Are Fish Stocking Wish Lists For Your Aquarium Really Attainable?

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PeterC99

PeterC99

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Always wonder if the fish stocking wish lists for your aquarium were really attainable?

Seems that there are so many factors that come into play:

1) Locating & availability
2) Finding the fish in good health
3) Fish may not ultimately get along with your other fish
4) Budget constraints
5) Transportation concerns

So have you been able to complete your aquarium's fish stocking list and if so, how did you accomplish it?
 
Nutramar Foods
I typically choose attainable fish that I know I can get. The only fish I have wanted that was not really attainable was a pink-streaked wrasse. Gotta settle with the sixline. But most fish shops will special order fish if they're able to be special ordered which I'm thankful for.
 
I think they rarely end up like you planned but are probably similar. I'd say for me, the two biggest factors are availability and dynamics of the tank. I had planned adding a mystery wrasse to my tank (knew I'd need to mail order or special order from the LFS) but they had a really nice exquisite wrasse in that I took instead. I had planned two more fish for the tank, but now, watching the activity and tank dynamics with the current crew, the two fish I had planned are likely not going to work. So I'll be figuring out, over the next month or two, what fish I could add.
 
WWC
due to the size of my tank, it was fairly easy to come to a list to stock the tank with. made sure the fish i chose were readily available as well as fun to watch.

later down the road when i upgrade, i will definitely be looking at a more diverse choice selection, but then the issue will be where to find them, and costs.
 
If you were able to get all of your fish, then you were not shooting high enough. Not all dream fish are expensive. I have a dream list and then a reasonable list. G. Personatus are on a dream list, another female G. Watanabei to replace mine that jumped in on my reasonable list. I also have a maybe-again-someday list mostly with hawaiian fish that are small-net caught like potters wrasses, which is a top-5 fish for me.
 
i didnt make a stocking list so i could not disappoint myself and because i didnt know how things would necessarily work out. i never planned to find a harlequin filefihs & i certianly didnt plan for it to suddenly die the day i got it.
 
Deltec
Its been a bit tough to find all the fish on my list but I was able to get what I wanted through my local LFS they ordered what they did not have. The pricing on some fish was a bit high and other's not so much, patience is key I had to wait a month or two for what I wanted.
 
jda said:
If you were able to get all of your fish, then you were not shooting high enough. Not all dream fish are expensive. I have a dream list and then a reasonable list. G. Personatus are on a dream list, another female G. Watanabei to replace mine that jumped in on my reasonable list. I also have a maybe-again-someday list mostly with hawaiian fish that are small-net caught like potters wrasses, which is a top-5 fish for me.
Click to expand...
So what’s the criteria for pulling the trigger on the maybe/someday list? Do the planets have to perfectly align (somewhat kidding)? But really, do you need the perfect confluence of events to get that get that special fish? (Available, room in the tank, no compatibly issues, price is right, etc.)
 
When they are available from the wholesalers again and not banned. I was not really clear, sorry, but the limitation is not me... I had multiples of these fish when they were available, but not all of of them live as long as tangs or angels (looking at you most wrasses), so when they die of old age, they cannot be replaced anymore.

I also like some fish that are only really available once a year for a short time. Chrysurus Angelfish is from Africa and only collected in a small window usually once a year, so you better know when to look and jump if you see one.
 
jda said:
When they are available from the wholesalers again and not banned. I was not really clear, sorry, but the limitation is not me... I had multiples of these fish when they were available, but not all of of them live as long as tangs or angels (looking at you most wrasses), so when they die of old age, they cannot be replaced anymore.

I also like some fish that are only really available once a year for a short time. Chrysurus Angelfish is from Africa and only collected in a small window usually once a year, so you better know when to look and jump if you see one.
Click to expand...
Glad I started this thread because I really like and am going to adopt your great idea of a Maybe/Someday list.

I’m now looking forward to researching and learning about new saltwater fish and making my own Maybe/Someday list.

Thank you!
 
...not that anybody needs more choices in Clownfish, but the Soloman Island True Percs have a classic look that has yet to be duplicated by the breeders. If anybody has ever seen one, then you get it - wonderful dark orange/red with pure white and super dark black. I doubt that I would ever buy a wild clown with the massive inventory of CB clowns, but these might tempt me. I am kinda glad that they are not really available anymore to keep my from having to make a hard choice between a really awesome fish and my desire not to deplete the ocean of something that we have available captive bred in such quantity.

Another example of maybe for me is Convict tang. Some have great luck with them, but I never have and the only one that I had that did well was probably just luck. If I see a trade in, then I will jump on it, but otherwise, I am staying away. I like Hawaiian Black Tangs too, but I never bought them... there was enough for trade/free after they started to eat people corals and they were just fed up with them.

Maybe/Someday used to be Rock Beauty Angelfish. They used to be SOOOOO hard, but I have had good luck with my last few both eating and growing. Collection has gotten better, I get them direct from the diver and with the introduction of mysis in the hobby, these seem more doable now than ever. They also stay about 5-7 inches so they won't likely outgrow my tanks.

Sometimes what you thought about fish is just wrong. :) How many know that there are reef safe triggers that pose less risk than a Tang, Blenny or Angelfish. I found out about these in a magazine and it kinda changed my hobby. I love to have a Sargassum or BlueThroat trigger in my reefs... and Crosshatch if I have a really large tank. Some steer clear of blennies since they can polyp nip, but Midas Blenny is quite great. Genicanthus Angelfish not being nippers in a sea of angelfish that are so-so. People with topless tanks sometimes avoid wrasses, but not all jump, some dart into the sand which makes them less prone to carpet surf. ...you get the point.

...so if there is a fish that you love, pay attention to the details. New foods are helping to keep some. Some are better to get direct from the diver, some can go through LA - it really matters sometimes. ...so if you want that prized Christmas Island Flame Angel, then make sure that you wait and get it from a South Pacific Wholesaler or trans shipper and not risk just getting some generic flame from a LA Wholesaler. The Rock Beauties that I described above all come from the diver and I attribute their success to one less flight from Florida to LA, being kept at full strength 1.026 water, not medicated and all of that.

In summary, this is what drives my maybe list:
  • Available again from a wholesaler
  • Traded In
  • New Foods/Shipping/Collection that is a potential game changer
  • Learned some new things
 
jda said:
...not that anybody needs more choices in Clownfish, but the Soloman Island True Percs have a classic look that has yet to be duplicated by the breeders. If anybody has ever seen one, then you get it - wonderful dark orange/red with pure white and super dark black. I doubt that I would ever buy a wild clown with the massive inventory of CB clowns, but these might tempt me. I am kinda glad that they are not really available anymore to keep my from having to make a hard choice between a really awesome fish and my desire not to deplete the ocean of something that we have available captive bred in such quantity.

Another example of maybe for me is Convict tang. Some have great luck with them, but I never have and the only one that I had that did well was probably just luck. If I see a trade in, then I will jump on it, but otherwise, I am staying away. I like Hawaiian Black Tangs too, but I never bought them... there was enough for trade/free after they started to eat people corals and they were just fed up with them.

Maybe/Someday used to be Rock Beauty Angelfish. They used to be SOOOOO hard, but I have had good luck with my last few both eating and growing. Collection has gotten better, I get them direct from the diver and with the introduction of mysis in the hobby, these seem more doable now than ever. They also stay about 5-7 inches so they won't likely outgrow my tanks.

Sometimes what you thought about fish is just wrong. :) How many know that there are reef safe triggers that pose less risk than a Tang, Blenny or Angelfish. I found out about these in a magazine and it kinda changed my hobby. I love to have a Sargassum or BlueThroat trigger in my reefs... and Crosshatch if I have a really large tank. Some steer clear of blennies since they can polyp nip, but Midas Blenny is quite great. Genicanthus Angelfish not being nippers in a sea of angelfish that are so-so. People with topless tanks sometimes avoid wrasses, but not all jump, some dart into the sand which makes them less prone to carpet surf. ...you get the point.

...so if there is a fish that you love, pay attention to the details. New foods are helping to keep some. Some are better to get direct from the diver, some can go through LA - it really matters sometimes. ...so if you want that prized Christmas Island Flame Angel, then make sure that you wait and get it from a South Pacific Wholesaler or trans shipper and not risk just getting some generic flame from a LA Wholesaler. The Rock Beauties that I described above all come from the diver and I attribute their success to one less flight from Florida to LA, being kept at full strength 1.026 water, not medicated and all of that.

In summary, this is what drives my maybe list:
  • Available again from a wholesaler
  • Traded In
  • New Foods/Shipping/Collection that is a potential game changer
  • Learned some new things
Click to expand...
Aren't quite a few triggers coral safe, but not invert safe? None are invert safe, are they?
 
jda said:
...not that anybody needs more choices in Clownfish, but the Soloman Island True Percs have a classic look that has yet to be duplicated by the breeders. If anybody has ever seen one, then you get it - wonderful dark orange/red with pure white and super dark black. I doubt that I would ever buy a wild clown with the massive inventory of CB clowns, but these might tempt me. I am kinda glad that they are not really available anymore to keep my from having to make a hard choice between a really awesome fish and my desire not to deplete the ocean of something that we have available captive bred in such quantity.

Another example of maybe for me is Convict tang. Some have great luck with them, but I never have and the only one that I had that did well was probably just luck. If I see a trade in, then I will jump on it, but otherwise, I am staying away. I like Hawaiian Black Tangs too, but I never bought them... there was enough for trade/free after they started to eat people corals and they were just fed up with them.

Maybe/Someday used to be Rock Beauty Angelfish. They used to be SOOOOO hard, but I have had good luck with my last few both eating and growing. Collection has gotten better, I get them direct from the diver and with the introduction of mysis in the hobby, these seem more doable now than ever. They also stay about 5-7 inches so they won't likely outgrow my tanks.

Sometimes what you thought about fish is just wrong. :) How many know that there are reef safe triggers that pose less risk than a Tang, Blenny or Angelfish. I found out about these in a magazine and it kinda changed my hobby. I love to have a Sargassum or BlueThroat trigger in my reefs... and Crosshatch if I have a really large tank. Some steer clear of blennies since they can polyp nip, but Midas Blenny is quite great. Genicanthus Angelfish not being nippers in a sea of angelfish that are so-so. People with topless tanks sometimes avoid wrasses, but not all jump, some dart into the sand which makes them less prone to carpet surf. ...you get the point.

...so if there is a fish that you love, pay attention to the details. New foods are helping to keep some. Some are better to get direct from the diver, some can go through LA - it really matters sometimes. ...so if you want that prized Christmas Island Flame Angel, then make sure that you wait and get it from a South Pacific Wholesaler or trans shipper and not risk just getting some generic flame from a LA Wholesaler. The Rock Beauties that I described above all come from the diver and I attribute their success to one less flight from Florida to LA, being kept at full strength 1.026 water, not medicated and all of that.

In summary, this is what drives my maybe list:
  • Available again from a wholesaler
  • Traded In
  • New Foods/Shipping/Collection that is a potential game changer
  • Learned some new things
Click to expand...
Thank you for these great insights and I’ve started my research list with the fish you highlighted!
 
Xanthichthys triggers are planktivores and I have never had them bother anything... even shrimp and crabs. Some have complained about them eating their shirmp, but they are usually just chowing on the molt. Look where their mouths are and how small they... hard to catch stuff on the rocks. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/hcs3/index.php

Pink Tail and Black Durgeon have been good for me, but these are more risky and sometimes do seem have some interest in a shrimp. These do get big and even a 4-5 inch specimen can often eat a whole large sheet of nori by themselves... so you need to be prepared to filter the tank. I have one of each of these now, but they will need rehomed in a few years.

What about eels? Most ignore them, but the Pebbletoothed Eels are usually good tankmakes and leave inverts alone too (except for feeder crabs). I have had zebra eel in a tank with a skunk cleaner shrimp pair for their whole lives. Some snowflakes have a bad rap because people get them started on live fish - they are not pirrinah - but they can be really mellow/chill too. Golden Dwarf Moray is a holy-grail fish for a lot of people.
 
There are reef save, planktivore butterfly fish beyond Copperband too.

Three are also reef safe parrotfish - kinda need a large tank, but most people do not know.
 
Tidal Gardens
jda said:
Xanthichthys triggers are planktivores and I have never had them bother anything... even shrimp and crabs. Some have complained about them eating their shirmp, but they are usually just chowing on the molt. Look where their mouths are and how small they... hard to catch stuff on the rocks. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/hcs3/index.php

Pink Tail and Black Durgeon have been good for me, but these are more risky and sometimes do seem have some interest in a shrimp. These do get big and even a 4-5 inch specimen can often eat a whole large sheet of nori by themselves... so you need to be prepared to filter the tank. I have one of each of these now, but they will need rehomed in a few years.

What about eels? Most ignore them, but the Pebbletoothed Eels are usually good tankmakes and leave inverts alone too (except for feeder crabs). I have had zebra eel in a tank with a skunk cleaner shrimp pair for their whole lives. Some snowflakes have a bad rap because people get them started on live fish - they are not pirrinah - but they can be really mellow/chill too. Golden Dwarf Moray is a holy-grail fish for a lot of people.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the links! I'll do some reading. My tank is likely too small for one anyway, but interesting!
 
Online stores and cqptive breeding make this easier for sure. And I think the key is patience. Do you need all the fish right away? Sometimes I think people forget you can have a reef tank up for more than a year.
 
jda said:
There are reef save, planktivore butterfly fish beyond Copperband too.

Three are also reef safe parrotfish - kinda need a large tank, but most people do not know.
Click to expand...
Do you have a picture of the “planktivore butterfly fish”? I googled it but couldn’t find it?
 
Orphek OR3 reef aquarium LED bar
PeterC99 said:
Do you have a picture of the “planktivore butterfly fish”? I googled it but couldn’t find it?
Click to expand...
You are looking for Hemitaurichthys polylepis ("Pyramid butterflyfish") and Hemitaurichthys Zoster ("Zoster butterflyfish"). These are planktivores, but they can sometimes nip coral. I've never heard of serious damage from them on corals but they are like many fish "curious". They do well in small groups if introduced together.

There is also Heniochus Diphreutis which is generally reef safe but must not be confused with Heniochus acuminatus which is almost identical and definitely not safe. (both are usually called bannerfish and you will recognize them surely). These also like schooling. The Diphreutis is considered "with caution" but honestly I think this is a case of mistaken identity and people thinking individual specimens are problematic when they're really just observing the Acuminatis in a school of what they thought were Diphreutis.

The reef safe parrots people are talking about are Scarus Qoyi, AKA "Greenblotch" parrots afaik, which are fairly small for parrots and don't eat coral usually. I have seen plenty of reports, videos, and picture of them taking bites, though never devouring whole colonies. I think a well fed specimen in a tank with mature colonies is fine but frag city is a risk. They are after the algae but won't care about collateral damage around the base of a coral.

Anyways, any butterfly is reef safe if you have enough coral for them to spread their grazing on :)
 
^ Yup. Pyramid and Zoster are great fish. Check out where their mouths are and see how unhelpful those might be to get into nooks and crannies.

I have had plenty of good luck with most of the "reef safe with caution" butterflies, but I never suggest that they are 100% except for maybe Copperband which I never had touch anything except for some aiptasia.
 
BRS

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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