Yeah...
I feel like all fish never reach their max size in captivity, unless provided an extraordinarily big tank for their wild size. For example, when I was on the freshwater side of the hobby I had a red tail “shark” for 2-3 years and he only reached 4 inches instead of the proposed 6; even in a 180 gallon!
Now, does this mean you can put a parrot fish in a 20 gallon because it “won’t ever grow to full size anyways?” Absolutely not. However, I am pretty liberal on the stocking of a tank. I’ve pushed the limits before (kole tang in a 55 gallon) however all must be within reason. For example, not 3 big tangs in a 55 gallon like the sohal or sail fin.
The reason why I asked this whole question though is because there is a fine line between pushing the boundaries, and just being plain stupid with your tank. I want to make sure I’m not doing the latter if I were to go with my stocking list.
Hi! I really don’t know anything about the lion fish have never tried them, but I’ve done a lot of tangs, angels, puffers and triggers. My dejardini tang has been in the 300
Reef for 2 yrs and doesn’t seem to have grown at all! We did have our yellow and hippo tang in a 75 and then upgraded to the 300. I had the best plan for 11 tangs - naso, blue, three bristletooth, four zebrazomas, powderbrown and Caribbean blue. We had most already in three separate tanks and added a few more that LFS quarantined more me and we put them all in at the same time. Never had balance with the tangs even in a 300gal they did not cooperate. I had to remove the scopas to 180 with my Sohal, naso died unknown reason, then removed powder brown was picking on my yellow and purple. The tomini almost died was beaten so bad by blue eyed kole. Then removed purple was getting picked on by Caribbean blue. Then removed Caribbean blue because it picked on all the tangs except the hippo who is queen of the tank but shared of her own shadow!
The powder brown got velvet from a new fish I put with it in a new tank I set up just for the powder brown
the purple and tomini are now in that 93 cube together. Have the five other tangs in the 300 reef and have the scopas with my Sohal in new 300 gal fish only moved from a 180gal last week. We moved the Caribbean blue into that tank at the same time and so far the Sohal has left the Caribbean blue alone but it’s an 8’ tank.
I always push the limits and recommendations a bit too but have made accommodations when my plans don’t work. I have never had to return a fish but have bought bigger tanks!
We also have 4 large angels, 3 triggers and 2 puffers in the 300 fo.
My Niger was 2” a year ago and now bigger than my hand and is a little agressive but only with the other triggers. My red tail trigger puts the Niger in its place. I think the Niger would be fine as the only trigger and not over fed in the 180.
I think your stocking list is fine except the parrot fish (I can’t say don’t know and the lions as I’ve said) just have a plan Incase the tangs have something else in mind other than getting along like mine did!
Please let us know how it goes. I like your plan. And I never knew how really pretty the wrasses can be. Wish we had more of those! Good luck and post FTS.
