First Fish!!'

[saltsavage]

Hey y'all....first fish ever. Couple clowns! How long should I wait to add two more fish? Thinking a 6 line wrasse and not sure what else.

Also wondering about BTA and maybe some coral?

 

[Maritimer]

Congrats, Saltsavage!

As you choose which fish to add into the future, keep in mind that each species has a reputation. Some, like firefish, have a reputation for generally getting along pretty well, unless something scares them. Sixline wrasses have a reputation for aggression once they're established in your tank - especially toward other wrasse or wrasse-like fish. They generally seem to be OK with fish that are in before they are, and they're really beautiful, so I don't blame you for wanting one (heck, I _have_ one! ... OK, it was an adoption, but still . . . ), but maybe add that fish to your community _last_.

You may want to let your tank chug along and become "established" for six months or so before having a go at an anemone, but a few zoanthids or other hardy corals might brighten the place up a bit - test your parameters, and if they're good, give it a try.

Good luck with your new finned charges!

~Bruce

 

[saltsavage]

Congrats, Saltsavage!

As you choose which fish to add into the future, keep in mind that each species has a reputation. Some, like firefish, have a reputation for generally getting along pretty well, unless something scares them. Sixline wrasses have a reputation for aggression once they're established in your tank - especially toward other wrasse or wrasse-like fish. They generally seem to be OK with fish that are in before they are, and they're really beautiful, so I don't blame you for wanting one (heck, I _have_ one! ... OK, it was an adoption, but still . . . ), but maybe add that fish to your community _last_.

You may want to let your tank chug along and become "established" for six months or so before having a go at an anemone, but a few zoanthids or other hardy corals might brighten the place up a bit - test your parameters, and if they're good, give it a try.

Good luck with your new finned charges!

~Bruce

Thanks Bruce that sounds great. What would you think would be a good next fish?

 

[Ljaus]

What size is your tank? There are lots of cool small sized fish, firefish are a good example, gobies, some blennies

 

[saltsavage]

What size is your tank? There are lots of cool small sized fish, firefish are a good example, gobies, some blennies

30g

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

Alot of people will probably shake their heads at me but I added a cow fish approx 2-3 weeks after adding my first clowns with a bottle of bio spira, and he is still very happy and healthy. Such an awesome fish. It's definitely recommended waiting at least a month for pet safety, but I obviously couldn't wait...

 

[saltsavage]

Alot of people will probably shake their heads at me but I added a cow fish approx 2-3 weeks after adding my first clowns with a bottle of bio spira, and he is still very happy and healthy. Such an awesome fish. It's definitely recommended waiting at least a month for pet safety, but I obviously couldn't wait...

Why the bio-spira with it?

 

[Maritimer]

I like to think about where in the tank a fish will spend most of its time, and how it's going to make its living, as well as things like color and eventual size. In a 30, you'll probably want to avoid fish that grow too big - but there are a _lot_ of fish who'd be perfectly comfortable in a home that size.

There are a whole crew of gobies who'll share a burrow in the sandbed with a pistol shrimp - I've got yellow watchmen (the female is gray...) and blackray (also called red-banded or yellow-rose) shrimpgobies. Clown gobies and neon gobies will spend their time among the rocks - without shrimp. The clowns can be shy, but the neons (also the sharknose and yellowline gobies) will sit out in the open, offering their services as a parasite removal specialist.

You might take a look at a wrasse of the genus Wetmorella - possum wrasses are small and dainty - but I've never kept them myself. Keep in mind that wrasses, as well as firefish, are champion jumpers!

You've probably seen damselfish at your local fish shop, and goggled at their feisty attitudes and brilliant colors - leave most of them in the shop. An awful lot of them are cranky. There are a few in the genus Chrysiptera, though, which should get along in a tank the size of yours. Yellowtails come to mind, their brilliant blue with a yellow accent plays well against the oranges of the clowns, and if there are kids in your world, they may delight in the "baby Dory"! Even these guys can sometimes set up a territory, which they'll defend against all comers.

One of the smaller blennies, such as the tailspot blenny, should work well - but only one, as they can be territorial too. They'll also help a bit with algae in your tank.

What about a brilliant and stately flash of magenta and yellow? Royal grammas are small members of the sea-bass family who'll set up a home in a cave they like and generally keep watch just outside the front door.

Whatever you choose as your next fish, I hope you can find a place to put a separate tank as a quarantine. My first round of fish brought ich with them, and I've only one of those original crew left - a zebra dartfish. (Another peaceful choice, but a bit longer at about 4-5".) I've quarantined since then - though not always perfectly - and the fish in my display are healthy and sturdy.

Just a few thoughts to get you started. In the end, when you look into the tank, it's _you_ who's going to feel the peace and serenity of your reef - or the sadness if something's not quite right. Research and learn, because you and those fish will need to take care of each other!

~Bruce

 

[Ljaus]

I like to think about where in the tank a fish will spend most of its time, and how it's going to make its living, as well as things like color and eventual size. In a 30, you'll probably want to avoid fish that grow too big - but there are a _lot_ of fish who'd be perfectly comfortable in a home that size.

There are a whole crew of gobies who'll share a burrow in the sandbed with a pistol shrimp - I've got yellow watchmen (the female is gray...) and blackray (also called red-banded or yellow-rose) shrimpgobies. Clown gobies and neon gobies will spend their time among the rocks - without shrimp. The clowns can be shy, but the neons (also the sharknose and yellowline gobies) will sit out in the open, offering their services as a parasite removal specialist.

You might take a look at a wrasse of the genus Wetmorella - possum wrasses are small and dainty - but I've never kept them myself. Keep in mind that wrasses, as well as firefish, are champion jumpers!

You've probably seen damselfish at your local fish shop, and goggled at their feisty attitudes and brilliant colors - leave most of them in the shop. An awful lot of them are cranky. There are a few in the genus Chrysiptera, though, which should get along in a tank the size of yours. Yellowtails come to mind, their brilliant blue with a yellow accent plays well against the oranges of the clowns, and if there are kids in your world, they may delight in the "baby Dory"! Even these guys can sometimes set up a territory, which they'll defend against all comers.

One of the smaller blennies, such as the tailspot blenny, should work well - but only one, as they can be territorial too. They'll also help a bit with algae in your tank.

What about a brilliant and stately flash of magenta and yellow? Royal grammas are small members of the sea-bass family who'll set up a home in a cave they like and generally keep watch just outside the front door.

Whatever you choose as your next fish, I hope you can find a place to put a separate tank as a quarantine. My first round of fish brought ich with them, and I've only one of those original crew left - a zebra dartfish. (Another peaceful choice, but a bit longer at about 4-5".) I've quarantined since then - though not always perfectly - and the fish in my display are healthy and sturdy.

Just a few thoughts to get you started. In the end, when you look into the tank, it's _you_ who's going to feel the peace and serenity of your reef - or the sadness if something's not quite right. Research and learn, because you and those fish will need to take care of each other!

~Bruce

+1 on all of this. Fish like royal gramma's, gobies ect would be perfect and not much aggression if any. A yellow or blue assessor is another choice, very quirky fish. Purple firefish are nice to but can be very shy, ones I've had in the past would hide up to 3 days at a time just from sticking my hand in the tank. Take your time and research the above mentioned fish, that will give the tank time to adjust to clowns.

 

[saltsavage]

+1 on all of this. Fish like royal gramma's, gobies ect would be perfect and not much aggression if any. A yellow or blue assessor is another choice, very quirky fish. Purple firefish are nice to but can be very shy, ones I've had in the past would hide up to 3 days at a time just from sticking my hand in the tank. Take your time and research the above mentioned fish, that will give the tank time to adjust to clowns.

I appreciate it! I love royal grammas and will definitely get one more. I'm not a huge fan of gobies because I like the fish that are constantly swimming. Are their any fish that are a good royal blue?

 

[pugcrush]

How old is the tank? I wouldn't rush it too quick. You're rock sand is pretty 'fresh' if you will. I'd wait a month before another fish & levels check out. Royal Grammas are a nice fish when the time comes. I know you mentioned an anemone. The recommended wait is 6months; even a year. The reasoning is for a stable tank. Easy to care for corals are OK once the tank is livestock ready.

 

[ReefQueen]

What about a jawfish? They are small, cute, and fun to watch do nothing lol. Mine only shows aggression when someone is hanging out for too long near his home (a few feet of hidden pvc with the opening camouflaged by a barnacle), and his version of aggression is just sitting there with his giant mouth open;) mine got the easy life and didn't need to build a burrow, which would have been fun to watch, but my sand choice made it impossible to keep one without a ready made burrow, all he had to do was move in:)

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

Why the bio-spira with it?

The bio spira I'd just a bottle of nitrifying bacteria to help the cycle along and make the water safer for your first fish. It can also help speed up your first cycle so you can add more fish sooner.

 

[Reefiness]

As mentioned above, six line wrasses are a PITA. I had one in my display tank and added it last but it quickly began picking on the fairy wrasses I had already had in the tank. Ended up having to get rid of him after he caused the death of my filamented wrasse. Then I decided to put one in my frag tank but there too it began chasing around the melanarus I had in there, so i had to get rid of that six line too. I know they are incredibly colorful fish and also extremely cheap which makes them a very common regret of hobbyist down the road.

I appreciate it! I love royal grammas and will definitely get one more. I'm not a huge fan of gobies because I like the fish that are constantly swimming. Are their any fish that are a good royal blue?

Royal gramma is a solid choice for your tank and very vibrant colors. As far as a royal blue fish that fits your needs (I assume you are talking blue tang like color), its tough to find one. You can potentially try to find some blue reef chromis although they are pretty hard to come by. I have never personally seen them in an LFS. Your tank is borderline too small for a pygmy angelfish which also may have that color you are looking for. If you dont end up going with the blue reef chromis, i would try looking into various wrasses. Theres none that are a solid blue, but many have blue mixed with other colors.

 

[Maritimer]

The bluest fish in my 65 gallon reef are a trio of azure damselfish, Chrysiptera hemicyaneus. Small and quite well-behaved (for a damselfish...), they've been known to get a little rough with new introductions, but get along just fine with everyone who's established; clowns, wrasses, dragonets, firefish, dartfish, gobies . . .

~Bruce

 

[Ineedhelp]

When I was new to the hobby, I got a six line... He was pretty cool... He made an exit out of my tank when I bought some blood shrimp and dropped them in the tank... The shrimp didnt make it to the sand and the wrasse had a full belly...... o_O