Looking for some new addition, recommendations!!

[tdowning]

Greetings friends of the R2R community! I'm getting ready to pick out my next batch of fishabitants and I'd like some recommendations!

My system is a 150 gallons about a year old and I currently am stocked with the following;

Blue Hippo
Desjardini Sailfin Tang
Bluejaw Trigger
Pair of Extreme Fury Clowns
Melanarus Wrasse
Red Flame Angel.

I also have a royal gramma that I'm going to bring down from my BioCube, brining the total to 8. With another 4 fish, that will bring me to 12, and we'll let that go for a bit before adding more. Here are some of my current thoughts;

Magnificent Foxface
Naso Tang
Another wrasse or two (not sure which type)
Butterfly fish (not sure which type)

Anyway, give me your thoughts and recommendations! I'm looking for some hardy fish that are a little easier to take care of! Thanks for your help and I look forward to your responses!!!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Naso gets too big for that tank.

Is it a reef? Most butterflies aren't reef safe, though pyramid or zoster are good choices.

If any wrasses are added be sure to use a social acclimation box.

 

[Paul B]

Copperband

 

[eatbreakfast]

Copperband

The op mentioned he is looking for hardy fish that are easier to take care of.

 

[Paul B]

I know, that's why I said Copperband.

 

[Webslinger]

Black worms are your friend with copperbands

 

[eatbreakfast]

I know, that's why I said Copperband.

So you think MOST people find copperbands hardy and easy?

 

[tdowning]

Naso gets too big for that tank.

Is it a reef? Most butterflies aren't reef safe, though pyramid or zoster are good choices.

If any wrasses are added be sure to use a social acclimation box.

Wow, I didn't know the Naso got too big for the 150. I now see that it's recommended for a 180G minimum tank. Looks like I need a bigger tank It is a reef tank...I was thinking the copper band too. I feel comfortable with doing extra work to take care of a little bit more complicated fish. I have an acclimation box, so no issue for the wrasse's. What other fish do you think I should look at?!?

 

[lake985]

What about a trio of anthias?

 

[Jesterrace]

I know, that's why I said Copperband.

I definitely wouldn't call Copperbands hardy. That's kind of like saying Leopard Wrasses are hardy shippers. A Pyramid or Longnose Yellow would both be better choices (although the longnose is less reef safe). I definitely agree with eatbreakfast on the acclimation with wrasses. An established Melanurus can be a downright terror to newly added wrasses. My Blue Star Leopard took a heck of a beating from my Melanurus for the first couple of weeks. Thankfully they have reached the point where they tolerate each other most of the time (although during feeding the Melanurus can still get pretty territorial).

 

[Paul B]

So you think MOST people find copperbands hardy and easy?

I don't know most people, but I don't have any problems with them and I have had been keeping them since the 70s. I think the problem people have with copperbands and some other fish that some people feel are a bit more challenging is because those types of fish don't do well in quarantine and thats where they start to have problems with disease and not eating. I don't quarantine them or anything else and I feed them what they eat in the sea which is worms. If you can't or don't want to feed the fish properly and give it the conditions it needs, it's not the fishes fault if it gets sick, it is ours.
Long nose butterflies have exactly the same requirements. I dove with long nose butterflies. Nice fish.

I see in my Log Book I had one in 1976. One of my favorite fish and they should live about 12 years or more.






Bora Bora, they have really long noses there.

 

[tdowning]

Well, here is what I ended up adding....well, currently in my QT. Super exquisite male fairy wrasse, mail sailfin fairy wrasse and an orange spot rabbitfish. I also moved my Royal Gramma down from my bio cube and will be soon decommissioning my biocube. Let the QT process begin and I can't wait to get the 3 new fish added to my tank!!!

 

[eatbreakfast]

...I think the problem people have with copperbands and some other fish that some people feel are a bit more challenging is because those types of fish don't do well in quarantine and thats where they start to have problems with disease and not eating.

Most of the failures that I am aware with this fish also occurred in non-quarantined specimens.

I don't quarantine them or anything else and I feed them what they eat in the sea which is worms. If you can't or don't want to feed the fish properly and give it the conditions it needs, it's not the fishes fault if it gets sick, it is ours.

Needing specific requirements to survive would take it out of the realm of "easy".

 

[Paul B]

Needing specific requirements to survive would take it out of the realm of "easy".

IMO the requirement is to "Not" quarantine them which would make them easier.
I can only go by my experiences with them and not what I read on the internet. I have had many of them over 45 years and you are correct, in the beginning, I had problems with them. But I used to quarantine them then and some fish like copperbands, moorish Idols, mandarins do not do well in quarantine and it stresses them to much leaving the fish in a weakened state where it refuses to eat.
I find many fish a problem like orange spot filefish, twin spot gobies, some clingfish species, some ribbon eels etc, but not copperbands. They either die of old age or more likely, jumping out.

I feel they are on par with the OP tangs.
But this is my opinion from my experience. Other people have different experiences and do things differently.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I find that only about half of copperbands eat frozen or prepared food.

 

[Paul B]

I find that only about half of copperbands eat frozen or prepared food.

A lot of people say that but since I stated running a natural tank many years ago, I have not had that problem with any fish that I could remember. But I don't remember much.

I almost always had one in my tank but they are skitish and do jump out which is how I normally lost them as I have no top on my tank.
If you don't quarantine them, they should eat unless they were collected with drugs which I think is how some of them come in.

 

[tdowning]

How did my question turn into a back and forth about coppebands and not get any recommendations based on my current stock list?

 

[Paul B]

OK, you are right. BANGAI CARDINAL

 

[nereefpat]

Longnosed or flame hawkfish...always one of those.