Predator fish for 40g or less?

reptileguy112 · Feb 3, 2015

I currently have a 40g reef tank with live rock, corals, a snowflake eel, and the cleaning crew (temporary 'cuz they get eaten). I have a fascination with predator tanks, I used to do flowerhorn and south american cichlid tanks and would like to try to pull of a 40g reed predator tank. I will be upgrading somewhere around 55-70 gallons but I am not sure when. I am interested in anglers, wrasses, eels, sharks, octopuses, mini rays, everything in between and would like to know what I can fit in this tank. If you know some types that can fit in my tank or better yet you have a 40g or under predator tank I would love to here your 2 cents, thank you! (I am not a million air so plz try to keep the fish under $50!)

Reefing Madness · Feb 3, 2015

Leaf Fish
Flame Hawkfish
BloodRed Hawkfish
Arc Eye Hawkfish
Falco Hawkfish
Longnose Hawkfish
Red Hawkfish

reptileguy112 · Feb 3, 2015

I think I saw a leaf fish at the lfs but it was labeled as an angler. I like the type of fish that kinda look scary like a vampire tetra.

tyler1503 · Feb 4, 2015

Dwarf lions could be pulled of in a 40 gal. Fuzzys are really cool

you would have to keep a close eye on nutrient levels though.
I have/had a 24 gal predator tank and had a snowflake eel and a valentini puffer in it. The puffer died recently so now there's just the eel and a yellow tail blue devil damsel. Valentinis are my favourite fish and I'll probably never own another tank without one. I highly recommend them!
Hawkfish as RM suggested have awesome personalities too!
Also some of the smaller scorpionfish could do well in a 40

reptileguy112 · Feb 5, 2015

Can I have a fuzzy pair or just one in a 40? I would love to also add and angler or scorpionfish. If there is any type if mini ray or shark that could fit that would probably fish up the list unless I get a wrasse instead.

tyler1503 · Feb 5, 2015

I would personally only do one fuzzy dwarf in a 40. Any more than one along side the eel could put too much strain on your filtration system.
What is your filtration system by the way? Most predator tanks need excessive filtration to cope with the bioload.
Sharks and rays need huge tanks unfortunately. Even the smallest species should have 200+ gallons with a lot of swimming room.
Scorpions could do well in a tank with the snowflake

Anglers really need a species only tank. Unfortunately they can (and will) eat a fish up to twice their size or die trying. Whatever is too big to eat will likely eat the angler, or pick at the lure to the point of stressing the angler to death.
Predator tanks are the most difficult to stock in my opinion, but definitely the most fun!
If your into the more ambush predator type of fish, I would personally stick with scorpions, lions, and eels with maybe a puffer for some activity and colour.
Perhaps rayn could jump in with some scorpion suggestions

reptileguy112 · Feb 5, 2015

Thanks for the advice, defiantly changes my options. I currently have 3 HOB filters but they are going to be replaced with a 20g sump any day now. I am not sure about the gph but I am aiming for 400-500. I have one powerhead and I am about to add one or two more. I have a pretty large pump that is 900 gph or so (I am estimating and will measure the gph when I get the correct tubing) with a split valve that I can use as 2 powerheads for the tank or just a really strong return pump.

tyler1503 · Feb 5, 2015

Sounds like your off to a good start

Keep us posted!

Tahoe61 · Feb 5, 2015

You're going to need a bigger tank.

rayn · Feb 5, 2015

Your eel is going to out grow your 40 for sure, but doable for a while if you got s small one.

A pair of fuzzies will work, but you will need to keep up on water quality. They are messy guys.

Leaf fish are cool fish, but very tricky to get weaned onto frozen food. I had three at one and only got one to convert, the other were net fed. A cockatoo is a great bottom dweller and resembles a leaf fish a lot. You are a bit limited on scorps do to size, but if a upgrade is coming a Inimicus is cool. There are a few that stay smaller, I will work on searching a few out for you.

Are you looking for swimming preds or more the scorp realm?

reptileguy112 · Feb 5, 2015

^{A little of both actually, when I clear a space I want at least a 70g. I will check a couple lfs for some of these fish and maybe some unlisted ones. I really want a sea hare but it would probably die in my tank because I don't have a bunch of algae.}

LetItReef · Feb 5, 2015

Fu manchu lionfish.

rayn · Feb 5, 2015

Fu are awesome, but sometimes tricky to get to live.

Sea ghoul, or Choridactylus multibarbus. An amazing ground dwelling scorp. Tricky to get eating, but doable. The colors some of these have are amazing.