Black & White fish suggestions for 40 gallon

ThRoewer · Oct 6, 2020

For my wife's feng-shui tank I need recommendations for 2 black & white fish (ideally a pair) that get along with a large pair and 2 smaller reservist of black & white Darwin ocellaris that are hosted by a large LTA.

More of the Darwins isn't an option, they started out as 6 but the largest juvenile was a jerk and had to be removed, and the smallest got killed off. The current 4 have found an arrangement that I don't want to disturb.
Marine Betta are out, unfortunately, since there is minimal rockwork, mostly on the back of the tank and in the corner where the anemone sits.
The fish should be out in the open a lot which pretty much excludes Circus/Black Barred Convict Gobies.
They can also not be too spikey or needle shaped - which excludes Banggais and Banded pipefish...
They also should not have any significant amount of other colors in their color scheme...

I tried Dascyllus but they committed murder-suicide.
I tried Tuxedo Damsels (from LiveAquaria and BlueZoo) but none of those made it even through quarantine (bacterial infections, velvet, or something else killed them faster than I could react with a suitable treatment)

I suggested Bandit Angels (yes, I know, way too big for a 40, but one can try

) but the wife bulged at the $1k price tag for just one...

So that's my problem...

Coralsdaily · Oct 6, 2020

Kaudern's cardinal

PicassoClown04 · Oct 6, 2020

Ummmm okay you’ve ruled out a lot of the b&w I know of... maybe domino damsels?

Is a snowflake/zebra eel an option?

if you’re a pretty experienced reef keeper, maybe a black boxfish (ostracion meleagris).

Idk minimum tank size for the rest of these, but almost definitely over 40 gallons-
Moorish Idol (very very difficult)
Spotted drum
High hat
Red Sea banner fish (heniochus)
Black spotted puffer
Lamark Angelfish
Wantanabei Angelfish (may be more blue than white though)

good luck man

OrionN · Oct 6, 2020

Can you have a pair of black and white Maxima clam. Not a fish but a pair of black and white animals?

DracoKat · Oct 6, 2020

Black & White Chromis: Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Black and White Chromis?

OrionN · Oct 6, 2020

How about these guys:
Black & White Chromis (Chromis margaritifer) LA have them in stock

Black & White Chromis: Saltwater Aquarium Fish

ThRoewer · Oct 6, 2020

OrionN said:
Can you have a pair of black and white Maxima clam. Not a fish but a pair of black and white animals?

Got to be fish. Plus, I doubt the clams would do well there for long.
Though I could use some bivalves to keep the Phyto bloom in my grow-out tanks at bay...

ThRoewer · Oct 6, 2020

DracoKat said:
Black & White Chromis: Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Black and White Chromis?

OrionN said:
How about these guys:
Black & White Chromis (Chromis margaritifer) LA have them in stock

Black & White Chromis: Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Would only 2 of them work out long term?

Coralsdaily · Oct 6, 2020

footgal said:
Ummmm okay you’ve ruled out a lot of the b&w I know of... maybe domino damsels?

Is a snowflake/zebra eel an option?

if you’re a pretty experienced reef keeper, maybe a black boxfish (ostracion meleagris).

Idk minimum tank size for the rest of these, but almost definitely over 40 gallons-
Moorish Idol (very very difficult)
Spotted drum
High hat
Red Sea banner fish (heniochus)
Black spotted puffer
Lamark Angelfish
Wantanabei Angelfish (may be more blue than white though)

good luck man

probably not a good idea for any morey eel to go into a 40G, just saying.

OrionN · Oct 6, 2020

ThRoewer said:
Would only 2 of them work out long term?

I have no idea. Never keep them. LA said semi aggressive, so I think they will be fine.

Sebastiancrab · Oct 6, 2020

You might try Three Striped Damsels with the understanding at the LFS that you can return them if they are too aggressive. They are inexpensive.

maybe · Oct 6, 2020

Black and white ocellaris clown.

ThRoewer · Oct 6, 2020

footgal said:
Ummmm okay you’ve ruled out a lot of the b&w I know of... maybe domino damsels?

Is a snowflake/zebra eel an option?

if you’re a pretty experienced reef keeper, maybe a black boxfish (ostracion meleagris).

Idk minimum tank size for the rest of these, but almost definitely over 40 gallons-
Moorish Idol (very very difficult)
Spotted drum
High hat
Red Sea banner fish (heniochus)
Black spotted puffer
Lamark Angelfish
Wantanabei Angelfish (may be more blue than white though)

good luck man

I had fully grown (dinner-plate sized) Dominos in the past and they get huge and ultra mean (and almost completely black).
Eels are out as well, too large and too snake-shaped.
Of Ostracion meleagris only the females are black & white while the males are real peacocks.