bclark1289
Community Member
I am new to the hobby and keep hearing people raving about all the cool fish and corals that they have aquired. My question is what fish, corals, and invertebrates should be avoided by people new to the hobby?
Who to Avoid?
- Thread starter bclark1289
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OK let me try this. Clove Polyps, Xenia, Some Zoa's. They can take over your tank in a big hurry. Large predator fish. You can and should research fully if your not sure. People are going to have a wide range of opinions either way. Lionfish! Batfish. Sharks.
Help me out here folks!!
Help me out here folks!!
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rayn
Bluefin Believer
Make sure you do your research before any purchases! That said, you have to decide what you are comfortable with. Know that lions can sting you, but should you be scared? Fuzzier are some of the coolest beggers out there.
Stick with peaceful species go start with for fish. Stay small. DONT GET A DAMSEL! Damsels are the devils fish spawn!
Stick with peaceful species go start with for fish. Stay small. DONT GET A DAMSEL! Damsels are the devils fish spawn!
OP
OP
bclark1289
Community Member
What is wrong with damsels exactly?
OP
OP
bclark1289
Community Member
And ryan what do you mean by fuzzier?
Damsels have been known to be very aggressive.
Please remember what I told you. People are going to vary in their opinions. That is why research is important.
Live Aquaria has a beginner section for their fish. You also must pay attention to the size tank a particular fish might need, feeding requirements etc.
Most people do not wish to have a fish that is either going to eat your hand if you stick it in the tank or the corals that you put in there. Some fish are poisonous!
Please remember what I told you. People are going to vary in their opinions. That is why research is important.
Live Aquaria has a beginner section for their fish. You also must pay attention to the size tank a particular fish might need, feeding requirements etc.
Most people do not wish to have a fish that is either going to eat your hand if you stick it in the tank or the corals that you put in there. Some fish are poisonous!
they can be vicious, extremely territorial and mean to new inhabitants......they can be kept but should be added last and even then, with caution
your question is maybe a tad bit too open ended......there was a great post on here I read yesterday I believe that gave lists of fish that are more difficult or virtually impossible to keep in captivity. I'm sorry I don't recall the name of the thread
In general, it's best to start with hardy species both coral and fish.
your question is maybe a tad bit too open ended......there was a great post on here I read yesterday I believe that gave lists of fish that are more difficult or virtually impossible to keep in captivity. I'm sorry I don't recall the name of the thread
In general, it's best to start with hardy species both coral and fish.
rayn
Bluefin Believer
Fuzzier was supposed to be fuzzies... spell check.
As twinklets said, opinions will vary greatly on who you ask. That is where I agree with everyone on research. It really sucks to buy a cool fish, then not know they have a certain diet and won't eat anything else, then watch it perish because of your lack of research.
Research and decide what YOU are comfortable with keeping.
As twinklets said, opinions will vary greatly on who you ask. That is where I agree with everyone on research. It really sucks to buy a cool fish, then not know they have a certain diet and won't eat anything else, then watch it perish because of your lack of research.
Research and decide what YOU are comfortable with keeping.
OP
OP
bclark1289
Community Member
I believe I read the post you are talking about fishroomlady. I read it. I was just looking for a discussion topic to slim down the list of fish that are not a good idea to keep. What I probably should have asked is "what are some that are not right for beginners even though they are hardy and easy to care for?"
OP
OP
bclark1289
Community Member
But if you are fine directly feeding them they are otherwise fine?
Sweetlips are really available but should be avoided. Difficult to take care of. And damsels are devil spawn. I've got a couple that I like, but they are mean. My domino damsel bites me repeatedly any time my hand is in the tank.
KorD
Valuable Member
Just a heads up and something to think about, a clown fish is in the damsel family. I have a clown and a blue damsel in the same tank and they spend most of their days chasing each other while leaving the pajama fish alone... Yes they are devil spawns of a fish like others say, but you do get the rare one that is tame.
Picking fish is limited to what else you want in the tank, if you are looking for corals.... some fish are not reef friendly.
Picking fish is limited to what else you want in the tank, if you are looking for corals.... some fish are not reef friendly.
mcarroll
10K Club member
You should decide first what your favorites are. 95% of the fish in the store could be OK if they were the fish you really wanted. "Beginner" critters are often problematic...so target what you want first.
Try posting a list of your top 5 or 10 favorites and get feedback that way?
-Matt
juggalogentry
Active Member
i can add my personal experience to this, i added a few bluefin damsels to my tank first, then when i added other fish, it took two deaths, three diy traps, then finally breaking down my scape and manually removing the damsels, and i was told they were less aggressive, remember chromis and clowns are considered damsels as well,
cmac330
Active Member
Tank size, lighting and flow are also important elements to what is easy and what is difficult. Lots of flow can make LPS more difficult. Too much light can be deadly to coral as too little can as well. Yellow tangs can be easy to keep in the right size while in a tank that's too small they will stress and could come down with ich and will likely becoming even more aggressive.
However, some good rules of thumb for what is easy
1) Aquacultured/captive bred fish and coral: Have been acclimated to living in captivity and are therefore more hardy than their wild caught counter parts
2) Soft corals: Hardy, grow quickly and can come in a wide variety of colors (downside is they can be extremely competitive with stony corals so proceed with caution, however they are still great for first tanks when you don't know what you want)
3) SMALL FISH: Cardinals, clowns (can be aggressive but usually stake out a place and stick to it), hardy wrasse species (stay away from flasher and fairy), dotty backs, gobies and firefish (if you don't have a top beware they are jumpers, as are the wrasses) and chromis will typically be your best fish
-Small fish to avoid (dragonets aka mandarin gobies aka scooter blennies, non reef safe wrasse, blennies just because it is hard to tell which ones are reef safe as a beginner, dwarf angels)
4) Avoid anemones: just do it, trust me when you are ready for one you will be glad you waited
5) Only get plain-jane nassarius snails and small hermits such as blue leg for cleanup crew: starfish can be tricky, big hermits and crabs tend to knock things over and fancy snails can be dangerous
But most importantly don't try to jump into this hobby and compete with tanks that win Tank of the Month awards. Unless you are willing to shell out 10,000 right away you are going to be frustrated if you try to do this. Start with a simple setup, learn about equipment, learn how to monitor your tank but most of all start with a tank that is easy because it will allow you to enjoy the hobby. I've watched too many people jump into the hobby and spend (and lose) a considerable amount of money only to get out of the hobby 6 months later when their tank crashes because they put a powder blue in with 2 yellow tangs and everything catches ich. It is much less frustrating to melt a 15 dollar frag of eagle eye zoas than to lose a 200 dollar scoly.
Anyways that's my rant, long story short if it is your first tank look for what is simple rather than looking for what to avoid and remember longevity is the truest sign of success in this hobby. Research before you buy, plan how you want to do your tank (post your tank setup and a planned stocking list and I guarantee you will get help) and do your best to avoid the fish store impulse buy (we are all guilty of this but do your best!).
Good Luck!
However, some good rules of thumb for what is easy
1) Aquacultured/captive bred fish and coral: Have been acclimated to living in captivity and are therefore more hardy than their wild caught counter parts
2) Soft corals: Hardy, grow quickly and can come in a wide variety of colors (downside is they can be extremely competitive with stony corals so proceed with caution, however they are still great for first tanks when you don't know what you want)
3) SMALL FISH: Cardinals, clowns (can be aggressive but usually stake out a place and stick to it), hardy wrasse species (stay away from flasher and fairy), dotty backs, gobies and firefish (if you don't have a top beware they are jumpers, as are the wrasses) and chromis will typically be your best fish
-Small fish to avoid (dragonets aka mandarin gobies aka scooter blennies, non reef safe wrasse, blennies just because it is hard to tell which ones are reef safe as a beginner, dwarf angels)
4) Avoid anemones: just do it, trust me when you are ready for one you will be glad you waited
5) Only get plain-jane nassarius snails and small hermits such as blue leg for cleanup crew: starfish can be tricky, big hermits and crabs tend to knock things over and fancy snails can be dangerous
But most importantly don't try to jump into this hobby and compete with tanks that win Tank of the Month awards. Unless you are willing to shell out 10,000 right away you are going to be frustrated if you try to do this. Start with a simple setup, learn about equipment, learn how to monitor your tank but most of all start with a tank that is easy because it will allow you to enjoy the hobby. I've watched too many people jump into the hobby and spend (and lose) a considerable amount of money only to get out of the hobby 6 months later when their tank crashes because they put a powder blue in with 2 yellow tangs and everything catches ich. It is much less frustrating to melt a 15 dollar frag of eagle eye zoas than to lose a 200 dollar scoly.
Anyways that's my rant, long story short if it is your first tank look for what is simple rather than looking for what to avoid and remember longevity is the truest sign of success in this hobby. Research before you buy, plan how you want to do your tank (post your tank setup and a planned stocking list and I guarantee you will get help) and do your best to avoid the fish store impulse buy (we are all guilty of this but do your best!).
Good Luck!
locuus
New Member
Tomato clowns and friends. Like Damsels live the colour but a couple of months later can't wait to get rid of them.
Batfish. Have you ever seen an adult?
Unless you have a huge tank, Tangs like Achilles are a no go. Anything below 8x3 for these is a disgrace. Same goes for large Angels imo.
Batfish. Have you ever seen an adult?
Unless you have a huge tank, Tangs like Achilles are a no go. Anything below 8x3 for these is a disgrace. Same goes for large Angels imo.
