It was a bloodbath when I tried to add a firefish to my Nuvo 20 with a orchid dottyback in it. So each fish is different ... But their rap is not good for similar colored and shaped fish. May be different if the dottyback is being added. Royal Gramma or its kin is a better choice IMHO.
Need a small hardy fish.
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Both get too big for a 55, in my opinion.
There are some smaller cousins, like the flameback that would work.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
A 55g is a 4' tank so any of the dwarf angels will work, especially since you don't have coral.
Smaller Chrysiptera damsels, such as the azure, talbots, rolland, and springeri are all well behaved damsels.
A royal gramma or orchid dottyback should work. A group of zebra or scissortail dartfish would be fine. A fang blenny of the genus Meiacanthus should be good too.
How long do new fish last when added? Do you qt? It is possible that there is a parasite that your current fish are resistant to, but new fish aren't.
Smaller Chrysiptera damsels, such as the azure, talbots, rolland, and springeri are all well behaved damsels.
A royal gramma or orchid dottyback should work. A group of zebra or scissortail dartfish would be fine. A fang blenny of the genus Meiacanthus should be good too.
How long do new fish last when added? Do you qt? It is possible that there is a parasite that your current fish are resistant to, but new fish aren't.
Rcpilot
Addicted to LPS
The occelaris clown you have is in the damsel family. That's more than likely the aggressive fish in the tank.
I'll never have another clown. Might as well have a damsel. Same maladjusted attitude and demeanor as a damsel.
I'll never have another clown. Might as well have a damsel. Same maladjusted attitude and demeanor as a damsel.
Yes
Yes I QT. They last a couple of months. The last two were potters angel which I know is more difficult. My tank has gone fallow before I started QT so I’m hoping it isn’t a parasite. I’m going to try more of a beginner fish next time.
Yes I QT. They last a couple of months. The last two were potters angel which I know is more difficult. My tank has gone fallow before I started QT so I’m hoping it isn’t a parasite. I’m going to try more of a beginner fish next time.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
What other fish were lost besides the potter's?
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
What kind?
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Just to chime in. I definitely wouldn't put any kind of a trigger fish in a 55 gallon and the idea that somehow a Flame Angel would be okay but a Coral Beauty wouldn't be is just plain silly. The Coral Beauty is actually a better choice in this particular case since they are one of the cheapest and hardiest of the dwarf angels. I would attempt to source one from Fiji if possible (collection methods are better). Just my opinion but they also tend to be less aggressive than the Flame Angel. I agree with some of the other comments here about the Clownfish being a problem. One of the biggest lies told in the hobby is that Ocellaris Clownfish are Peaceful when there are many examples that show them as being semi-aggressive/territorial to some degree, especially once they get established. I had a snowflake occ that wasn't 2 inches long that went after everything in my tank when I first added it and I know for a fact it attacked my scissortail dartfish repeatedly and contributed to it's death as well as the purple firefish. The Royal Gramma should be able to hold it's own against an aggressive fish and it's low cost makes it a solid option. Another option is a Melanurus Wrasse. They are generally peaceful fish but WILL NOT put up with being pushed around. My Clownfish attempted to push around my young Melanurus and found out exactly how bad of an idea that was. The Melanurus took it for a while and then decided the little brat needed to be taught a lesson and spent the next 36 hours attacking the clownfish mercilessly (I even saw it bite the clown by the tail and shake it like a ragdoll). After 36 hours it backed off, only giving the clown a little reminder nip every now and then to keep it in check. The clownfish never dared to chase or bite it after that. My Melanurus also put up with some new guy "pecking order" garbage from my Yellow Tang and Coral Beauty, it didn't care that both fish were technically larger than it and took both of them on (even going after the Yellow Tang's tail scalpel and all). Despite the aggression from my butthead of a Yellow Tang he NEVER attempted to bite or hit my Melanurus with it's tail scalpel as he knew there was a good chance it wouldn't end well. Add in the Melanurus Wrasses color, personality, level of activity, generally hardy nature and low cost and it makes them a pretty decent choice for that tank. Be aware though that they do require a sand bed to sleep in and they can periodically pick off snails, hermit crabs and ornamental shrimp.
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eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
The coral beauty would be able to hold it's own as well.
Resplendent anthias do better in groups, so only having 2 and losing them wouldn't be extraordinarily unusual.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
They can, just ramp up Cu levels slower than directions state.
That's fine too. Any of the Centropyge species are.
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Yup, the only fish that pushed my CB around was a Yellow Tang twice it's size. The Red Stripe or any Centropyge will work, there are several varieties in the $35 or under range that would fit the bill for you:
Coral Beauty
Rusty Dwarf Angel
Yellow Tail Pygmy (although these can be quite assertive)
Half Black
Yellow Angelfish (not to be confused with the Lemon Peel)
Bicolor (harder to care for)
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