Purple fish suggestions?

[AmaleeC]

Hello! I’m thinking of adding a purple fish to my aggressive tank. At the moment I have a 75g tank with a DIY 20g sump, and the following are the inhabitants:

• Lawnmower Blenny
• Maroon Clown
• Melanarus Wrasse
• Yellow Coris Wrasse
• (1m, 1f) lyretail anthias
• Neon Dottyback
• Firefish
• Green Clown Goby
• Blue Damsel

I may have too much in the tank as is, and I may not be able to add any extra fish - if that’s the case please let me know. But I’d like to add a little bit of purple to my tank if it’s an option.

I wished that dottybacks got along with others of their species, the neon is really cool when he’s zooming in and out of the rockwork. But after some research, that doesn’t seem to be an option.. I’m thinking a Royal Gramma could work, but I don’t know how he’d do if the others start picking on him. Thoughts?

 

[Smarkow]

Have been sooooo happy with my purple tang purchase over the years. Great coloration and always picking at algae

 

[AmaleeC]

Have been sooooo happy with my purple tang purchase over the years. Great coloration and always picking at algae

While that is an awesome idea, my 75 may be a little crowded for the poor guy

 

[Smarkow]

Better pic

 

[AmaleeC]

Better pic

Very nice!

 

[hllb]

My royal gramma is the bully of my tank.

 

[AmaleeC]

My royal gramma is the bully of my tank.

Really? I’m surprised. I noticed my Melanarus is the one who runs the show. The clownfish tries to keep her away from the overflow and she does not care at all. Shes the fastest, she eats the most, and she steals from corals. But boy do I love her. ;Hilarious

 

[t5Nitro]

I was looking at possibly adding 2 or 3 anthias to my tank, also a 75. Do you have a lid on yours? I've read they need multiple feedings daily. Will they eat pellets?

 

[Cherub]

what about those purple firefish?

 

[hllb]

Really? I’m surprised. I noticed my Melanarus is the one who runs the show. The clownfish tries to keep her away from the overflow and she does not care at all. Shes the fastest, she eats the most, and she steals from corals. But boy do I love her. ;Hilarious

It may be unusual, but he is the biggest in my tank. He was also the second in my tank so he's been in it almost the longest. Other inhabitants are an oscellaris clown (small guy, first fish in), a green clown goby (no one bothers that little guy), a midas blenny (my gramma HATES him....), and a line spot flasher wrasse (last fish in, gets picked on a little bit, but sticks up for himself too).

 

[ca1ore]

Purple tang never really seemed purple to me .... more like a dusky blue color. On the magenta end, how about a purple tilefish? Had one a while back .... awesome fish. Bit messy I suppose.

 

[AmaleeC]

I was looking at possibly adding 2 or 3 anthias to my tank, also a 75. Do you have a lid on yours? I've read they need multiple feedings daily. Will they eat pellets?

I got my anthias from another reefer who was moving so I got my male and female for $50. I love them! They’re very active and they don’t bother anyone. I usually feed all of my fish once a day, they’re still all very healthy and active. My anthias are kinda pigs lol they eat mysis, brine, pellets, and occasionally they’ll nibble on some nori. But my lawnmower blenny always waves them away Every other day I put nori in the tank for him. Feeding twice a day is really only done as a treat for everyone. And yes, I do have a lid. It is made of glass but I have yet to see them jump. All in all, I highly recommend them!

 

[AmaleeC]

what about those purple firefish?

I considered them! But they’re not too purple, and I’m also kinda nervous that the firefish in the tank may not get along with a purple one. It seems to work most of the time, but I don’t really want to risk it. Awesome suggestion though! Thank you

It may be unusual, but he is the biggest in my tank. He was also the second in my tank so he's been in it almost the longest. Other inhabitants are an oscellaris clown (small guy, first fish in), a green clown goby (no one bothers that little guy), a midas blenny (my gramma HATES him....), and a line spot flasher wrasse (last fish in, gets picked on a little bit, but sticks up for himself too).

Wow! I’m surprised he doesn’t like the blenny! I’d like to see any of my fishes try to take on my lawnmower blenny lol he will definitely give them a taste of their own medicine. He’s relatively calm until they take his food before he’s ate or they’re bothering him. Btw I’m officially obsessed with wrasse’s! Enjoy your line spot, it sounds like a beautiful variety in there

Purple tang never really seemed purple to me .... more like a dusky blue color. On the magenta end, how about a purple tilefish? Had one a while back .... awesome fish. Bit messy I suppose.

I agree on the purple tang not being too purple, still a nice fish regardless! I’ll have to look into a purple tilefish, I’ve never heard of that. Thank you for the suggestion! Would the tilefish get along with fish who have similar body shapes such as the firefish?

 

[Olemiss]

In my experience with neon dotty back haven’t been the greatest. I had to remove him from my tank after he ended up beating up my coral beauty within minutes of placing him in the tank.

 

[zoomonster]

My goto purple fish is and always has been a purple pseudo. Don't think I ever had a tank without one. Yeah I have a purple tang also but more blue than purple.

 

[AmaleeC]

In my experience with neon dotty back haven’t been the greatest. I had to remove him from my tank after he ended up beating up my coral beauty within minutes of placing him in the tank. Go with a purple tang!

Yeah, not going to lie, he does make me a little nervous so I’ve been monitoring him extra closely. At the moment, he’s an itty bitty guy and all of my other fish are bigger and can hold their ground. Funny thing, my damsel (who never fights anyone) put him in his place right away after the neon tried making my damsels spot “home”. Luckily, I have lots of rockwork for everyone and the neon just picked somewhere else. I’d hate to keep the tang in too small of a space, I know they need lots of room to swim around and the tank can get kinda crowded for hyperactive guys like them.

 

[AmaleeC]

My goto purple fish is and always has been a purple pseudo. Don't think I ever had a tank without one. Yeah I have a purple tang also but more blue than purple.

Thank you for your suggestion! Unfortunately, I don’t think my neon dotty back and a purple dottyback would get along very well.

 

[ApoIsland]

While that is an awesome idea, my 75 may be a little crowded for the poor guy

75 is plenty of room for a couple 3-5" tangs. I kept a yellow and a blue in a 55 for a couple years with no issues. Just don't over feed and they won't grow too fast. Unless your lawnmower is eating prepared foods though he will not make it with all the algae the tang will eat.

 

[AmaleeC]

75 is plenty of room for a couple 3-5" tangs. I kept a yellow and a blue in a 55 for a couple years with no issues. Just don't over feed and they won't grow too fast. Unless your lawnmower is eating prepared foods though he will not make it with all the algae the tang will eat.

Yeah. I can’t get the lawnmower to eat anything but the nori unless I absolutely starve him. In the past, he nearly starved to death until I learned that they’ll eat nori in addition to GHA.

 

[ApoIsland]

Yeah. I can’t get the lawnmower to eat anything but the nori unless I absolutely starve him. In the past, he nearly starved to death until I learned that they’ll eat nori in addition to GHA.

Sounds like you should only get a tang if you are prepared to get rid of the lawnmower. The tang will be much quicker andget most of the nori you try to feed the lawnmower,also causing the tang to grow unnecessarily fast. Bad combo there.