I need a good "dither" fish

Carmen · Dec 14, 2013

My 75 gal tank's inhabitants populate the bottom to mid part of my tanks. Sadly, even the clown fish who have decided that the low part of the back of the tank behind the rocks is the place for them...unless they are hungry and then they come to the front. It's too early now because I just got some new fish. But I would like to plan for the next fish, and I want some who will swim in the top part of the tank and hopefully encourage the clown fish to come out. My last fish added will be a white tailed bristle tooth. What are some I could put in the mean time. I'm interested in flasher wrasse (I love wrasse). Would that be a good fish? I don't know where they swim in the water column. What others?

TJ's Reef · Dec 14, 2013

Flasher/Fairy Wrasses would be a great addition if: you have a well covered tank and there are no aggressive planktivores already in system. So would smaller passive Anthias like Dispar or Randals etc...

Cheers, Todd

ritter6788 · Dec 14, 2013

Lyretail anthias, chromis are good open water swimmers. Flasher wrasse would be nice if you have a lid or screen for your tank. Wrasses will jump.

Carmen · Dec 14, 2013

Would my 75 gal be big enough for a pair of anthias? Anything I see seems to indicate a pair or more needs 100+ gallons. Would love a pair anthias! The flasher wrasse seem to be okay with my tank size from what I read. I have no aggressive fish...been really careful about that. And I have a covered top for the coris wrasse that's in there now.

TJ's Reef · Dec 14, 2013

I think that a trio of smaller peaceful Anthias would be fine. If you can get all three at once and one of them is larger than the other two this will set the hierarchy of group and allow one to be dominant male.

Cheers, Todd

Carmen · Dec 14, 2013

TJ's Reef said:
I think that a trio of smaller peaceful Anthias would be fine. If you can get all three at once and one of them is larger than the other two this will set the hierarchy of group and allow one to be dominant male.

Cheers, Todd

Thanks, Todd. I will look into that when I purchase my next fish.