What is a good center piece fish for a 40gal

[tootsmcgee]

I'm planning on stocking my 40gal with cardinals, blennies, and gobies but don't know what to grab for a center piece. Whats a good attention grabbing fish thats completely reef safe? I decided against clownfish and I am leaning towards a sunburst anthias but the ones I've seen are skittish and hide a lot. Maybe a small wrasse? I need some ideas

 

[singold]

Sixline Wrasse or a Flame Angel....but keep the stocking reasonable. And yes, I personally believe a Flame Angel is reef safe.

 

[parrthed]

Maybe a nice set of clowns or a flameback angel. I used to have a longnose hawkfish in a 40, he was awesome.

 

[tootsmcgee]

an angel would be cool! would a leopard wrasse be happy in a tank this size?

 

[Rich1427]

coral beauty

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

would a leopard wrasse be happy in a tank this size?

If you are talking about Macropharyngodon meleagris then yes, but they are difficult fish to keep. They need to be fed a carnivorous diet, several times a day, and have plenty of LR to graze on as they will hunt for microinvertebrate fauna.

 

[rsaha]

I love the look of flame angels and coral beauties but they are hit and miss from a reef-safe perspective from everything I have ever heard. Pair of percs is always nice. One fish I got recently that I think is really cool is a blue assessor. Doesn't swim upside down yet but I am watching closely.

 

[albano]

I have had my sunburst anthias for 2 years, he is not skittish, and never hides...was in 130g for 1 1/2 yrs. with about 15 fish, now in 450g DT with over 60 fish. Nobody scares him. You can see him at min 1:47 in tank video
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[tootsmcgee]

rsaha- I know! blue and yellow assessors are so cool! I'm planning on getting one for my tank!

albano- your tank is beautiful, I'd love to get a tank that size some day!

One question about the sunburst anthias- Would it be happy in a 42 gallon?

 

[farrowkc]

What is a good center piece fish for a 40gal

A Foxface is reef safe.

 

[Toddrtrex]

A Foxface is reef safe.

That is true, but would get too big for a 40 gallon tank -- even a 40 breeder.

 

[aleonn]

My wife got a couple of clownfish, both hosting a BTA.

 

[tootsmcgee]

I'd love a pair of picasso clowns but they are so expensive