Fish ideas

blaise

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 21, 2025
Messages
52
Reaction score
29
Location
Tulsa ok
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am getting fish for my 40 gallon breeder, and can't decide what I want. I think down the road corals would be cool, but if the fish is cool enough then maybe not. I really like the idea of one center piece fish, and then just a couple inverts. Like a clam and sea urchin. I was looking at a dwarf lionfish because I really like odball fish that a lot of people don't have, and I am new to the saltwater side so not supper hard to care for would be nice.
 

Üter

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2023
Messages
10,614
Reaction score
72,077
Location
Maine
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am getting fish for my 40 gallon breeder, and can't decide what I want. I think down the road corals would be cool, but if the fish is cool enough then maybe not. I really like the idea of one center piece fish, and then just a couple inverts. Like a clam and sea urchin. I was looking at a dwarf lionfish because I really like odball fish that a lot of people don't have, and I am new to the saltwater side so not supper hard to care for would be nice.
a lionfish will eat your inverts. research the fish before you buy. tank size, temperament, compatibility etc...
 
OP
OP
blaise

blaise

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 21, 2025
Messages
52
Reaction score
29
Location
Tulsa ok
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am getting fish for my 40 gallon breeder, and can't decide what I want. I think down the road corals would be cool, but if the fish is cool enough then maybe not. I really like the idea of one center piece fish, and then just a couple inverts. Like a clam and sea urchin. I was looking at a dwarf lionfish because I really like odball fish that a lot of people don't have, and I am new to the saltwater side so not supper hard to care for would be nice.
a lionfish will eat your inverts. research the fish before you buy. tank size, temperament, compatibility etc...
Really, I did some research and people said that a dwarf lion would only eat like shrimp and crabs, and I don't really care about those. have you have problems with them messing with clams and urchins in the past?
 

dedragon

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
6,901
Reaction score
4,939
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
a lionfish will eat your inverts. research the fish before you buy. tank size, temperament, compatibility etc...
i agree a lionfish is prob not the best for this tank because it will try to eat any smaller fish that would fit into this tank, but i have never heard of lionfish eating clams or urchins as they dont have crushing teeth to do that. shrimp they will 100% eat
 

dedragon

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
6,901
Reaction score
4,939
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
going in looking for beginner friendly stuff while also wanting a clam is a bit contradictory though. Clams arent super hard but are harder than a lot of corals to keep
 

Üter

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2023
Messages
10,614
Reaction score
72,077
Location
Maine
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
fuzzy or zebra? I believe it will eat snails. so you will be doing manual cleanup or sole relying on urchin?
 
OP
OP
blaise

blaise

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 21, 2025
Messages
52
Reaction score
29
Location
Tulsa ok
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
going in looking for beginner friendly stuff while also wanting a clam is a bit contradictory though. Clams arent super hard but are harder than a lot of corals to keep
I would definitely make sure I new what I was doing before I got one, and maybe not get one till later but I just want a fish that won't kill one.
 
OP
OP
blaise

blaise

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 21, 2025
Messages
52
Reaction score
29
Location
Tulsa ok
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
fuzzy or zebra? I believe it will eat snails. so you will be doing manual cleanup or sole relying on urchin?
I was looking at a zebra, and other people said it would be ok with bigger snails don't remember the exact type though.
 

Mark Goode

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 21, 2022
Messages
910
Reaction score
1,624
Location
Market Harborough, England
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
What do you mean will probably just die?
Just what I saw in this thread:

 

dedragon

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
6,901
Reaction score
4,939
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would definitely make sure I new what I was doing before I got one, and maybe not get one till later but I just want a fish that won't kill one.
puffers are definitely too nippy. maybe a small fairy wrasse or leopard wrasse(if you find one eating and healthy they arent hard to keep). colorful and active fish but peaceful
Just start searching around for stuff you want to keep. also i would ask family/friends what they like because having them interested is always a plus. You wont get really any larger fish in such a small tank though so it does limit it a lot. a lot of smaller predators like dwarf lions and wartskin anglers arent for beginners and have more specialized needs. a lot just dont arrive healthy either
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 27.4%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 44 35.5%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 27 21.8%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 8.9%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 8 6.5%
Back
Top