stocking list for 40 breeder

william swann · Nov 9, 2020

so I upgraded from a 15 gal to a 40b with 15 gal refugium, no skimmer just a canister with bio media as my return pump, and I want to get suggestions for fish

(invert and coral suggestions are also allowed), unfortunately I just had a seemingly healthy dwarf zebra lionfish pass randomly on me last night so now in my tank I have a jawfish, clownfish, emerald crab, cbs, bta, fighting conch, hermits, astrea snails, and various corals, what reef safe (or with caution depending) fish would you suggest and if you have any share your experiences, thanks

some quick ideas i thought of, very incomplete list lol
• chalk bass
• mccosker’s flasher wrasse
• dwarf lion, (fuzzy or zebra? is one better?)
• manderin - had two over a year before
• lyre tail anthias, have one in my 120

Flippers4pups · Nov 10, 2020

william swann said:
so I upgraded from a 15 gal to a 40b with 15 gal refugium, no skimmer just a canister with bio media as my return pump, and I want to get suggestions for fish (invert and coral suggestions are also allowed), unfortunately I just had a seemingly healthy dwarf zebra lionfish pass randomly on me last night so now in my tank I have a jawfish, clownfish, emerald crab, cbs, bta, fighting conch, hermits, astrea snails, and various corals, what reef safe (or with caution depending) fish would you suggest and if you have any share your experiences, thanks

some quick ideas i thought of, very incomplete list lol
• chalk bass
• mccosker’s flasher wrasse
• dwarf lion, (fuzzy or zebra? is one better?)
• manderin - had two over a year before
• lyre tail anthias, have one in my 120

The lion may be a issue as they may try to eat the smaller fish in your list. Let's see what others say.

nereefpat · Nov 10, 2020

The lion will eat small fish, and the lyretail anthias get too big for a 40 breeder.

william swann · Nov 10, 2020

nereefpat said:
The lion will eat small fish, and the lyretail anthias get too big for a 40 breeder.

yea, i took them off

Amstar · Nov 10, 2020

I am trying to decide my 40 gallon breeder list as well - I am thinking sort of like you. Clown(s), wrasse, chalk bass - then I am also thinking about a banggai cardinal(s), and maybe a Pygmy angel - not sure about a goby, maybe a diamond goby

Flippers4pups · Nov 10, 2020

I currently do not have any chalk bass, but they are very cool fish in my book.

dennis romano · Nov 10, 2020

Chalk bass will eventually get too big and are predators. In my 40 breeder, I have a C. argi, several neon gobies and other small gobies.

Soren · Nov 10, 2020

dennis romano said:
Chalk bass will eventually get too big and are predators. In my 40 breeder, I have a C. argi, several neon gobies and other small gobies.

Chalk bass (serranus tortugarum) get too big and predatorial for a 40-gallon breeder?
I was considering this fish for my 90-gallon reef, and I though they only reach about 3-4" in length and can be kept in a 30-gallon tank?
Links for reference: LiveAquaria, VividAquariums, BlueZooAquatics, ReefBuilders
They seem to be considered excellent small beginner fish. The only reason I may not be considering them for my reef is that I have read they have a short (~1 year) lifespan and I would personally rather have longer-lived fish.

OrionN · Nov 10, 2020

Firefish? Royal Gramma, Orchid Dottyback, Randal Prawn Goby,
I would avoid Mandarin. 40 gal is too small for one, unless you want to be a slave to an Mandarin.
Consider a Pygmy angel. I love my African Flame Back. Beautiful fish
I have a harem of 3 in my 65 gal, same foot print as a 40 gal breeder but taller.
Male

Female

Amstar · Nov 11, 2020

How are your Pygmies with your corals? Any issues of them being eaten/snacked on

william swann · Nov 11, 2020

Amstar said:
I am trying to decide my 40 gallon breeder list as well - I am thinking sort of like you. Clown(s), wrasse, chalk bass - then I am also thinking about a banggai cardinal(s), and maybe a Pygmy angel - not sure about a goby, maybe a diamond goby

oh ok, i’m prolly gonna go with a pygmy hawk, mckosker flasher, chalk bass, and then the jawfish and clown I already have

william swann · Nov 11, 2020

OrionN said:
Firefish? Royal Gramma, Orchid Dottyback, Randal Prawn Goby,
I would avoid Mandarin. 40 gal is too small for one, unless you want to be a slave to an Mandarin.
Consider a Pygmy angel. I love my African Flame Back. Beautiful fish
I have a harem of 3 in my 65 gal, same foot print as a 40 gal breeder but taller.
Male

Female

i do have experience with manderins though, i kept one very healthy in a 15 for a year and a half but I messed up my tank and my manderin didn’t make it, but question how does your angel act with corals and how does it act with fish/the environment

william swann · Nov 11, 2020

dennis romano said:
Chalk bass will eventually get too big and are predators. In my 40 breeder, I have a C. argi, several neon gobies and other small gobies.

i heard of some monster ones but don’t the majority max out at 3 inches? the average size I see is under 3 inches..

dennis romano · Nov 11, 2020

Soren said:
Chalk bass (serranus tortugarum) get too big and predatorial for a 40-gallon breeder?
I was considering this fish for my 90-gallon reef, and I though they only reach about 3-4" in length and can be kept in a 30-gallon tank?
Links for reference: LiveAquaria, VividAquariums, BlueZooAquatics, ReefBuilders
They seem to be considered excellent small beginner fish. The only reason I may not be considering them for my reef is that I have read they have a short (~1 year) lifespan and I would personally rather have longer-lived fish.

Check out some pictures of chalk bass on Reef2Reef. There are great pictures and cool stories. They don't stay one inch like the little guys in stores. Remember, they are related to groupers.

Soren · Nov 11, 2020

dennis romano said:
Check out some pictures of chalk bass on Reef2Reef. There are great pictures and cool stories. They don't stay one inch like the little guys in stores. Remember, they are related to groupers.

Thanks for recommendations. I will need to do more research for chalk bass. I may stick with my switch to royal grammas (Gramma loreto) instead for a smaller size.

That is why I ask, because I was under the same impression as @william swann that chalk bass could work well with small, peaceful fish.