odd/rare predators

cody hendrix · Mar 8, 2018

I am looking to put a list of cool predator fish together that are not so common. I am in the processes of getting everything together for a 540 8-3-3 tank with a 200 gallon sump. I am going to do a few different types of lions, Harlequin tusk and zebra eel and marine betta. I am pretty sure I am going to stay away from triggers and puffers as everything I have read is its 50/50 on with they will kill lions.

Much appricated

sfin52 · Mar 8, 2018

My blue throat killed two lions. :mad:;Rage;Punch Happened before I knew what was going on. ;Facepalm

A saddle back grouper.

eatbreakfast · Mar 9, 2018

Liopropoma fasciatum or L. eukrines. They are each a 10" basslet that are exceptionally beautiful.

Red sea soapfish is cool too.

Kmsutows · Mar 9, 2018

There are several groupers that are really beautiful and rhinopias are really cool, although I know nothing about them.

andrewkw · Mar 9, 2018

How about a blue devil? I have no experience with the them and have only seen them twice in person but think they are beautiful.

cody hendrix · Mar 10, 2018

andrewkw said:
How about a blue devil? I have no experience with the them and have only seen them twice in person but think they are beautiful.

I just looked into them they are stunning. I am looking into finding one for sale now.

cody hendrix · Mar 10, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
Liopropoma fasciatum or L. eukrines. They are each a 10" basslet that are exceptionally beautiful.

Red sea soapfish is cool too.

I just looked both of them up and everything i saw was they are 6 inch max.

lmm1967 · Mar 15, 2018

I have an oyster toadfish that came to me as a hitch-hiker on some TBS rock - he is now between 6 - 8" and in a tank dedicated to himself.

I'm pretty sure he would attempt to eat anything he can even remotely think about fitting into his mouth. He is fascinating though.

Joe Rogers · Mar 15, 2018

I think you should make some PVC tunnels beneath the rocks and get a Peacock Mantis shrimp. They're too small to mess with your predator fish, but are a blast to watch. Putting crabs into my Mantis tank is always a blast. Would be a nice little sideshow to all the predators in your tank.

Daniel@R2R · Mar 15, 2018

Cool idea! What kind of lions are you planning? I do think a couple of different eels would be cool!

Gyerfat · Mar 15, 2018

Not a fish but I love my giant hermits

cody hendrix · Mar 16, 2018

mdbannister said:
Cool idea! What kind of lions are you planning? I do think a couple of different eels would be cool!

Well i'm in FL so I cant import any. I have been scuba diving since I was a little kid so the plan is to catch my own off the coast. Hopefully I can find more then just Volition.

I do plan on a zebra but I want to stay away from the piscavore eels as I don't want to come home missing hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of fish. From what I have seen and heard its not if they will kill and eat other fish its when. Any eels in particular that are more fish safe that you know of?

cody hendrix · Mar 16, 2018

Joe Rogers said:
I think you should make some PVC tunnels beneath the rocks and get a Peacock Mantis shrimp. They're too small to mess with your predator fish, but are a blast to watch. Putting crabs into my Mantis tank is always a blast. Would be a nice little sideshow to all the predators in your tank.

As far as the mantis goes wouldn't the tusk eat it once the tusk got to around 8 or so inches?

Honestly I don't know much about them. How big do they get?

Joe Rogers · Mar 19, 2018

cody hendrix said:
As far as the mantis goes wouldn't the tusk eat it once the tusk got to around 8 or so inches?

Honestly I don't know much about them. How big do they get?

That's a great point, I am actually not sure if the tusk would just eat it. It sounds like it would...

FredsNJReef · Mar 22, 2018

Groupers
Anglers
Snappers
Look Downs??
Pilot Fish
Horned shark

cody hendrix · Mar 22, 2018

FredsNJReef said:
Groupers
Anglers
Snappers
Look Downs??
Pilot Fish
Horned shark

Can you recommend any snapper or goupers? Not the common ones though

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Mar 22, 2018

Passer's angel. If I had an aggressive tank, there for sure would be one in it. I also LOVE Thalassoma wrasse, so I'd probably have either a T. hebracium or quinquevittatum. Polleni groupers are also sweet. Toss a sohal tang in there and you have an amazing tank!

FredsNJReef · Mar 22, 2018

I had a thread fin snapper, it was glorious! There are other blue line types that look great.
Groupers, I had a V Tail and a miniatus. They are awesome, but there is a cool blue one, Cobalt grouper. Rare and $$$$$$.
Also, Louti grouper.

Kmsutows · Mar 22, 2018

If you are located in Jersey by chance my LFS has several really awesome groupers that I know you could get a great deal on.

I second threadfin snappers too!

FredsNJReef · Mar 22, 2018

which one? I'm up in North Jersey. Just curious which lfs in case I need to take a visit in the future hahaha

Kmsutows said:
If you are located in Jersey by chance my LFS has several really awesome groupers that I know you could get a great deal on.

I second threadfin snappers too!