Showpiece fish for 40 breeder

[kred47]

Hey quick question. Currently in my 40 breeder I have 2 ocellaris clowns, ymg/pistol pair and a purple firefish. I want a nice open water fish to add showpiece color and activity to the tank. I also want a blenny to help combat hair algae, and I really like their personality as well. Would a coral beauty and a lawnmower blenny work well in a 40 breeder to cap off my fish list? Any alternatives and suggestions are welcome. I was thinking about a flame angel but heard they can be a pain so I’ll stay off of that. But anything colorful/active would be great and then a good algae eating blenny. Thanks in advance

 

[Spare time]

Cherub pygmy angel

 

[MONTANTK]

Most dwarf angels would work if you’re open to the possibility of occasional nips at coral. There’s also a number of smaller wrasses you could do that look very cool. Leopards or a pink streak could work

 

[dedragon]

all dwarf angels are hit or miss, flame angel or otherwise, they do nip as montantk said

 

[MONTANTK]

all dwarf angels are hit or miss, flame angel or otherwise, they do nip as montantk said

Worth adding that with many of them, such as the flame, you can curb nipping if you keep them well fed

 

[jk_s124]

There are a few halichoeres wrasses that might do well in a 40. A yellow, christmas (halichoeres claudia), or melanarus would be great. They eat flat worms and some other pests as well.

 

[Spare time]

I love lawnmower blennies. They have the best personalities

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

High comb tooth blenny was my 36g bowfront show fish.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Dark colors bur kool. Tanks have lights on em anyways.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

But*

 

[kred47]

all dwarf angels are hit or miss, flame angel or otherwise, they do nip as montantk said

Ya I’m not too expeirenced with saltwater and I want to keep it as simple as possible. I heard the coral beauty is a lot more of a model citizen and I don’t want to have to try to troubleshoot the flame angel

 

[kred47]

I love lawnmower blennies. They have the best personalities

Awesome, ya I like the idea of a fish that works buts is also fun to watch, so looking forward to adding one. Maybe in a month or so when I feel the tank has stabilized a little more

 

[kred47]

There are a few halichoeres wrasses that might do well in a 40. A yellow, christmas (halichoeres claudia), or melanarus would be great. They eat flat worms and some other pests as well.

The melanaurus I heard would attack my shrimp though. And I’d be worried about him going after my tiger pistol or the cleaner. Probably going to stay away from wrasses because I’m not a big fan of fish that can be aggressive

 

[kred47]

Cherub pygmy angel

I was looking for one of these. I really like the coral beauty I just want to make sure the 40 breeder will be enough room for one

 

[TheWB]

Starcki Damsel. Excellent dwarf Angel alternative if you’re worried about nipping corals.

 

[adittam]

The melanaurus I heard would attack my shrimp though. And I’d be worried about him going after my tiger pistol or the cleaner. Probably going to stay away from wrasses because I’m not a big fan of fish that can be aggressive

Get a red-lined wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) instead. Stays a little smaller, much more peaceful, and invert-friendly. Still absolutely gorgeous though, and super active. Not all wrasses are aggressive by any means; many are perfect community fish. This species does require a sandbed to sleep in at night though.

if you’re insistent on a dwarf angel, you need to know that any type of dwarf angel can nip at corals. For every coral beauty owner who says theirs was a “model citizen” there is another whose coral beauty was great for months or years until it tried a bite of an LPS and then realized it tastes like candy to them. I’ve got a flame angel and it’s my favorite fish. Absolutely stunning, super active swimmer, and spunky little personality. So much so that I’ve decided that if it develops a taste for a certain type of coral, I just won’t get that type of coral anymore.

 

[Zionas]

Love Starcki Damsels. Almost look like a dwarf Angel. I’d vote either Starcki Damsel or a smaller Centropyge, unless you really love your corals.

 

[damsels are not mean]

small fairy/flasher wrasee maybe

 

[Zionas]

C. Lubbocki isn’t too expensive.

 

[mdowney]

Check out the Naoko’s Wrasse. They fly around the tank and have great personalities. Beautiful coloring. I call my ”Turbo” because he has racing stripes.