Centerpiece fish for 40 gallon tank

[MONTANTK]

So the tank dimensions are 30x18x18 and I plan to go with a fairly minimalistic aquascape. I’m thinking it’s going to consist of a couple small/low islands to put my existing softies/LPS and then a center structure for SPS. I currently have a Pink Streak Wrasse, Hectors Goby, Wyoming White, Tailspot Blenny and a Springeri Damsel. I want to add one more centerpiece fish once the tank is up and running. Feel free to chime in with other unique options but the current candidates are:

-Burgess Butterfly (on the fence about this one)
-Venustus Angel
-Choats Leopard Wrasse

 

[vetteguy53081]

So the tank dimensions are 30x18x18 and I plan to go with a fairly minimalistic aquascape. I’m thinking it’s going to consist of a couple small/low islands to put my existing softies/LPS and then a center structure for SPS. I currently have a Pink Streak Wrasse, Hectors Goby, Wyoming White, Tailspot Blenny and a Springeri Damsel. I want to add one more centerpiece fish once the tank is up and running. Feel free to chime in with other unique options but the current candidates are:

-Burgess Butterfly (on the fence about this one)
-Venustus Angel
-Choats Leopard Wrasse

Flame angel
Banghai cardinal
Chromis

 

[MONTANTK]

Flame angel
Banghai cardinal
Chromis

No way Jose. I want something special. I’ve always been a big fan of trying the uncommon fish

 

[i cant think]

So the tank dimensions are 30x18x18 and I plan to go with a fairly minimalistic aquascape. I’m thinking it’s going to consist of a couple small/low islands to put my existing softies/LPS and then a center structure for SPS. I currently have a Pink Streak Wrasse, Hectors Goby, Wyoming White, Tailspot Blenny and a Springeri Damsel. I want to add one more centerpiece fish once the tank is up and running. Feel free to chime in with other unique options but the current candidates are:

-Burgess Butterfly (on the fence about this one)
-Venustus Angel
-Choats Leopard Wrasse

Forget the Choati, they are the worst leopard wrasse to start out with. Their survival rate is VERY low and their price is rather high compared to it. Venustus Angel and the butterflyfish are risky around those coral types. Others I would recommend are:
- Black Leopard Wrasse (Again, of the best beginner leopard but it’s better than a chaoti),
- Any wrasse from the Lubbocki complex
- Hawkfish
I’ll add to the list in a bit (Christmas dinner with the family really does get your mind wiped) but for now that’s a starting point.

 

[MONTANTK]

Forget the Choati, they are the worst leopard wrasse to start out with. Their survival rate is VERY low and their price is rather high compared to it. Venustus Angel and the butterflyfish are risky around those coral types. Others I would recommend are:
- Black Leopard Wrasse (Again, of the best beginner leopard but it’s better than a chaoti),
- Any wrasse from the Lubbocki complex
- Hawkfish
I’ll add to the list in a bit (Christmas dinner with the family really does get your mind wiped) but for now that’s a starting point.

I’ve had other leopards before and had good success but I never dared to try a Choats. It still makes me nervous because of how expensive they are and how poor they ship. I’m hesitant about the butterfly due to its size and riskiness with coral. I’m 50/50 on the Venustus. I had one years ago but tried one recently with no success. Neither picked at coral. I am considering other Leopard Wrasses and I’d love to do a fairy wrasse but size and skittishness deter me. Hawkfish are cool but I want something that is a fairly active swimmer

 

[JaimeAdams]

Candy Basslet

 

[MONTANTK]

Candy Basslet

I would love that but way too pricey

 

[davidcalgary29]

A flameback angel could work. But really, my first choice -- if you can get one -- is a dwarf whitespotted filefish. It will have a profile completely different from any of your other fish, and it's unlikely that it will bother your coral, unlike the more common matted filefish.

 

[MONTANTK]

A flameback angel could work. But really, my first choice -- if you can get one -- is a dwarf whitespotted filefish. It will have a profile completely different from any of your other fish, and it's unlikely that it will bother your coral, unlike the more common matted filefish.

Hmmm that is an interesting idea. Do they come up for sale often?

 

[Jekyl]

A 40 gallon tank with 5 fish and no hiding places doesn't leave many options. Priority needs to be on a peaceful fish, what ever you may choose.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Hmmm that is an interesting idea. Do they come up for sale often?

They're bred at ORA. I don't know what the situation is like in the U.S., but they appeared once last summer here in Alberta, and that's when I got mine. I've save room in my tank(s) for them, and when more come in I'm going to try to build a harem/group.

 

[MONTANTK]

They're bred at ORA. I don't know what the situation is like in the U.S., but they appeared once last summer here in Alberta, and that's when I got mine.

Oh okay, perhaps they’re seasonal then

 

[MONTANTK]

A 40 gallon tank with 5 fish and no hiding places doesn't leave many options. Priority needs to be on a peaceful fish, what ever you may choose.

That is for sure a priority. I’ve never had any aggression issues in my current tank. The goby and blenny actually share a hideout while the damsel and wrasse have their separate spaces.

 

[MONTANTK]

After doing a little more web browsing I am considering a Radiant Wrasse as a possibility. I’d love to do a pair but I think the tank size might be too small for that

 

[vetteguy53081]

No way Jose. I want something special. I’ve always been a big fan of trying the uncommon fish

Be sure to specify that

 

[MONTANTK]

Be sure to specify that

Note taken. Any other fish that pop into mind? A Radiant Wrasse was another that I had considered. I’d like something that is more of an active swimmer

 

[vetteguy53081]

Frogfish
sargassum
Marine betta

 

[i cant think]

Note taken. Any other fish that pop into mind? A Radiant Wrasse was another that I had considered. I’d like something that is more of an active swimmer

Halichoeres wrasses prefer 36” (that full 3’) of tank to swim in, leopards don’t swim too much though. I’d do a Black Leopard or a Meleagris Leopard wrasse personally if you want something uncommon but an uncommon fish is also a hard to grab fish (And most of the time for a good reason).

Frogfish
sargassum
Marine betta

Do you mean a sargassum triggerfish? If so these get hyperactive in small tanks. also a frog fish stays in one spot for 95% of the time and depending on how small and what it’s tank mates are, it will eat them.

 

[MONTANTK]

Halichoeres wrasses prefer 36” (that full 3’) of tank to swim in, leopards don’t swim too much though. I’d do a Black Leopard or a Meleagris Leopard wrasse personally if you want something uncommon but an uncommon fish is also a hard to grab fish (And most of the time for a good reason).

Do you mean a sargassum triggerfish? If so these get hyperactive in small tanks. also a frog fish stays in one spot for 95% of the time and depending on how small and what it’s tank mates are, it will eat them.

Do you think 6” would make that big of a difference?

 

[i cant think]

Do you think 6” would make that big of a difference?

6” probably won’t make that much of a difference but it would be preferred. I would add the wrasse first though if possible to let it settle and then if you wanted another, you could try a leopard the Choati is a long way but if you Atleast get experience with the easier ones - Meleagris and BSLW - then work up to the slightly harder ones and gain the experience you should be able to have Atleast the basic care of a choati after about 10-15 years of keeping leopards. I’ve started with a M. bipartitus but hope to eventually get hold of a M. choati after working with keeping M. bipartitus alive and thriving for Atleast 5 years then do M. negrosensis and keep that alive for Atleast 5 years and then maybe try a harder one (Moyeri or Kuiteri) and then eventually the Choati.