New Tankmate Ideas? McKosker Wrasse?

[jshaw1980]

Hi everyone,
I've been considering adding one more fish to my Biocube 29. I currently have 2 clowns, a spotted mandarin, and a yellow watchman goby. I want an active, colorful, coral-safe fish that will swim more in the upper portion of the tank. I really like the McKosker Wrasse, would this be a good candidate? I've also considered a dwarf angel but was informed by my LFS that I would eventually have to move the angel to a larger tank. I don't plan and getting a larger tank any time soon so that option was pretty much thrown out the window. Any input or other suggestions for a new tankmate?

 

[mikellini]

My suggestion would be a Halichoeres chrysus (canary wrasse/yellow 'coris' wrasse). Very active, beautiful, controls pests and protects corals and clams. And swims throughout the water column and rock work.

 

[jshaw1980]

@mikellini - Sound great except the color is identically to my yellow watchman, I want a different color variation from what I already have in my Biocube29. Thanks for the input tho!!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Most wrasses are too active to do well in a 29biocube, just not enough swimming space. The wrasses that will do well in that size are a bit more cryptic.

Active colorful options would include assessors, royal gramma or a fang blenny.

 

[mikellini]

Royal Gramma's are nice, but mine weren't all that active.

Banggai Cardinalfish might be an option too, always in the upper water column

 

[jshaw1980]

@eatbreakfast - The fang blenny is the only fish that sounded good until I read, "Forktail Blenny is considered venomous and should be kept only with caution around children having tank access since it may perceive fingers as an attacker and deliver a similarly painful bite." on liveaquaria.com.. lol Those would be my fingers!!
The nice assessors that I saw (after a quick google search) are mostly the same color as my YWG, and royal gramma is just too typical, doesn't real appeal to me.
Thanks for the input tho!!

 

[jshaw1980]

@mikellini - Banggai Cardinalfish are kind of boring IMO, black/gray/white really doesn't do it for me.. I'm looking for more colorful fish to accent all my coral and other fish. Appreciate the input!

 

[Lynn52]

I have a mcKoskers wrasse. It does swim across the full length of my 6 foot tank. So I agree not a great choice for a small tank. How about a fire fish (or other of that type). Mine planted him self in the middle of my tank (side to side and top to bottom) and rarely leaves that area of the tank.

 

[4FordFamily]

Possum wrasse perhaps

 

[jshaw1980]

@3fordfamily - The possum wrasse is definitely very cool, I'm adding that the list! Thanks!!

 

[jshaw1980]

@Lynn52 - I'm not really into the fire fish either, IMO they come off as average general fish that you see in everyone reef tanks. Thanks tho! I just upgraded and I think I may need a larger tank already to keep me happy..haha

 

[jshaw1980]

What about a hawkfish? Would this compete w/ my mandarin's food source?

 

[jshaw1980]

@Lynn52 - I kind of jumped the gun on the firefish, I just did some research and they're are some really neat ones, I like the Helfrichi Firefish! +Add that to the list! Thanks again!!

 

[jshaw1980]

I like the Zebra Barred Dartfish too! Has anyone had one of these?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1636+150&pcatid=150

 

[jshaw1980]

How would a Cherub Pygmy Angelfish do in my tank?

 

[4FordFamily]

I

How would a Cherub Pygmy Angelfish do in my tank?

I have a Flameback Pygmy angel and I absolutely love him! He was my first Pygmy I have to admit that he has as much or more personality than my large a dwarf Angels (emperor, passer, Queen, blueface, rock beauty, Red Sea regal, potters, and 2 flames).

I've also had flame Hawks for years, my most recent one jumped out of the hospital tank . I had him for years. Anyway, I find that they draw little attention because they perch (don't move much). As such, our eyes wander to the fish and coral moving around the most. I've always kept mine in 180 gallon tanks so that may not be a fair comparison.

 

[4FordFamily]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+3043&pcatid=3043

Check divers den for these they have several post up every week

 

[eatbreakfast]

What about a hawkfish? Would this compete w/ my mandarin's food source?

A hawkfish will not compete with a mandarin for pods. Stick with a smaller species if you decide to go with the helfrich firefish.

I like the Zebra Barred Dartfish too! Has anyone had one of these?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1636+150&pcatid=150

Zebra dartfish are an excellent aquarium choice, hardu and peaceful. They do well singly or in groups. They are jumpers.

How would a Cherub Pygmy Angelfish do in my tank?

A pygmy angel would be fine, but may pick at the helfrich if you get one. I had a pygmy cherub that had a group of cardinals balled up in the middle of the tank as if it were a sheepdog and they were sheep.

 

[jshaw1980]

@eatbreakfast - Sounds great, thank you very much! A pygmy angel would ultimately be my first choice, do you think it would be ok in my Biocube 29 for its entire life? If not, what you you recommend between the helfrich, hawkfish, or zebra? Thanks again for all the info!!

 

[4FordFamily]

@eatbreakfast - Sounds great, thank you very much! A pygmy angel would ultimately be my first choice, do you think it would be ok in my Biocube 29 for its entire life? If not, what you you recommend between the helfrich, hawkfish, or zebra? Thanks again for all the info!!

I noticed today my Flameback Pygmy angel (supposed to be less aggressive than Pygmy cherub) bullying one of my flame angels a bit, I wonder about the cherub but I have no experience to draw from.