centerpiece fish for a 4ft tank

[littlefoxx]

Purples are my favorite zebrasomas these are my two in my 300. Love them both even though Calypso the sailfin is a NASTY tempered fish

 

[kboogie]

I wonder how much of that is a specimen specific thing. Mine is at least 3-4 and still jet black. Beautiful fish but MEGA territorial. He goes through phases of claiming 3ft of tank space to himself. This is an old, rubbish pic but he’s a looker.

For a 4ft I wouldn’t get a fox face. I got mine as a juvey and it was bouncing off the walls within 6 months. They grow fast, get big, often just hang out in one spot and can be skittish. Mine accidentally impaled a mystery wrasse before moving to the 6ft.

For tangs you could do a small bristletooth + small acanthurus mimic. What they lack in vibrance they make up for in confidence, so will be out and about more, which means your other fish will be out and about more.

I'm with you. I see adult specimens every once in awhile and the ones I see are jet or velvety black. I do find that people who feed mostly pellets and brine can end up with fish that have less than spectacular color.

 

[Should I]

Agree, my LFS had an old one for a while and it just looked sad and old, not shiny anymore at all. It got lighter each time I saw it until it passed of old age

what size was it?

 

[littlefoxx]

what size was it?

Probably about 9 inches nose to tail

 

[kboogie]

I'm enjoying this thread!

I find the term "Centerpiece" or "Showcase" to have a high degree of subjectivity. For me, a centerpiece fish or showcase fish should check the following boxes:
1) The fish is something the common unknowledgeable observer would find eye-catching and beautiful; it should not be simply rare (Gem Tang, Sohal, Tiger Angelfish, Conspic, etc).

2) The fish should be large (7"+), which means most fairy wrasses and pygmy angelfish are out of contention

3) It should move majestically, like a princess entering the ball

My favorite centerpiece fish are as follows:
1) Yellow Belly Regal Angelfish
2) Belize Queen Angelfish (they have that deep teal throughout with the orange and yellow peaking through)
3) Blueface Angelfish
4) Emperor Angelfish
5) Garibaldi Damsel
6) Naso Tang (Blonde and Regular)
7) Clown Tang (too aggressive but beautiful)
8) Achilles Tang
9) Desjardini
10) Yellow Tang (I can go either way on this one)
11) Bennetti Butterfly
12) Meyer's Butterfly
13) Semilavartis Butterfly
14) Trifaciatus Butterfly (if you are lucky enough to see an adult, it is a sight to see)
15) Aussie Harlequin Tusk
16) Cuban Hogfish
17) Adult Bi-color Parrot Fish (if you have never seen one, you are missing out!)

Honorable Mention (which is where many of my favorites exist):
1) Asfur Angel (when the light hits an adult male just right, it is crazy beautiful)
2) Powder Blue Tang (The color pattern of the Achilles is just more striking)
3) Blue Hippo Tang (it is iconic)
4) Majestic Angelfish
5) Bandit Angelfish (it looks like it is made from expensive felt)
6) Most black, yellow, and black butterflyfish (Falcula, Double Saddleback, Tear Drop, Tinker's, etc)
7) Meridithi Angelfish (the males have a cool facial pattern)
8) Rock Beauty Angelfish
9) Male Swallow-tail Angelfish ( When they have the blue sheen with the yellow highlights, it is so pretty)
10) Too many more to mention!!!

 

[kboogie]

In my DT I would consider my Asfur to be the Centerpiece fish but the Flame Angel and Green Bird Wrasse steal the show with the common vistor. Unfortunately my Desjardini, which good size, has not colored up nicely yet. I'm waiting for my Desjardini to look like the one below:

 

[kboogie]

The Regal Angel screams centerpiece fish!

 

[kboogie]

Queen Angel is another great centerpiece fish. This one has the colors of what I typically see coming out of Belize.

 

[kboogie]

Blueface Angelfish is another great centerpiece fish. Unfortunately, this level of coloration is uncommon outside of a large dominant male.

 

[kboogie]

Emperor Angelfish is striking, especially if you get one from Sri Lanka or Africa because they have an orange to their yellow coloration and more vivid blues.

 

[kboogie]

The Garibaldi Damsel is a large 12"+ deep orange damsel that is so captivating.

 

[kboogie]

The Blonde Nasos from Sri Lanka and Africa have a deep orange doral fin where the other Blonde Nasos have more of a washed out yellow color. These are so beautiful.

 

[kboogie]

I tell my friends that if Salvador Dali created a fish it would probably be the Clown Tang. Unfortunately, they are mean AF as adults.

 

[kboogie]

The Achilies Tang is one of the best examples of contrasting colors in the hobby. A centerpiece fish for sure!

 

[kboogie]

The is something about the deep yellow with contrasting blue and black that makes the Bennetti Butterfly one of the most attractive butterfly fish and a strong contender for a centerpiece fish.

 

[kboogie]

I don't know how anyone could argue against the Semilarvatus Butterfly as a centerpiece fish.

 

[kboogie]

There is something about the psychedelic swirl pattern of the Meyer's Butterfly that makes it a stunner!

 

[kboogie]

When you see a large Trifaciatus Butterfly in person, you feel like you are looking at a Monet!

 

[JoJosReef]

I tell my friends that if Salvador Dali created a fish it would probably be the Clown Tang. Unfortunately, they are mean AF as adults.

Ah, the clown tang! I thought you meant your friends became mean adults and was wondering how they were belittling you for your comments on clown tangs. Also why you were still friends with them.

 

[kboogie]

There is a reason I have made 5 attempts in the last 3.5 years at keeping an Aussie Tusk. This fish sreams "look at me!"