Opinions/Questions on a few fish...

[SourAngelfish]

First question: what is everyone’s opinion on cowfish in reef tanks, specifically thornback cowfish?
Second question: What reef safe butterflies will live in a 55g?
Third Question: any other cool fish sutiable for a 55g?
Fourth Question: I’ve read a couple of books saying that soldier fish can stay in a 55g, is this true?
Fifth Question: Why am I asking so many questions...?

 

[hijinks7]

cowfish generally don't live long in aquariums. I'd stay away from them. They are interesting fish. My big issue with them is they can kill a whole tank by releasing a toxin when threatened.

You need a 120g min tank for a butterfly fish. Please don't put one in a 55g

There are lots.. Clown fish, gobies, blennies, cardinal fish. Check out http://www.liveaquaria.com they give pretty good advice to min tank size needed. You don't need to buy there but it will help you with stocking a 55g.

soldier fish do better around 75g but you might be able to pull it off if you keep your fish stock low and it doesn't seem stressed out as it grows.

 

[Maritimer]

Cowfish aren't really suitable for a 55, either. If you've got your heart set on a plectognath, maybe take a look at a toby puffer or one of the smaller filefish.

Will this be a FOWLR or a reef?

Suggest that if you do bring home a soldierfish, _never_ pick it up in your hands. Once caught a closely related squirrelfish off Key West. Hand and fingers badly sliced just unhooking it and placing it into a bucket. Those scales are razor-blades . . .

In addition to the fish Hijinks7 suggested, take a look at creatures like royal grammas and assessors, smaller fairy wrasses and almost any flasher wrasse . . .

~Bruce

 

[MSB123]

First question: what is everyone’s opinion on cowfish in reef tanks, specifically thornback cowfish?
Second question: What reef safe butterflies will live in a 55g?
Third Question: any other cool fish sutiable for a 55g?
Fourth Question: I’ve read a couple of books saying that soldier fish can stay in a 55g, is this true?
Fifth Question: Why am I asking so many questions...?

I have a cowfish in my 150, and he is about 2" long. He swims back and forth all day t the mid to top of the tank He is my family's favorite fish and I think he will be the reason I will be able to upgrade

 

[ewcc1993]

Midas Blenny is the best choice

 

[lolmatt]

Most wrasses in the genus halichoeres are suitable for a 55g and are a great fish, picking at the rocks all day. Notable exceptions are H. annularis, H. chloropterus, and H. hortulanus - these all get too large for a 55g IMO, though there are others that can get large as well. Mostly reef safe, but they can pick on small inverts especially shrimp. +1 to the midas blenny suggestion. A blue spotted puffer would be a pretty cool fish for a 55g, too, depending on corals (they can nip). I also really like Longnose (or other) hawkfish and leopard wrasses, both of which would be good in a tank that size. Good luck!

 

[eatbreakfast]

With the right tankmates a thornback cowfish can work well in a 55g. They stay smaller than other cowfish species and once they reach 4" their growth really slows down.

They need to be fed heavily, as it is difficult to tell of they are getting enough to eat, and they are easily outcompeted for food.

Cowfish also can get stuck to pump intakes and overflow teeth, so care needs to be exercised regarding flow.

Cowfish will also nip at corals, so are better kept with leathers and mushrooms.

I have dealt with quite a few cowfish and boxfish, and I have only seen one release it's toxin, and that was while transporting one after Hurricane Sandy.

In a 55g I would advise against a butterfly.

Slower, peaceful tankmates that would go well with a cowfish in a 55g include: a royal gramma, firefish, flame or longnose hawkfish, possum wrasse, sunburst anthias.

 

[SourAngelfish]

Here’s what I was thinking for the stock...

Thornback cowfish
3 zebra dart fish
Green Coris wrasse
Female lyretail anthias
Violet Soldierfish

Are there any small rabbit fish..? I work at an lfs so I am able to check if most of these fish are healthy and eating well so it wouldn’t be to hard to get some of the more finicky fish to eat cause I have pretty much every food available there. I’m not sure on whether this is going to be reef or Fowlr yet cause I have an angel right now that I really like (he’s in a smaller tank) but from what I’ve seen he nips most corals, we plan on trying some mushrooms, leathers, and hammer corals with him though cause he seems to only nip small polyps. So it really depends on the angel and I would really like the thornback cowfish...

 

[lolmatt]

Here’s what I was thinking for the stock...

Thornback cowfish
3 zebra dart fish
Green Coris wrasse
Female lyretail anthias
Violet Soldierfish

Are there any small rabbit fish..? I work at an lfs so I am able to check if most of these fish are healthy and eating well so it wouldn’t be to hard to get some of the more finicky fish to eat cause I have pretty much every food available there. I’m not sure on whether this is going to be reef or Fowlr yet cause I have an angel right now that I really like (he’s in a smaller tank) but from what I’ve seen he nips most corals, we plan on trying some mushrooms, leathers, and hammer corals with him though cause he seems to only nip small polyps. So it really depends on the angel and I would really like the thornback cowfish...

Green coris wrasses, H. chloropterus, actually get pretty big and turn a mostly grey color once they go male. I'd consider it only for larger tanks. Try a Christmas, yellow, or melanurus instead imo.

You COULD try a one spot foxface but I think that's pushing it for a 55g.

 

[SourAngelfish]

I also forgot to mention that this tank is getting a 40 gallon sump, so Bioload isn’t the main problem it’s really just territory for all the fish...

 

[eatbreakfast]

Green coris wrasse and soldierfish are not good tankmates with a cowfish.

Foxfaces and rabbitfish are too big for a 55g.

 

[lolmatt]

Green coris wrasse and soldierfish are not good tankmates with a cowfish.

Foxfaces and rabbitfish are too big for a 55g.

A more peaceful wrasse like a yellow would be best if you go that route. No experience with the soldierfish. If you want a fish with that long snout like a rabbitfish try a longnose hawkfish.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Most wrasses will outcompete a cowfish for food.

 

[SourAngelfish]

Maybe a smaller fairy/possum wrasse? What’s the problem with the soldier fish, will it outcompete the cow for food? Or is it something else? Would a Pygmy angel work with the cowfish?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Soldierfish get big and outcompete for food. Fairy wrasses are too fast and can outcompete for food.

 

[SourAngelfish]

Would a copperband or long nose butterfly be sutiable? What if the cowfish was target fed?

 

[eatbreakfast]

A copperband or longnose butterfly would be a better tankmate, just they need a tank bigger than 55g.

Even if target fed a cowfish needs to have tankmates selected around it's needs.

 

[SourAngelfish]

Okay, do you have any ideas for more sutiable tank mates?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Sunburst anthias
Yellow assessor
Stigmatura blenny
Grammistes blenny
Swales basslet
Possum wrasse
Hectori goby
Orangetail filefish

 

[SourAngelfish]

I like a lot of those, would the sunburst anthias do better than the lyretail? Also can I keep different types of blenny together?