My first fish

Thefaithful

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Hello all, I am brand new to the hobby and looking for some advice on adding my first fish to my 75g saltwater tank. I was thinking a pair of clowns but I kinda wanted to wait and add those with a nem way on down the road. I was looking into the one-spot foxface, from what I have read they are a hardy fish with a voracious appetite for nuisance algae and I figured my first fish should help me keep it clean! What are your thoughts? Any ideas for a first fish? Anything helps and thank you in advance.
 
Hello and welcome!!!! You are going to get a lot of ideas on this one so here's mine ;)

Stocking is always fun and can be a bit tricky. All fish have a pecking order if you will. So some fish people like to add first or last or in pairs or groups or alone lol

It really comes down to have you researched the fish that catch your eye and see what they need and how aggressive they are.

Clowns for instance are really fun fish for some and others hate the fish and won't ever put them in a tank again. They are part of the damsel species so that goes for any damsel as well. Some are more aggresive than others so adding them to an established tank with fish in it already sometimes will lower their aggression because they aren't already defending territory. And most nems aren't a natural host for clowns. The bubble tip which is the most popular is actually not their preferred or vise verca I'm not sure who really picks haha. I got 2 clowns with a RBTA and the clowns had nothing to do with it and now my domino damsels host the RBTA hahahaha but it's just as fun to watch and come to find out the domino actually prefers the BTA. So life figured itself out kinda lol

This goes for all species. Tangs for instance have a reputation for being aggressive towards the same looking tang. So if you already have a yellow tang in your tank and 6 months later you add another, the chances are the established tang will Bully the new tang to death(not in all cases) But if you put a kole tang in after the yellow it seems the yellow doesnt mind it as much. However if you have a big enough tank and you add 3 yellow juvenile tangs at the same time they most likely will grow together and find their own spots and their is less likely room for aggressive behavior.(not in all cases)

This is all just an example and does not happen like that in every case.

People have successfully added different fish at different times. The important part is you research the fish and give them the best chance to thrive not just survive.

The foxface you ask about is a great little fish! Some think a 75 is too small for them. As do some think a yellow tang is also too small for your tank. Just make sure you do the research and if you do get a fish that MIGHT or MIGHT NOT fit in your tank, do what you can with your aqua scape to make it as comfortable as possible.
75 is that middle tank where a lot of fish will fit but a lot still just cant :(

Also setting up a quarantine tank is a really good idea! Just get a small 10/20g form petco on their dollar sale and a little HOB filter with a little heater. It's a pain to start because you can't just out your fish in your tank but if you start it now it will save you SOOOO much trouble down the road. There are many methods people use. Just try not to bring bad stuff into your tank like ich or velvet.

Good luck and post pics when you can!!
 
Just a quick short answer, but I would go with something cheap and easy for your first fish. Clowns or chromis etc. I hate to use the term "guinea pig," but if you get the fish and things go south, you're only a couple dollars invested in the livestock. Do a sort of trial run to make sure everything is good, then get into some fancier fish.
 
I started my tank about two months ago. First two fish were snowflake clowns. Simply fun to watch.

Completely agree with Merkey that a quarantine tank is a must have. As you add fish you don’t want a new one to infect the other fish you have. It also gives the new fish a place to acclimate.
 
Welcome to R2R! You can learn so much on this forum . Very addictive .. yes .. just go slowly and you will be fine ..
I know, patients. That’s what I keep telling myself. Don’t rush into anything. This can be an expensive hobby and I want to make as few mistakes as possible!
 
I would start with clowns. The nem can come later. Clowns are beautiful and easy to keep. Ocellaris are usually the least aggressive.
 
We have a 75g also and we started with a watchman goby/pistol shrimp pair. It was really neat watching them get to know each other and working together. Their symbiotic relationship is pretty awesome! Clowns went in next after their QT. It worked great for us!
 
If you really like the foxface, it might work for you. I have a 65g and passed on the one-spot bc I felt he'd be crowded.
If it's just the algae consumption you're looking for, you can't go wrong with a lawnmower blenny. $20 and he's a real crowd-pleaser. One of the most fun fish to watch.
 
With a new tank, I would wait a few months before adding an anemone, otherwise it likely won't survive. If you decide on clowns, they'll be perfectly fine without one. They are fickle anyway -- they may or may not take to it.

I got lucky. I added my first BTA after about 4 months, and my female clown went absolutely berserk over it. She squatted on it constantly, sucked on the tentacles, and wouldn't let the male near it. Eventually she learned to share and they both give it plenty of loving now.

Before I added the nem, they slept on a powerhead. They'll find a solution.

IMG_20190608_183151543.jpg
 
I posted this in your other thread, so here it is her as well

One spot fox face may be ok in a 75g tank for year or 2 if it is really small when you get it, but once it grows that tank will be too small for it. I know you said you wanted to get clown later, as you want to get them with a nem, but that wont guarantee that nem will host those clowns. I would get them now myself.

Also look into blue green chromis, gobies and dotties for more choices.

Oh, and post pics, we all love pics :)
 

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