will this combo of fish work well?

M

Monkey55

In Memoriam
this is my planned mix in my 29Gallon modded cube.

1 - black and white Ocellaris clown
1 - true perc Clown
1 - firefish
1 - flame angel
1 - mandarin fish

I know the requirements of a mandarin fish and I know I can make it work with the help of a friend of mine that kept one for 3 years in a 10 Gallon tank. Then he bought a 180 Gallon and got rid of the 10G. Five years later, it is still kickin.

I will also have:

1 - bubble coral (already have)
1 - orange plate coral (already have)
1 - colt coral (already have)
mushrooms (already have)
rose bud brain corals (already have)
1 - frogspawn
white clove polyps
red silk coral (later, when I am good at keepin corals)
probably two-three other coral (haven't decided yet)
 
I don't think you can mix clowns, especially in a 29. I also believe a 29 is too small for a Flame Angel. Maybe try a pair of clowns (same species). The Fire Fish should be fine. Maybe a Royal Gramma, some type of Goby or a Fairy or Flasher Wrasse. Just cover or install a tall rim so the Wrasse can't jump out.

You could try Zoas. Hope this gives you some ideas.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9085397#post9085397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Random Aquarist
Mandarins can't live in such a small tank. They starve.
Click to expand...

Mine's been alive and well for a year and a half now. 30g. It's not impossible, you just need a very well established tank.

As others have said, don't mix clown species, especially in a 29. one of the 2 species will fight to the death.

As for the flame angel, they're a crap shoot. Some pick at corals, some don't. Especially if you want the clove polyps.
 
With a well established tank/refugium and a good size pod population a mandarin could easily survive in a 29g tank
 
Well the LFS I am getting the clowns from are one of the "good" LFS out there that care about fish and are just there to make a buck. They said that they have had success mixing ocellaris and perc's before. And they offered to mix a few different pair at their store until they came up with a pair that could get along well for a week. Then they would call me and let me know I could come get them. If they can't get a pair to get along, then I will just get a pait of perc's. What do you guys think. If my mandarin does not like my tank, I will give home to my friend that owns the 180 gallon. I am however more intersted in whether thes fish and coral will all get along. And whether my tank will handle this size bio load.
 
That is the thing though, the flame(as yousay) is hit and miss. What pymgy angels are there that acually look cool. Because I haven't seen one yet. (not to step on anyone's toes, sorry)
 
Even if the clowns do ok for a week, that doesnt mean they will stay that way. After a while the 2 will pair up and no longer have any tolerance for the odd one out.

And with the mandarin going to your friend's 180 if it doesn't work out.... if he has one already, there's a very very very slim chance it will allow a newcomer to share it's grazing land.
 
Also, what kind of equipment do you have? How much LR, what type of filtration? What type of protein skimmer?
 
Honestly I would skip the angel I have a coral beauty in a 65g and it is always swimming the full length of the tank, in and out of the rocks. Also it does get very territorial, and aggresive at times. I would actually like to put it in a bigger tank. The other fish you have listed sound good. You could have difficulties with the mandarin try to get a really healthy one, and let your tank age for at least 6 months.


I have a true perc and a false perc that have paired up. Its not an onyx but they get along fine. You need to get them small. This is an older pic they have gotten a bit bigger. Especially the female!!! Good Luck!!!!

DSCN3875-1.jpg
 
I think it's too much fish for this size cube. The flame angel and the mandarin need more space than 29g. Just my $0.02
 
Skip the Angel. If your Mandarin eats frozen or flake you'll be OK. I had one in a 24 for a year and he loves bloodworms and Mysis. IMO, clowns are over-rated. They just swim in a small space (usually in your favorite coral) and attack you every time you put your hand in the tank.

Before I moved my boys into the 56, I had this combo in my 24 gallon: Firefish, Spotted Mandarin, White Sleeper Goby, two Pajama Cardinals, Fire Shrimp, and Arrow Crab. Everyone got along well, and the Mandarin always had food.

Robb
 
Skip the Angel. If your Mandarin eats frozen or flake you'll be OK. I had one in a 24 for a year and he loves bloodworms and Mysis. IMO, clowns are over-rated. They just swim in a small space (usually in your favorite coral) and attack you every time you put your hand in the tank.

Before I moved my boys into the 56, I had this combo in my 24 gallon: Firefish, Spotted Mandarin, White Sleeper Goby, two Pajama Cardinals, Fire Shrimp, and Arrow Crab. Everyone got along well, and the Mandarin always had food.

Robb
 
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