What's an exotic fish which does well in large groups?

[earwicker7]

Trying to stock the first batch of fish which aren't rock-huggers... something which isn't super common, and can hang out in the water column in large numbers.

It's a 220g with a large amount of rock, and a pretty solid ecosystem. So far, I have five orchid dottybacks, which nip at each other a little, but nothing like the dottyback horror stories I have heard. They spend almost all their time tightly grouped.

There are also three gold assessor basslets, which never show any aggression to anyone. Only one of them is visible more than occasionally.

I'm also going to add one or more (depending on what species I get) blennies to finish up the rock-huggers.

After that, I want to get something that is relatively uncommon... doesn't need to be a Holy Grail fish, but something you don't see in the store very often. I'm thinking somewhere around ten of whatever species would make a nice group.

Any ideas?

 

[d-man]

Expensive and delicate....ventralis anthias

 

[Devolver]

Borb Anthias are awesome!

 

[pinnatus]

Tuna

 

[ca1ore]

All the fish we keep are exotic .... well, unless you live in the tropics

 

[fishfreak2009]

I have a school of mixed chromis in my 380 gallon. While the greens might be too common for some people, I love them. They look amazing and everyone that visits loves how the group looks. I also have 5 vanderbilt chromis. They are one of my favorites in the tank, and look great swimming with the greens.

 

[Bobbitworm13]

Anthias are beautiful and school.

 

[d-man]

I have a school of mixed chromis in my 380 gallon. While the greens might be too common for some people, I love them. They look amazing and everyone that visits loves how the group looks. I also have 5 vanderbilt chromis. They are one of my favorites in the tank, and look great swimming with the greens.

Do they all actually shoal together? How long have you had them all together in the tank?

 

[d-man]

Borbonius also don't shoal. They keep to single individuals most of the time.

Could go with a group of royal grammas

 

[suta4242]

Not sure if they're exotic but some of the splitfin anthias would fit the bill, especially if you keep a group of 15-20 of them with other planktivores. Eg Luzonichthys waitei.

I like them because they provide a great contrast to other small anthias, max out around 2.5" and eat everything, while continuing to shoal.

:wave:

 

[Moort82]

Sailfin anthias are pretty interesting if you can find them.