Fish opinion

[socalfishy]

So i have a 200 fowlr with about 200 lb's of rock and everyone has been situated for a while now. I have no substrate so the wave fans go hard and the tank is fairly clean all the time.

clown trig - 10-11 inch
humu trig - 7"
pineapple trig - 3"
pink tail trig - 5"
Emperor angel - 6-7"
spanish hog fish - 3"
cleaner wrasse - 3.5"

I want to add 4-5 Orchid Dottybacks and a 3" Red Snooty Wrasse. I was going to add like 7-9 yellow tail damsel fish, but i feel like groups of damsels are not really sustainable. I see people talking they keep certain dottybacks in large setups with big fish undisturbed? What do you guys think? im trying to add a splash of movement from smaller fish and to help eat up the uneaten pellets and meat. Opinions?

 

[blaxsun]

My 2 Orchid and Indigo dottybacks went at it for a few weeks until they settled down, so I’m not sure 4-5 would be entirely peaceful. Then again, I have 4 damsels (1 Azure and 3 Blue Devil) that get along well (the blue devils were all young tank mates and got along).

 

[JumboShrimp]

I know about Damsel's reputation for picking each other off-- and it has happened to me in smaller tanks-- but my 5-foot 150 gallon tank has held steady with 7 Damsels. I bet if you added 10 at once to your 200-gallon tank, with the 200 lbs of rock, you might even see 8-9 make it (i.e., get along). ;Happy

 

[JumboShrimp]

@socalfishy, we need fish-photos... How DARE you omit and make us beg!?

 

[socalfishy]

my buddies are on page 3 "what fish are in your tank" thread.

So i made my mind up and ordered 4 Orchid dottybacks, and 4 Talbot damsels. Hopefully a very nice splash of purple and pinks. I literally have NONE of that color spectrum in the tank.

I was looking at photos and videos in the wild and see they inhabit alot of skeletonized dead brain corals. I bought 2 fairly large brain coral skeletons that i plan to put in the tank ready for them after QT.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I am a big Talbot fan. Good choice, IMO.

 

[socalfishy]

@socalfishy, we need fish-photos... How DARE you omit and make us beg!?

jumbo, i remember reading earlier this year you acquired a french angel. How has that been? As a final fish i want to potentially throw a juvi french into my 200 with my 6-7" emperor.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Doing absolutely fantastic— the tank lights are off for the night, but if I remember to snap a photo soon, I will!

 

[Devaji]

cool let us know how it goes. I do enjoy seeing what others do with there tanks.

 

[JumboShrimp]

French Angel is doing great... now if I can only get one of my two “female” Blue Throat Triggers to make the big switch! Lol.

 

[socalfishy]

i stopped by my favorite local fish store, got an email for a deal on a flame angel. 45 mins of talking and looking at live stock i take this guy home instead. 4.5 inch Map puffer

 

[Flame2hawk]

IMO You have an ample stocking level….sit back and enjoy!

 

[socalfishy]

Yea im done adding to this particular tank. The puffer and 4 Talbots went in the other day after their APi Gc QT. It appears the map puffer is very very active at night time, i am starting to think they are nocturnal? Eats ALOT, Parks and sleeps ALOT.

The 4 orchid dottybacks, i had a change of heart and put them in my 30 reef and they are striving in there. The 4 Talbots damsels hit the water and immediately went to war with eachother in my big display. 3 of them picked out dominant spaces and refused to let the smaller house or eat with them. Im trying to spot feed the odd ball but it doesnt stand a chance in such a fast pace tank. All 4 were very tight knit in QT not in big display. It wont make it if it never overcomes fear of the other damsels.