratus? It's a colorful fish, and since you know about enticing picky eaters like regals, a copper band shouldn't be too much of a stretch. Start it off with live black worms and wean it onto mysis, I've seen many successful this way.
...
Click to expand...
I had a pair in the past, but it's another fish that prefers to stay in the rocks, so doesn't really add to the free water zone I'm looking to fill.

this is me said:
Why not? Seems like the perfect fish you're looking for. Once the order has been established, they're quite beautiful with a school of them.
Click to expand...
1. I don't like blue/green Chromis
2. They will most likely just kill each other off until only one is left.
3. I really don't need Uronema in my tank

dweber618 said:
Midas Blenny? I really enjoy mine, now that he's settled in he's out and about and swims in my powerhead currents most the day.... Maybe a royal gramma or two?

Longnose hawkfish (mine never bothered inverts) - they are very interesting.
Click to expand...
The clumsy swimming of hawkfish will just make the rest of the fish more skittish (I tried that already with the bicolor blennies), plus they are not the free water fish I'm looking for.

I have a group of Grammas in the sump tank (with a pair of Banggais and a pair of percula) and so far they prefer to hide in the rocks. Now that the Philippine Regal there has been shipped out to Minh I'm planning on rearranging the sump tank to fit the needs of the Gramma and gigantea better. My plan is to build a platform for the gigantea with a large cave below it for the Grammas. The Banggais may go out into a breeding system where it is easier to feed them and to separate the males from the females.

As for the Midas Blenny, I've looked into them before, but don't like them too much. Pairing would also be an issue with them. Some of the Fang Blennies may work though.

Cliving1 said:
+1 to the longnose hawkfish, always an interesting add (or any other hawk). I would avoid the chromis. I think if you could get past it, addition of any wrasse would open up color and personality. There is a long list of blennies that you could add? At that size you could definitely do anthias, but you need to be able to support their feeding requirements. What about a dwarf puffer?-they have great personality.
Click to expand...

I love puffers, especially the not so reef safe ones, but not in this tank with all the snail, crab and shrimp.

As for feeding the Anthias - this tank is on an autofeeder, so the only task is to get them on pellets.

At this point I'm kind of torn between these two
Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus - group of 3
Pseudanthias ignites - group of 3 or 4 (or more?)

In consideration are also:
Nemanthias carberryi - group of 3 or 4 (or more?)
Meiacanthus oualanensis - group of 3
Meiacanthus tongaensis - group of 3
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis - group of 3
 
What fish to add?

Those are flavo anthias. Btw you can get a harem of ventrails for a lot cheaper. Jordan has a harem right now for decent price.


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If you are going to get Cirrhilabrus, I would suggest getting 1 of 3 different species instead of 3 of 1 species. Fairy wrasses just tend to become males eventually regardless of how many we keep, IME. Unlike anthias, they have a stranger social structure that isn't completely understood yet. If you get 3 C. Bathyphilus, after about 2-3 months you should have 1 male and 2 females, but a harem most likely won't work long term... they will all become male :(

A C. Bathyphilus, C. Lineatus, and a C. Luteovittatus would look amazing though IMO. If you get all females, they should change within 1-4 months :D amazing fish for sure.

**On a side note, I would be careful with Ventralis Anthias. Admittedly, I haven't ever kept them myself, but I have heard they are very sensitive and don't adapt well.
 
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Yes I wouldn't get a wrasse for your tank, before I added my hoeven's wrasse I had a LOT of amphipods and now that he is in the tank I have no baby amphipods but I still have adults.
 
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