Pair? Trio? Quartet?

[AshCom]

Hey Reefers!

We've all seen online and in store pre-paired fish of related/coexisting species with Clowns, Shrimps & Gobies, and mating pairs being the most common. After traveling all over the US on business and visiting every LRS I come across, I’ve never really ventured into the online marketplace like all the hip kids are doing nowadays. The strange thing I keep finding is odd pairs of opposing species and even sets of threes being sold tandem! In 4 years of reefing I’ve never seen a trio in an LRS (I guess I’m sheltered)! So being a little too curious, I decided to throw a little $$ into seeing what a trio really entails!

After scoping the scene for a few weeks, I picked up a trio of Rainford’s Gobies (Court Jester) from Biota for a steal through LiveAquaria’s Divers Den. Planning on plopping the three into an established RT with a pair of clowns and some other peaceful fish. Now, I’ve never bought livestock from LiveAquaria (or online for that matter) and have heard some things, being they’re owned by Petco and all, but eh I’ll give it a shot.


Now with this trio on the way, anyone have any idea what I should be expecting?

What makes a trio any different than just buying 3 of the species?

Is it just a familiarity between the fish or is there an existing bond between them, similar to a bonded or mating pair?

Anyone have experience with LiveAquaria’s Divers Den and what should I be expecting?


Thanks!

 

[jefra]

Hey Reefers!

We've all seen online and in store pre-paired fish of related/coexisting species with Clowns, Shrimps & Gobies, and mating pairs being the most common. After traveling all over the US on business and visiting every LRS I come across, I’ve never really ventured into the online marketplace like all the hip kids are doing nowadays. The strange thing I keep finding is odd pairs of opposing species and even sets of threes being sold tandem! In 4 years of reefing I’ve never seen a trio in an LRS (I guess I’m sheltered)! So being a little too curious, I decided to throw a little $$ into seeing what a trio really entails!

After scoping the scene for a few weeks, I picked up a trio of Rainford’s Gobies (Court Jester) from Biota for a steal through LiveAquaria’s Divers Den. Planning on plopping the three into an established RT with a pair of clowns and some other peaceful fish. Now, I’ve never bought livestock from LiveAquaria (or online for that matter) and have heard some things, being they’re owned by Petco and all, but eh I’ll give it a shot.


Now with this trio on the way, anyone have any idea what I should be expecting?

What makes a trio any different than just buying 3 of the species?

Is it just a familiarity between the fish or is there an existing bond between them, similar to a bonded or mating pair?

Anyone have experience with LiveAquaria’s Divers Den and what should I be expecting?


Thanks!

I'm a big fan of LiveAquaria and Diver's Den in particular seems to have more quality offerings. I can't really offer much in regards to pairs, trios, etc., other than that you're probably just paying a premium for siblings. This may ensure they won't instantly kill each other, but aggression could still pose a problem later like we often see with clowns.

 

[alton]

I have a pair of golden angels from DD going on two years. Nothing but praise on this purchase

 

[eatbreakfast]

Some fish are offered as pairs and shouldn't be, such as wrasses, which don't form bonded prs.

Some fish are sold as trios, but form bonded prs, so two will pr up and kill the third. This occurs with sifter gobies, nein gobies, rainsford gobies, and bangaii cardinals.

However, there are fish that are sold as prs that are appropriate in prs, angels and butterflies are a good example. And there are successful trios as well, such Pteleotris dartfish, pj cardinals, and anthias.