Help me choose my next fish!

[DoctaReef]

So I have a RSR 425xl, currently 3.5 months old and inhabited by two percula clownfish and a small clean up crew. My goal is to have a mixed reef leaning towards LPS and SPS as time goes on, but I’m taking things slow.

My fish wish list going forward is:
2 Banggai Cardinals
4 line, 6 line or Melanarus Wrasse
3-4 Anthias- not sure which type
Orchid dottyback
Diamond Goby
White tail and/or purple tang

I’ve got a healthy pod population and noticed some flatworms on the glass, so I’m leaning towards a wrasse next...

What do you think I should add next?
What else should I consider?

 

[mattzang]

have you read evolved's article on wrasses? it's a must read

brief preview: avoid sixlines 4 lines 8 lines 12 lines all lines, except red line which is a different family and an excellent choice!

i'd add a small halichoeres if you want to get rid of worms. then i'd add a mess of fairy wrasses. then more halichoeres

springer damsels and the orchid dottyback apparently eat some flatworms. i'd check out chrysiptera damsels too

 

[DoctaReef]

have you read evolved's article on wrasses? it's a must read

brief preview: avoid sixlines 4 lines 8 lines 12 lines all lines, except red line which is a different family and an excellent choice!

i'd add a small halichoeres if you want to get rid of worms. then i'd add a mess of fairy wrasses. then more halichoeres

springer damsels and the orchid dottyback apparently eat some flatworms. i'd check out chrysiptera damsels too

I definitely am leaning more towards the halichoeres wrasses for sure, despite their invert eating tendencies.

Didn’t know dottybacks were flatworm eaters! Good to know!

 

[mattzang]

I definitely am leaning more towards the halichoeres wrasses for sure, despite their invert eating tendencies.

Didn’t know dottybacks were flatworm eaters! Good to know!

i've always had a springer damsel, orchid dottyback, and two halichoeres wrasses (red line and chrysus) and i've never seen a flatworm or bristleworm or whatever else lol. someone is doing something in there.

 

[DoctaReef]

i've always had a springer damsel, orchid dottyback, and two halichoeres wrasses (red line and chrysus) and i've never seen a flatworm or bristleworm or whatever else lol. someone is doing something in there.

To you have a hood or screen on your tank for the wrasses?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Screen tops are highly recommended for any wrasses.

Halichoeres are much better behaved than lined wrasses. If you're worried about inverts H. chrysus is very trustworthy.

 

[Jesterrace]

Agreed with the posts about giving the lined wrasses a miss, Halichoeres are best and can also help pick off flatworms and other pests in your tank. The purple tang is likely to become a tank bully given that there is precious little to keep it's attitude in check in that tank. I would say the white tail would be a better choice as it stays much smaller. Other than that the stock list looks great.

 

[DoctaReef]

Agreed with the posts about giving the lined wrasses a miss, Halichoeres are best and can also help pick off flatworms and other pests in your tank. The purple tang is likely to become a tank bully given that there is precious little to keep it's attitude in check in that tank. I would say the white tail would be a better choice as it stays much smaller. Other than that the stock list looks great.

I'm definitely settling in on a halichoeres for sure.

Regarding the tang, that's what I was thinking too. If you were going to put a second tang in, what would you choose?

 

[nereefpat]

I always have to look up the dimensions of those darn RSF tanks.....Looks to basically be a standard 90 gallon. I would only do one tang, and either a purple or white tail would be fine. Two of any species will likely be trouble in that tank size, but tangs typically only get aggressive towards other tangs and other deep-bodied fishes (angels, butterflies, rabbits). The only exception I've seen to that is Ctenocheatus spp tangs and lawnmower type blennies and sleeper type gobies sometimes HATE each other.

I agree melanurus/chrysus/biocellatus wrasses are way better choices than any of the "lined" wrasses.

 

[DoctaReef]

I always have to look up the dimensions of those darn RSF tanks.....Looks to basically be a standard 90 gallon. I would only do one tang, and either a purple or white tail would be fine. Two of any species will likely be trouble in that tank size, but tangs typically only get aggressive towards other tangs and other deep-bodied fishes (angels, butterflies, rabbits). The only exception I've seen to that is Ctenocheatus spp tangs and lawnmower type blennies and sleeper type gobies sometimes HATE each other.

I agree melanurus/chrysus/biocellatus wrasses are way better choices than any of the "lined" wrasses.

I'm definitely leaning towards the white tail for sure, but maybe one of the other Ctenochaetus spp due to their good algae control and smaller size if I can't find one when I'm ready. I just have always had a thing for purple tangs.

Related to that, does anyone know how long do Juvi Chevrons keep their color?

 

[nereefpat]

I'm definitely leaning towards the white tail for sure, but maybe one of the other Ctenochaetus spp due to their good algae control and smaller size if I can't find one when I'm ready. I just have always had a thing for purple tangs.

Related to that, does anyone know how long do Juvi Chevrons keep their color?

C. truncatus is another really pretty one. Kole and tomini seem to be the most popular ones.

Unfortunately, chevron is the only one in the genus that gets large. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/6013
I haven't personally kept one, so I can't say for sure how long the transition takes....probably somewhere in the 1-2 years...and it depends when it was collected of course.

 

[DoctaReef]

C. truncatus is another really pretty one. Kole and tomini seem to be the most popular ones.

Unfortunately, chevron is the only one in the genus that gets large. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/6013
I haven't personally kept one, so I can't say for sure how long the transition takes....probably somewhere in the 1-2 years...and it depends when it was collected of course.

Chevrons are so tempting with the color, but the price...

 

[NeedMoreReef]

your fish list looks good.I have very similar group in my reef. skip the anthias and diamond goby. just one banggai. add 3 azure damsels to list. fang blennys are really cool too. I have a kamahara trio.

So I have a RSR 425xl, currently 3.5 months old and inhabited by two percula clownfish and a small clean up crew. My goal is to have a mixed reef leaning towards LPS and SPS as time goes on, but I’m taking things slow.

My fish wish list going forward is:
2 Banggai Cardinals
4 line, 6 line or Melanarus Wrasse
3-4 Anthias- not sure which type
Orchid dottyback
Diamond Goby
White tail and/or purple tang

I’ve got a healthy pod population and noticed some flatworms on the glass, so I’m leaning towards a wrasse next...

What do you think I should add next?
What else should I consider?

i'd check out chrysiptera damsels too

yes!