Stocking suggestions

[Sirsmiley9]

i have a 40 gallon reef which currently has two clownfish a yellow head jawfish, and a cleaning shrimp. For coral it has zoas, a hammer coral, and a Yuma. I will be having a yasha goby and candy cane pistol coming in along with a coral beauty. I know that 6 fish would be pushing it and that the coral beauty may nip at corals, but I just wanted some ideas of fish to look at that would make an interesting last fish. This way I could get some ideas and start looking into how to best prepare for them and set my tank up for more long term. So if you have any suggestions on interesting fish to keep in a tank like this I’m open to suggestions.

 

[shaggydoo]

If your tank is secure I enjoy firefish. I also really like my cling fish which is very interesting but not classically pretty. Final suggestion, cardinal fish are always out and are my wife's favorite for reasons I don't comprehend

 

[stevo01]

i have a 40 gallon reef which currently has two clownfish a yellow head jawfish, and a cleaning shrimp. For coral it has zoas, a hammer coral, and a Yuma. I will be having a yasha goby and candy cane pistol coming in along with a coral beauty. I know that 6 fish would be pushing it and that the coral beauty may nip at corals, but I just wanted some ideas of fish to look at that would make an interesting last fish. This way I could get some ideas and start looking into how to best prepare for them and set my tank up for more long term. So if you have any suggestions on interesting fish to keep in a tank like this I’m open to suggestions.

A tank full of Cirrhilabrus, might make you forget about an angel

 

[stevo01]

Id get a couple three four wrasse in there lol

 

[eatbreakfast]

Flashers or small species of fairy wrasses, royal gramma or blackcap basslet, yellow assessor, firefish, a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish, midas or orange spot or starry blenny.

 

[Sirsmiley9]

I like the carpenter flasher I’m not even sure where to begin with the fairy wrasse though. What do you guys think about a mandarin goby or some kind of dragonet.

 

[shaggydoo]

Dragonets should be approached with care. I wouldn't do a mandarin in a 40 unless you have no other competitors for food and have a lot of pods available. Maybe a ruby red dragonet (some call it a scooter blenny) which would fair better in that size tank. I have one in my 60 and he's a nice colorful fish.

 

[K. Steven]

I had a Carpenter's flasher wrasse in my 40, but he was too aggressive. I think they should really be in bigger tanks. Now, I have two clowns, one Banggai cardinal, one purple firefish, one chromis, and a Midas blenny.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I had a Carpenter's flasher wrasse in my 40, but he was too aggressive. I think they should really be in bigger tanks. Now, I have two clowns, one Banggai cardinal, one purple firefish, one chromis, and a Midas blenny.

I would consider this case an outlier. Usually carpenters are in general more peaceful than a midas blenny.

 

[K. Steven]

I would consider this case an outlier. Usually carpenters are in general more peaceful than a midas blenny.

Yes, you're right. I should've said they could use more swimming room. He was always turning around and I felt bad.

 

[stevo01]

I would consider this case an outlier. Usually carpenters are in general more peaceful than a midas blenny.

I was going to say these are the "angels" of the wrasse the genus is amazing!

 

[stevo01]

I like the carpenter flasher I’m not even sure where to begin with the fairy wrasse though. What do you guys think about a mandarin goby or some kind of dragonet.

You want the smaller most docile of the genus. You have a good shot of making a trio of Cirrhilabrus Isosceles work. They are the smallest most peaceful fairies, and its possible to harem.

I would also say no to a dragonet. Try a single starry blenny or lawnmower. They won't rely on your pod population and feed on plant and animal.

 

[stevo01]

If long term doesn't work out with the trio. Catch them and trade for good money towards a flashing wrasses. Its tough to put flashers with the more aggressive fairies.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would advise against a trio of any one species of fairy wrasse. First, a 40g isn't a lot of space for their social interactions. But also, females tend to transition to males, even if a male is present, and males of the same species can be aggressive with each other, especially in a tank as small as a 40g.

 

[stevo01]

I would advise against a trio of any one species of fairy wrasse. First, a 40g isn't a lot of space for their social interactions. But also, females tend to transition to males, even if a male is present, and males of the same species can be aggressive with each other, especially in a tank as small as a 40g.

Absolutely agree. Its maybe too much and have negative results. He would be fine with a single pintail right?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Absolutely agree. Its maybe too much and have negative results. He would be fine with a single pintail right?

Yes, a single specimen would work well.

 

[Sirsmiley9]

Any suggestions for fairy wrasse or flasher wrasse. Hopefully ones that are more easily come by.

 

[stevo01]

Fairy - Cirrhilabrus isosceles, or Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

Flashing - Paracheilinus rubricaudalis, or Paracheilinus flavianalis

Other genus I would consider is Pseudocheilinus ocellatus as a great looker and excellent pest controller.

Check with TJ because i like to break the rules lol.

 

[stevo01]

Any suggestions for fairy wrasse or flasher wrasse. Hopefully ones that are more easily come by.

The once I listed arent that hard to come by. You just need to know where to look. Probably not the LFS. Check out THE ZOA COLLECTOR.