Hmm could a dwarf pred fit in my stocking plans?

NeiDan · Apr 28, 2016

So I saw Renee's nano pred thread and it got me all inspired. I'm still setting up my 100g mixed reef. I'm curious: what predators would be compatible with my planned stocking list?

Already in the tank:
-Midas Blenny
-2 Mollies (I'm planning to get rid of them in time, but if I do add a predator I may just make sure they're a breeding pair and leave them in)

Absolutely, no questions planned:
-2 dragonface pipefish
-Mated pair of Yellowhead jawfish

Wanted, but might be willing to skip for the pred:
-Tomini Tang
-A pair of neon gobies

I don't have any shrimp at the moment, and honestly probably won't add any since I'm afraid they'll bother the pipefish. The big thing is that whatever I add can't deplete the pod population. Dragonface pipes rarely take to frozen food and I want the pod population to be able to sustain them. I understand scorpions and lionfish have no problems with corals, so I don't imagine they'll be an issue with that.

rayn · Apr 28, 2016

Wow, can't believe no one has answered. I was going to earlier, but ran out of time.

Mollies are probably goners, unless you have it trained well onto frozen before placing in the DT. I recommend this and you can convert while in QT, just make sure it is eating well before trying to convert.

The tang will be okay, gobies might not be. Preds may take pods to supplement, but I wouldn't think they survive on them, should be enough left for the pipefish.

Remember it is all about mouth size and opportunity. If the lion or pred thinks it will fit, it may try.

NeiDan · Apr 29, 2016

I was thinking about trying maybe a Barchin Scorpionfish or Dwarf fuzzy lionfish, but if even these species could eat an adult mollie I don't see how jawfish or my blenny would have a chance. The blenny is only about an inch longer than the mollies. It seems like it'd be really interesting to have a scorpion or lion fish but I'm not sure it's worth that much risk to the other fish...

michellejy · Apr 29, 2016

@Lionfish Lair, @rayn, or @FeliciaLynn can probably tell you more about compatibility with the options I will mention here.

(Disclaimer: I have only recently become obsessed with predators, so my advice is based mainly on badgering those tagged above for opinions.)

Cockatoo Waspfish have very small mouths and are peaceful. Red Bandtail Waspfishes are very tiny. I would guess the Bandtail would not work with the tang option though.

Lionfish Lair · Apr 29, 2016

Missed this!

Next to size of the fish, on thing that affects their likelihood of being eaten, is their shape. Anything that looks like a Pepperidge Farm Goldfish cracker is more likely to be eaten than if it has the shape of a gummy worm. Ounce for ounce, the cracker will go first.

Do you know the scientific name of the barchin or can you point me to a picture?

I'm curious myself what they would think of dragons. As a prediction, I think it would be left alone, but I can't say for sure. I'll have to sniff around about that one.

Neon gobies are too small for many of these types of preds. How big are the mollies? I've seen some that are brutes. The inch the jaw fish and midas has on the Molly can make all the difference. I had a midas that at it's adult size was pretty big and a Fuzzy would not be able to eat them. It's been some years since I've seen a jawfish, but they're a decent size too, aren't they? How do they compare with a midas's girth?

NeiDan · Apr 29, 2016

Renee the barchin is the third fish on your "nano pred tank mates" thread. The little red one. I prefer the look of lionfish, but that thing sounds like it has a lot of personality

I honestly have trouble imagining anything but an invert targeting a dragonface. They're simultaneously bony and unfishlike, while also being unwormlike. They just don't look like a good meal lol. Here's a picture of the blenny with the molly and a dollar for size reference. Not a great pic but I figure it fills it's purpose. http://imgur.com/lFymVxc

Oh and jawfish are are roughly the same body shape and size of a Midas. If anything they've got more girth.

rayn · Apr 29, 2016

It all comes down to your risk factor. If I throw my clowns in a tank and then add a fuzzy, even converted to frozen, I know the risk. I have to be able to handle the clowns getting eaten. If I can't do that, either I am not ready for scorps or I need another tank.

Usually I get another tank!