Looking for ideas on one wow fish

Brittmcoleman · Apr 9, 2020

Hello. I am sure there are a ton of threads like mine. I am sorry. I currently have a 30g with a cuc, a chocolate chip starfish, and 1 coral beauty (currently 2 inch). It’s a fowlr tank. I am in the process of setting up a 75 g Fowlr. The coral beauty will move to the 75g. I want a pair of clownfish, of course. I am wanting your opinion on a showpiece fish (under $200). I have considered a dwarf lionfish but they seem to be hard to come by. Also, I have read several threads on here that made a little nervous about success. I also like valentini puffers. I was hoping to add captive bred only to the tank.

Aari007 · Apr 9, 2020

A good showpiece fish could be a wrasse such as the Melanarus Wrasse or a Klunzinger's Wrasse. The dwarf lion may eat up the clowns if they are too small, but if you keep the lionfish fed I think it will be fine. An angel could also be nice, but it's up to you.

Rvs187 · Apr 9, 2020

Marine betta , just saw one today and fell in love with it ... I don’t know much about then ... so do your research on it ... but it’s beautiful

Brittmcoleman · Apr 9, 2020

Rvs187 said:
Marine betta , just saw one today and fell in love with it ... I don’t know much about then ... so do your research on it ... but it’s beautiful

They are beautiful. I have not seen them before you mentioned it.

AcroNem · Apr 9, 2020

With captive bred only a "wow" fish gets costly pretty fast unfortunately, although I support and commend you 100% for doing so. The puffers and lions are not CB yet, some angels are but in a 75 you'll be limited to dwarf Angels, which there are still some very cool types. I'm not sure about the marine betta/grouper on captive bred availability, they're very cool fish. Usually pretty timid but will probably demolish smaller fish and any shrimp in the system

lion king · Apr 10, 2020

Some people may consider a coral beauty a showpiece for a 75g, You might spend your money or a "wow" pair of clowns, something like these: https://m.liveaquaria.com/divers-de...captive-bred-snow-storm-clownfish-bonded-pair
Captive bred is great but you will be limited, not captive bred there are some nice fairy wrasses that would add alot of pop. Dwarf lionfish are cool but do take specialized care if you are to keep them long term, Check out some threads in the predatory forum if your are interested.

TriggersAmuck · Apr 10, 2020

A Flame Angel might be considered a special "smaller" show fish. Or a Golden Dwarf Moray Eel (if you are wanting something semi-predator, bit safer than the dwarf lion with clowns).

Dwarf lions are awesome, but they can eat fish equalling their own size. (Ask me how I know!)

Or you can just forget the clowns and dwarf angels and go straight for this!

https://www.liveaquaria.com/divers-den/product/501604/super-aberrant-undulated-triggerfish
(Definitely joking!)

ScottR · Apr 10, 2020

Harlequin tusk is always a showstopper.

Hemmdog · Apr 10, 2020

For a fowlr I would look into:
sunset butterflyfish( Chaetodon pelewensis)

Or a pearlscale butterflyfish(Chaetodon xanthurus)

I’ve always liked butterflyfish, it’s a shame they aren’t reef safe.

Hugh Mann · Apr 10, 2020

Marine Betta, all the way. A beautiful fish.
Here's mine, and my Hawk. Which I should add both seem to be pretty hardy fish, both survived the first stage of a velvet outbreak that nuked half my livestock.

After that, Harlequin Tusk, Flame Hawkfish, eels, Blue Throat Trigger.

josvanmeer · Apr 10, 2020

you could get a pair of longfin clowns, they are stunning!

DirectCherry · Apr 10, 2020

Look up a Christmas Wrasse

nereefpat · Apr 10, 2020

Flame wrasse is on sale at LA for under 200. Too rich for me, but you said under 200.

Daniel@R2R · Apr 10, 2020

I'm a huge fan of wrasses myself. Lots of options that could work as a show fish.

madreefer11 · Apr 10, 2020

Clarion Angel.

Angel_Anthias lover · Apr 10, 2020

Band tail waspfish, small predatory fish, only get to 2.5 inches, quite unique, will only be able to eat small goby type fish
Leopard toby puffers
Ostracion solorensis

Brittmcoleman · Apr 10, 2020

Angel_Anthias lover said:
Band tail waspfish, small predatory fish, only get to 2.5 inches, quite unique, will only be able to eat small goby type fish
Leopard toby puffers
Ostracion solorensis

They look pretty awesome. I need to research it. Thank you for the suggestion.

nereefpat · Apr 10, 2020

Jonathan Iu said:
Clarion Angel.

75 gallon

lion king · Apr 11, 2020

Brittmcoleman said:
They look pretty awesome. I need to research it. Thank you for the suggestion.

I just did a write up on the red bandtail waspfish

Paracentropogon zonatus 1st impressions

aka pygmy red rooster waspfish, red bandtail waspfish. I know I said I was finished with new additions, these had been on my list for a couple of years and this trio was at a lfs, so i picked them up. I have seen questions regarding these guys from time to time, and frustratingly no one ever...

www.reef2reef.com