Help me pick a fish!

WindeyD · Jan 24, 2016

40B mixed reef with a clam. I have a pair of ocellaris clowns, a Tailspot blenny, a cleaner shrimp, and assorted hermits/snails. I've had multiple chromis which always whittle themselves down to one; think I'm done with chromis. I'm looking for another reef friendly fish or two that doesn't require multiple daily feelings as I feed 5x a week and will not pester my clam/other inhabitants. I have a healthy pod/micro fauna population and an established tank that's over 3 years old. I have never kept a wrasse or dragonet and am interested in these, but open to anything. Input from my fellow reefers is appreciated. Thanks!

theblackpearl · Jan 24, 2016

flame hawkfish or a dwarf angel like a flame or lemmonpeel?

WindeyD · Jan 24, 2016

theblackpearl said:
flame hawkfish or a dwarf angel like a flame or lemmonpeel?

Never had an angel but my understanding is that they can often nip at corals and clam mantles; I'm not a big risk taker when it comes to my corals and especially my clam.

Baby Ray · Jan 24, 2016

WindeyD said:
Never had an angel but my understanding is that they can often nip at corals and clam mantles; I'm not a big risk taker when it comes to my corals and especially my clam.

There is also a risk that a flame hawk fish will eat your cleaner shrimp.
I would recommend a pygmy possum wrass. I love the way they swim

theblackpearl · Jan 24, 2016

never had a problem with my flame angel and ive had him for years....you could also try a goby

Baby Ray · Jan 24, 2016

theblackpearl said:
never had a problem with my flame angel and ive had him for years....you could also try a goby

Any angelfish can be a risk. Some nip at corals and some can be aggressive but they could also be great and not bother anything. You can always watch a dwarf angelfish that is at your LFS and see if it is nipping corals or being aggressive. I always watch any fish that I am about to buy and make sure that it is acting well.

Pfisherman · Jan 24, 2016

No way on the angelfish. Nope. I have a Christmas wrasse and it is said to help clams by killing and eating pyrimid snails, they also eat flatworms and pods. I also have a mandarin and he is doing well but is often hiding/hunting in the unseen areas of the rock work. Cool fish just not always out. You could consider a trio of cardinal fish maybe, kole or yellow tang... What do you like? Then as a community we can weigh in.

WindeyD · Jan 24, 2016

Pfisherman said:
No way on the angelfish. Nope. I have a Christmas wrasse and it is said to help clams by killing and eating pyrimid snails, they also eat flatworms and pods. I also have a mandarin and he is doing well but is often hiding/hunting in the unseen areas of the rock work. Cool fish just not always out. You could consider a trio of cardinal fish maybe, kole or yellow tang... What do you like? Then as a community we can weigh in.

I'd like a tang but don't think my tank is big enough; I'm interested in perhaps a mandarin or wrasse. I also like the royal gramma but had some aggression issues with a gramma and blenny in the past.