What will my first fish be?!

[SallyWho]

I've got my invert QT cycling, the skeleton of my stand built, and the tank has been ordered. Now it's time to get my fish QT cycling. I have a 20L and a 10g for fish QT, and which one I set up first will be determined by what fish I start with. Here's a list of the fish I'd like to have, after all is said and done (tank is a 120g).

pair of clowns
1-3 purple firefish
dwarf flame angel
3-5 anthias (species tbd)
kole tang
one spot foxface
yellow coris wrasse
one of another kind of wrasse tbd
red mandarin

I know most people start with clowns because they tend to be hardier, but I was sort of hoping to let the tank mature, get a nem and let it get settled, and then get some clowns, so I can introduce them straight into the nem. I know I shouldn't start with the tang, anthias, dwarf angel, or mandarin. If my first fish were the firefish, would they hide all the time in fear because there's no other fish present to make them feel safe, or would it give them a chance to get settled without harassment? Or should I start with the foxface or coris wrasse? Any thoughts? Is my logic flawed? I'd appreciate any input you guys can offer! Thanks!

 

[jp_75]

Firefish

 

[NoWaiAma]

I’m with you on wanting the Nem before the clowns. I’m trying to find a hardy one or information to allow this to happen. But if fish have to be first. Pair of clowns allllllll day. And yellow watchman goby

 

[40B Knasty]

There is no perfect order, but you did your research it looks like. Some fish you think will be peaceful can turn out to be the devil. Some fish you think will be the devil will end up being peaceful. Your order seems about right. If there is an issue. You can always put a mirror up and this will help with aggressive behavior. Happened to me when I was adding fish after a few losses. The yellow & purple wrasse some times solid as a yellow corris was the worst to my new Carberryi Anthias. I hung a hand held mirror from my lights and went out to breakfast for an hour and half. Came back and took the mirror down. The Wrasse never bothered him again and in fact they are friends ever since. My flame angel was also hard on him. Now he just shoes him away when he gets jealous of those two hanging out.
My best advice is when you are dealing with fish that you want to buy and you know there can be an aggression from that certain species. Say if there is 10 flame angels to choose from in separate tanks. Don't just go for the nicest one. Go for one that is eating, has no signs of aggressive behavior towards other fish, no signs of being sick, and the fish in the tank are kind of in the ball park of what you have already and want to add.

 

[SallyWho]

Nobody thinks I should start with the foxface? I've read that they are usually pretty peaceful, but I don't know if that refers to introducing them to an established tank vs. having other fish introduced into theirs.

 

[40B Knasty]

Nobody thinks I should start with the foxface? I've read that they are usually pretty peaceful, but I don't know if that refers to introducing them to an established tank vs. having other fish introduced into theirs.

I don't know anything about them. My tank is to small to have done research on them
All I known is be careful of their spikes when you are cleaning up your tank, adding a frag, or feeding. Many say they love them. To me I see way to many issues of them being sick at the store.

 

[SallyWho]

I don't know anything about them. My tank is to small to have done research on them
All I known is be careful of their spikes when you are cleaning up your tank, adding a frag, or feeding. Many say they love them. To me I see way to many issues of them being sick at the store.

That's a good point. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever seen one at my LFS. Granted, it's very small, but still.

 

[40B Knasty]

On a side note. When you get done with QT'ing. Turn one of those tanks into a Tigger Pod tank. You can have a mandarin in no time. Message me and I can help you with that or checkout my videos on YouTube 40B Knasty. I have a green mandarin. No sump or refugium. Just a Pod tank. He is a chunker haha

 

[00Barracuda00]

I've got my invert QT cycling, the skeleton of my stand built, and the tank has been ordered. Now it's time to get my fish QT cycling. I have a 20L and a 10g for fish QT, and which one I set up first will be determined by what fish I start with. Here's a list of the fish I'd like to have, after all is said and done (tank is a 120g).

pair of clowns
1-3 purple firefish
dwarf flame angel
3-5 anthias (species tbd)
kole tang
one spot foxface
yellow coris wrasse
one of another kind of wrasse tbd
red mandarin

I know most people start with clowns because they tend to be hardier, but I was sort of hoping to let the tank mature, get a nem and let it get settled, and then get some clowns, so I can introduce them straight into the nem. I know I shouldn't start with the tang, anthias, dwarf angel, or mandarin. If my first fish were the firefish, would they hide all the time in fear because there's no other fish present to make them feel safe, or would it give them a chance to get settled without harassment? Or should I start with the foxface or coris wrasse? Any thoughts? Is my logic flawed? I'd appreciate any input you guys can offer! Thanks!

Post updates with your results! I'm in the planning stage as well with a similar fish list. I'd love to know how it pans out.

 

[SallyWho]

On a side note. When you get done with QT'ing. Turn one of those tanks into a Tigger Pod tank. You can have a mandarin in no time. Message me and I can help you with that or checkout my videos on YouTube 40B Knasty. I have a green mandarin. No sump or refugium. Just a Pod tank. He is a chunker haha

I may just do that! I have one tank specifically for inverts that has never and will never see copper, so I imagine it wouldn't be hard at all to turn that 10g into a pod farm!

Post updates with your results! I'm in the planning stage as well with a similar fish list. I'd love to know how it pans out.

Don't hold your breath- it'll still be a while! Don't even have the tank yet. Once it arrives and I start getting everything together, though, I'll start a build thread!

 

[Mark Gray]

I've got my invert QT cycling, the skeleton of my stand built, and the tank has been ordered. Now it's time to get my fish QT cycling. I have a 20L and a 10g for fish QT, and which one I set up first will be determined by what fish I start with. Here's a list of the fish I'd like to have, after all is said and done (tank is a 120g).

pair of clowns
1-3 purple firefish
dwarf flame angel
3-5 anthias (species tbd)
kole tang
one spot foxface
yellow coris wrasse
one of another kind of wrasse tbd
red mandarin

I know most people start with clowns because they tend to be hardier, but I was sort of hoping to let the tank mature, get a nem and let it get settled, and then get some clowns, so I can introduce them straight into the nem. I know I shouldn't start with the tang, anthias, dwarf angel, or mandarin. If my first fish were the firefish, would they hide all the time in fear because there's no other fish present to make them feel safe, or would it give them a chance to get settled without harassment? Or should I start with the foxface or coris wrasse? Any thoughts? Is my logic flawed? I'd appreciate any input you guys can offer! Thanks!

Nice list I had to come look and see what you were planning, I still can't decide what I will put in my new build first, it's cycling now.

 

[NoWaiAma]

There is no perfect order, but you did your research it looks like. Some fish you think will be peaceful can turn out to be the devil. Some fish you think will be the devil will end up being peaceful. Your order seems about right. If there is an issue. You can always put a mirror up and this will help with aggressive behavior. Happened to me when I was adding fish after a few losses. The yellow & purple wrasse some times solid as a yellow corris was the worst to my new Carberryi Anthias. I hung a hand held mirror from my lights and went out to breakfast for an hour and half. Came back and took the mirror down. The Wrasse never bothered him again and in fact they are friends ever since. My flame angel was also hard on him. Now he just shoes him away when he gets jealous of those two hanging out.
My best advice is when you are dealing with fish that you want to buy and you know there can be an aggression from that certain species. Say if there is 10 flame angels to choose from in separate tanks. Don't just go for the nicest one. Go for one that is eating, has no signs of aggressive behavior towards other fish, no signs of being sick, and the fish in the tank are kind of in the ball park of what you have already and want to add.

Lovely advice. Thank you

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Add firefish first. Only one unless they are a bonded pair.

After that the order shouldn't matter much, but kole might be better off as the last addition

 

[SallyWho]

Add firefish first. Only one unless they are a bonded pair.

After that the order shouldn't matter much, but kole might be better off as the last addition

Do you think a group of three would be okay? I feel like one would get really lonely and maybe a little stressed being the only fish in the tank until the next round of fish additions.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Firefish only tolerate other firefish if they are a bonded pair.

 

[Jesterrace]

Firefish only tolerate other firefish if they are a bonded pair.

True, I also understand that there are some issues even mixing different types of firefish (ie Regular Firefish and a Purple Firefish), obviously it depends on the individual fish and the size of the tank.

 

[SallyWho]

True, I also understand that there are some issues even mixing different types of firefish (ie Regular Firefish and a Purple Firefish), obviously it depends on the individual fish and the size of the tank.

Harrumph. Not the news I wanted to hear, but I'll do what's best and not mix them. I just hope when I buy one, it doesn't freak out from being totally alone and make a jump for it. Although, I will have tight-fitting lids for both the QT and the DT, so it shouldn't go floor surfing.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

A firefish alone in a tank won't freak out. It will think it found heaven.

Keep the lid tight. Firefish, like any fish, will jump.

 

[Jet915]

If you plan on having coral, avoid the dwarf angel.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Agreed with goldeneyeret about only one or only a bonded pr of firefish. They also tolerate their close relatives the dartfish quite well. So you could always add a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish.

Foxface is very peaceful, but I have found they can be skittish, which can be a problem with a fish with venomous dorsal spines. I would suggest adding it before the angel and tang, but after the other fish.