Fish suggestions...

[Scubaguy10]

Have room for 1 or 2 fish in my 55 gallon reef tank. Any suggestions on reef safe additions other than clowns and gobys?

 

[Mr_Knightley]

do you already have any fish in the tank? If so, then I'll need to see the list of current inhabitants first, before I can recommend anything.

 

[Fishurama]

Melanurus Wrasse if you run sand. Great looking fish, generally not to pricey, easy to keep, not very agressive, great colors and very active while it looks for bad pests. Hard to not keep one unless you like having shrimp, as thats pretty much the only thing that it doesn't get along with.

 

[Scubaguy10]

Melanurus Wrasse if you run sand. Great looking fish, generally not to pricey, easy to keep, not very agressive, great colors and very active while it looks for bad pests. Hard to not keep one unless you like having shrimp, as thats pretty much the only thing that it doesn't get along with.

How will it do with a SF eel?

 

[Scubaguy10]

do you already have any fish in the tank? If so, then I'll need to see the list of current inhabitants first, before I can recommend anything.

I have a golden striped maroon clown, a dragon goby, a strawberry pseudochromis and a SF eel.

 

[Fishurama]

How will it do with a SF eel?

They do fine, wrasse wont bug the eel and vice versa.
Be careful with the dragon goby as they are a brackish fish and not meant for saltwater.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

I have a golden striped maroon clown, a dragon goby, a strawberry pseudochromis and a SF eel.

Thanks, that helps a lot. One thing I've noticed with the list is you have a lot of aggressive fish, maroon clown pseudochromis and SF ell when it gets older. It may be difficult to add anything that won't get pummeled, especially by the pseudochromis. The only things I can think of would be a tang or possibly a beefy wrasse, such as the previously mentioned melanarus.
Could you give us an idea on the temperament of the fish already in the system?

 

[Scubaguy10]

They do fine, wrasse wont bug the eel and vice versa.
Be careful with the dragon goby as they are a brackish fish and not meant for saltwater.

I just googled that and did not know! Apparently my LFS miss identifies it and I think it is actually a wide striped goby.

 

[Fishurama]

I just googled that and did not know! Apparently my LFS miss identifies it and I think it is actually a wide striped goby.

LOL Thats good to know they miss identified it. I felt bad if it was a dragon goby.
But if you go for a wrasse, you should be good to go.
The main one you want to stay away from are six line wrasse. They will literally bully fish 3 times their size. The Melanurus Wrasse is one of the best choices as it eats unwanted pests like flatworms among others while being big enough to deal with your semi-aggressive fish.

 

[Scubaguy10]

Thanks, that helps a lot. One thing I've noticed with the list is you have a lot of aggressive fish, maroon clown pseudochromis and SF ell when it gets older. It may be difficult to add anything that won't get pummeled, especially by the pseudochromis. The only things I can think of would be a tang or possibly a beefy wrasse, such as the previously mentioned melanarus.
Could you give us an idea on the temperament of the fish already in the system?

The eel never messes with anything in there and keeps to itself but it is a juvenile so we will see. Everything else is pretty peaceful except the pseudochromis, he is a jerk.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

The eel never messes with anything in there and keeps to itself but it is a juvenile so we will see. Everything else is pretty peaceful except the pseudochromis, he is a jerk.

At this point, the only thing I'm concerned about would be the Pseudochromis, the only real way to avoid to much aggression would be to get a fish bigger, and possibly meaner, than it is, such as some sort of trigger or tang. Though, with the size tank you have, it would be difficult to add anything too large, as the SF eel should get to around 2', and keep in mind that the males have teeth for eating fish, and that the females will become male if there isn't one present already, which may take care of you're Pseudo lol
Could you get a picture of the tank, so I can get an idea of how much space you have?

 

[Scubaguy10]

At this point, the only thing I'm concerned about would be the Pseudochromis, the only real way to avoid to much aggression would be to get a fish bigger, and possibly meaner, than it is, such as some sort of trigger or tang. Though, with the size tank you have, it would be difficult to add anything too large, as the SF eel should get to around 2', and keep in mind that the males have teeth for eating fish, and that the females will become male if there isn't one present already, which may take care of you're Pseudo lol
Could you get a picture of the tank, so I can get an idea of how much space you have?

This is the best picture I’ve gotten so far. The tank is still young only about 3 months at this point so I’m not looking to add right away. Just looking for the future.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

This is the best picture I’ve gotten so far. The tank is still young only about 3 months at this point so I’m not looking to add right away. Just looking for the future.

Here's a thought, I read about this trick a while back. when you choose a fish, add a new piece of rock/decor with it, or re-arrange the aquascape when you ad it. That way, the territory of the Pseudo will get broken up and the new fish can get it's own put down as well, so it can defend itself better.
It's possible you could add another SF eel? They do well in pairs, anyway, and it would look pretty darned cool... Just a thought.

 

[Scubaguy10]

Here's a thought, I read about this trick a while back. when you choose a fish, add a new piece of rock/decor with it, or re-arrange the aquascape when you ad it. That way, the territory of the Pseudo will get broken up and the new fish can get it's own put down as well, so it can defend itself better.
It's possible you could add another SF eel? They do well in pairs, anyway, and it would look pretty darned cool... Just a thought.

Good idea! I’ll keep that in mind as well as a possible second SF eel! Thank you for the suggestions!