Beginner Fish Suggestions

[CaptainsReef]

Newbie here looking to get some fish in my DT. I have a 150g that has been cycled since last summer. We have 1 clown fish and 20 snails. We plan to add corals at some point.

So this is what we would like
1. Hardy
2. Colorful
3. Reef Safe

Are there any fish that fill all three requirements that are good for beginners?

 

[Clinton]

Newbie here looking to get some fish in my DT. I have a 150g that has been cycled since last summer. We have 1 clown fish and 20 snails. We plan to add corals at some point.

So this is what we would like
1. Hardy
2. Colorful
3. Reef Safe

Are there any fish that fill all three requirements that are good for beginners?

Azure damsels? My royal gamma has been through hell and back. Of course nothing kills a clown lol lawnmower blennies.

 

[Sod Buster]

Tailspot blenny have a personality & colorful.

 

[CaptainsReef]

Azure damsels? My royal gamma has been through hell and back. Of course nothing kills a clown lol lawnmower blennies.

I feel like I've heard horror stories about damsels... Is there anything I should be aware of?

 

[Clinton]

The azures are going to be a little less aggressive becoming more aggressive with age. Almost all damsels are territorial but given enough space they seem pretty happy. Your clowns will be plenty fast enough to evade them if they do wander into their territory. :)

 

[dylana407]

Yellow coris wrasse if you don't plan on having shrimp.

 

[Katrina71]

Tailspot Blenny! Watchman goby/ pistol shrimp!

 

[RazorD]

Personally, I’d say a nice yellow tang for color.

 

[PatW]

A Ctenochaetus tang would be good. You could probably have a yellow tang also. Firefish are good and so are Bengai cardinals.

I would suggest that you go to the Live Aquaria site and look at fish that are classified as easy, reef safe and peaceful.

 

[Scott Williamson]

Have fun populating you tank.....my first thought was just because your tank has been cycled since last summer I would advise going slow with adding new tankmates. Your 150g has not had much bioload and I would be cautious in adding to many fish to quickly. That being said Tangs are one of my favs and a larger fish that are fairly hardy depending of the type and reef safe. Chromis would also be a consideration because...however when buying Chromis I have had success with buying specific individuals out of a tank rather than let the store just net random fish out. Also, I have always tried to buy larger chromis in odd number lots like 5 or 7. Chromis tend to pick on each other until there is only one fish left. If you buy larger fish, have a large tank, and buy them in groups it tends to displace aggression and they do well for long periods of time. Hope this helps....

 

[CaptainsReef]

Have fun populating you tank.....my first thought was just because your tank has been cycled since last summer I would advise going slow with adding new tankmates. Your 150g has not had much bioload and I would be cautious in adding to many fish to quickly. That being said Tangs are one of my favs and a larger fish that are fairly hardy depending of the type and reef safe. Chromis would also be a consideration because...however when buying Chromis I have had success with buying specific individuals out of a tank rather than let the store just net random fish out. Also, I have always tried to buy larger chromis in odd number lots like 5 or 7. Chromis tend to pick on each other until there is only one fish left. If you buy larger fish, have a large tank, and buy them in groups it tends to displace aggression and they do well for long periods of time. Hope this helps....

Thank you for the suggestion. Tangs are beautiful. If they're Hardy enough for a beginner that might be a good one to start with.

We will probably only pick up 1 or 2 fish as we only have a 10g quarantine so hopefully that won't cause a shock to the DT when they go in.

 

[CaptainsReef]

A Ctenochaetus tang would be good. You could probably have a yellow tang also. Firefish are good and so are Bengai cardinals.

I would suggest that you go to the Live Aquaria site and look at fish that are classified as easy, reef safe and peaceful.

Live Aquaria suggests a 350+ gallon tank for Ctenochaetus tang. I only have 150. Very cool looking fish. That just makes me want a bigger tank now lol