First fish(es)? decisions decisions

Thunderfan · Jan 11, 2015

I'm at the point where i am ready to start adding fish. I have been working towards this point for a little while and thought when it came I would start getting fish and off we go. I just can't seem to make myself pull the trigger. I know I am going to get a nice pair of clowns like Wyoming whites or Davinci just hadn't ran across tree right ones. I am planning to have a manderin down the road when i have a good pod population. Those are the only 2 things that i know I want so everything I put in from now to then need to be compatible as well as reef safe. I almost pulled the trigger on a very awesome looking harlequin shrimp today but, not sure if i want to mess with the feeding it star fish thing. They are pretty cool though.

What would some suggestions be that would be interesting to put in my tank but, get along with my future plans. One place told me to just get some chromis to have something swimming around. I like things that have some cool factor though.

maxxin69 · Jan 11, 2015

I've always like firefish and fairy wrasses tend to be on the less aggressive side.

Longnose Hawkfish · Jan 11, 2015

How many gallons is your tank?

Thunderfan · Jan 11, 2015

Longnose Hawkfish said:
How many gallons is your tank?

It's a 75, I guess that would have been a good piece of info.

Gopi · Jan 12, 2015

I really like my indigo dottyback. It's a hybrid and captive bred. Active swimmer, reef safe and gets on well with my clowns.

Longnose Hawkfish · Jan 13, 2015

Most flasher and fairy wrasses would be good options.

eatbreakfast · Jan 14, 2015

Fairy and flasher wrasses are great, as are firefish and royal grammas. Jawfish are interesting as are watchman goby and pistol shrimp combos.

Gopi · Jan 14, 2015

+1 to the flasher and fairy wrasses. I have my eyes set on a McCosker's flasher.

PostShawn · Jan 15, 2015

+2 on the wrasses (don't get a 6 line though). I had a fairy wrasse but it jumped out and committed suicide. Now I have a Melanurus wrasse. Great fish, just have a lid or something preventing them from jumping out. Otherwise firefish (most can be done in pairs I think), gobies, cardinal fish (3 or more nice schooling fish), and clowns (can do a pair) are great choices. You can get a pair of designer clowns if you want something a bit different. If you do want anything that will be slightly territorial then I would wait until the non-territorial fish are in. That would include things like Damselfish, most Angelfish, Dottybacks, etc. The reason is other fish will already be in the tank and the territorial fish won't fight as much to find their territory. That's the theory at least but still a good practice to do.

Thunderfan · Jan 15, 2015

I really want a McCosker wrasse now that it has been brought to my attention. Don't think anybody locally has one so now have to find someplace to order one.

Gopi · Jan 15, 2015

Live Aquaria has them, my LFS gets them in fairly regularly.

Thunderfan · Jan 17, 2015

I have a couple residents. I was in a lfs and they had an exquisite fairy wrasse and after a quick Google switch I had to pick him up. Plus, I thought the price was right. Also, picked up a lawnmower blenny just because I like the stupid look on its face. Got my eye on a pair of extreme picasso clowns or a wyoming white pair. Just have to decide which ones I want.

Gopi · Jan 18, 2015

Pics?! I wanna see these guys. I loved my lawnmower blenny, but even though I had more than enough algae for him...he just disappeared one day. Found the skeleton picked clean.

I've heard that can happen with them sometimes. (Same thing happened with my Molly Miller blenny...maybe I just shouldn't keep blennies!)

Set up another tank and get all 4 clowns

Thunderfan · Jan 18, 2015

I don't think I have enough algae for him so I'll be feeding him some nori just could resist that face. . The wrasse hasn't came out of hiding yet when he does I'll try and get a pic.