Hey everyone! (Super long post ahead)
I need some help.
To make a long story short, I've spent a good deal of time looking through just about every fish selling site I could find to try to A)learn about the different fish available in the hobby, and B)figure out which fish my wife and I would like to keep when we finally get going on our tank(s) (unfortunately, this will probably be a ways off still, but we're getting there).
The good news, we found a bunch of fish we like the looks of!
The bad news, we found way too many (and if you think you might have a recommendation I'd like, I'm open to hearing it - yes, I know I have a problem ).
Now, I would like to safely add just about as many fish from my lists below as possible into the same tank (and likely the rest of them into another), but I was hoping that you all could help me narrow our potential fish list by:
-Letting me know if there are any that I could easily add in without issues
-Letting me know if I've unintentionally added any cold/temperate water species to the list
-Letting me know about any compatibility issues (I know of a few that I hope I can work through, but I'd like some input on these to know if it's reasonably possible to work through them)
-Letting me know which fish (aside from the wrasse and Lyretail Anthias) would/could be problematic to keep in pairs/harems
-Letting me know if any of the fish listed are NOT reef safe and why they are not (i.e. if they eat corals, inverts, fish, clams, etc.) - I know the butterflyfish are not reef safe, but I'd like to know in advance if they eat anything other than SPS corals [I'm currently only planning on keeping the "weedy/invasive" SPS in the hopes that they won't kill the colonies if they decide to pick at them]
Any practical input would be appreciated. Also, any idea as to what sort of tank size I would need (based off of the first list below) would be helpful (I know it would be in the multiple hundreds of gallons, but I'd like a better idea than just that).
[Just to clarify here, I'm planning on doing a 6" DSB, so that probably does modify the size of the tank needed]
So, I'm going to give two lists here (I'll save list #3 of my FOWLR/Predators for another day). The first list is the list of fish that we both know we would like to keep if possible (the most important to know if there would be any issues with), and the second list is the huge list of other fish we're considering.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List 1: (Bold text = known potential issues, @ = species that will be chosen if the known issues can't be overcome)
-Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon atrangulatus)
-Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifera)
-Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)
-Mimic Lemonpeel Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)@
-Tenneti Tang (Acanthurus tennenti)
-Whitecheek Tang (Acanthurus nigricans)
-Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles)
-Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnificus)
-Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus)
-Ruby Red Dragonet (Synchiropus sycorax)
-McCullochi Clownfish (Amphiprion mccullochi)
-Either a Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) or an Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
-Ritteri Anemone (Heteractis magnifica)
-Watermelon Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
-Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus)
-Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
-Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
-Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
-Mexican Barnacle Blenny (Acanthemblemaria macrospilus)
-Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis - Indian Ocean)@
-Coral Beauty Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
-Black Nox Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge nox)
-Annularis Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
-Scribbled Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)
-Tangaroa Shrimp Goby (Ctenogobiops tangaroai) & Randall's Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus randalli)
-Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
-Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
-Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis)
-Scissortail Dartfish (Ptereleotris evides)
-Chinstrap Jawfish (Opistognathus sp 6)
-Longspine Cardinalfish (Zoramia leptacantha)
-Mystery Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus ocellatus)@
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List 2: (Bold text = known potential issues)
Angelfish:
-Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
-West African Angelfish (Holacanthus africanus)
-Xanthurus Cream Angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthurus)
-Six Bar Angelfish (Pomacanthus sexstriatus)
-True Shepard's Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge shepardi)
-Yellowfin Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge flavipectoralis)
Anthias & Hawkfish (weird to have these all grouped here, but the Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish is in the subfamily of anthias, so I just grouped them all):
-Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis - Normal/Pacific Ocean)
-Bartlett's Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum)
-Squareback Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia)
-Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish (Plectranthias inermis)
-Falco Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco)
-Red Hawkfish (Cyprinocirrhites polyactis)
Blennies:
-Panamic Barnacle Blenny (Acanthemblemaria hancocki)
-Eyebrow Barnacle Blenny (Ekemblemaria myersi)
Butterflyfish: (Bolded because not reef safe)
-Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)
-Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
-Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon aureofasciatus)
-Sunset/Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis)
-Racoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
Clownfish & Anemones:
-Goldflake Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus)
-Gold Nugget Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus)
-Snow Storm Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
-Fancy Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
-Ultra Bulb Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
-Rock Flower Anemone (Epicystis crucifer)
-Tube Anemone (Ceriathus sp.)
Foxfaces/Tangs:
-Foxface Lo (Siganus vulpinus)
-One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)
-Bicolor Foxface (Siganus uspi)
Gobies:
-Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
-Wheeler's Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) & Tiger Pistol Shrimp
-Panda Clown Goby (Paragobius lacunicolus)
-Starry Goby (Asterropteryx semipunctatus)
-Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris)
-Sleeper Banded Goby (Amblygobius phalaena)
-Hector's Goby (Koumansetta hectori)
-White Spotted Dwarf Goby (Trimma cf. caesiura)
-Masked Goby (Coryphopterus personatus)
-Gold Neon Eviota Goby (Eviota pellucida)
-Yellow Trimma Goby (Trimma kitrinum)
-Greenbanded Goby (Tigrigobius multifasciatus)
Miscellaneous:
-Black-Axil Chromis (Chromis sp.)
-Fusilier Damselfish (Lepidozygus tapeinosoma)
-Neon Damselfish/Allen's Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni)
-Zebra Barred Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra)
-Tiger Jawfish (Opistognathus randalli)
-Australian Stripey (Microcanthus strigatus)
-Randall's Assessor Basslet (Assessor randalli)
-Marine Betta (Calloplesiops altivelis)
-Indigo Hamlet (Hypoplectrus indigo)
-Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum)
-Lantern Bass (Serranus baldwini)
-Belted Sandfish (Serranus subligarius)
-Banded Longfin Basslet (Belonepterygion fasciolatum)
-Hulafish (Trachinops taeniatus)
-Bicolor Goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides)
Nocturnal:
-Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
-Sammara Squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)
-Big Eye Black Bar Soldierfish (Myripristis sp.)
-Hi-Hat (Equetus acuminatus)
Wrasse: (Bolded because of difficulties keeping multiples of a species)
-Pink-streaked Pygmy Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)
-Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)
-Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)
-Eightline Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus octotaenia)
-Royal Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides severnsi)
-Sneaky Wrasse (Pteragogus cryptus)
-Eightline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia)
-Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres claudia)
-Nebulous Wrasse (Halichoeres nebulosus)
-Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus)
-Red-Lined Wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus)
-Radiant Wrasse (Halichoeres iridis)
-Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres annularis)
-Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)
-Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
-Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubeus)
-Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)
-Multicolor Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
-Naoko's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus naokoae)
-Bluehead Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura)
-Rosy Scale Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
-Yellow Fin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis)
-KwaZulu Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus spp.)
-Golden Rhomboidalis Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis)
-Labouti Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)
-Girdled Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
-Scott's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus scottorum)
-Blue Margin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus pylei)
-Sunset Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus pylei var.)
-Temmincki Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus temminckii)
-Tono's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus tonozukai)
-Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus)
-Hooded Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus)
-Splendid Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus isosceles)
-Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus linneatus)
-Lunate Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lunatus)
-Blue Sided Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura)
-Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
-Pygmy Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella tanakai)
-Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella nigropinnata)
-Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)
-Divided Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)
-Kuiter's Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon kuiteri)
-Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)
-Quoyi Parrotfish (Scarus quoyi)
-Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
I need some help.
To make a long story short, I've spent a good deal of time looking through just about every fish selling site I could find to try to A)learn about the different fish available in the hobby, and B)figure out which fish my wife and I would like to keep when we finally get going on our tank(s) (unfortunately, this will probably be a ways off still, but we're getting there).
The good news, we found a bunch of fish we like the looks of!
The bad news, we found way too many (and if you think you might have a recommendation I'd like, I'm open to hearing it - yes, I know I have a problem ).
Now, I would like to safely add just about as many fish from my lists below as possible into the same tank (and likely the rest of them into another), but I was hoping that you all could help me narrow our potential fish list by:
-Letting me know if there are any that I could easily add in without issues
-Letting me know if I've unintentionally added any cold/temperate water species to the list
-Letting me know about any compatibility issues (I know of a few that I hope I can work through, but I'd like some input on these to know if it's reasonably possible to work through them)
-Letting me know which fish (aside from the wrasse and Lyretail Anthias) would/could be problematic to keep in pairs/harems
-Letting me know if any of the fish listed are NOT reef safe and why they are not (i.e. if they eat corals, inverts, fish, clams, etc.) - I know the butterflyfish are not reef safe, but I'd like to know in advance if they eat anything other than SPS corals [I'm currently only planning on keeping the "weedy/invasive" SPS in the hopes that they won't kill the colonies if they decide to pick at them]
Any practical input would be appreciated. Also, any idea as to what sort of tank size I would need (based off of the first list below) would be helpful (I know it would be in the multiple hundreds of gallons, but I'd like a better idea than just that).
[Just to clarify here, I'm planning on doing a 6" DSB, so that probably does modify the size of the tank needed]
So, I'm going to give two lists here (I'll save list #3 of my FOWLR/Predators for another day). The first list is the list of fish that we both know we would like to keep if possible (the most important to know if there would be any issues with), and the second list is the huge list of other fish we're considering.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List 1: (Bold text = known potential issues, @ = species that will be chosen if the known issues can't be overcome)
-Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon atrangulatus)
-Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifera)
-Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)
-Mimic Lemonpeel Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)@
-Tenneti Tang (Acanthurus tennenti)
-Whitecheek Tang (Acanthurus nigricans)
-Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles)
-Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnificus)
-Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus)
-Ruby Red Dragonet (Synchiropus sycorax)
-McCullochi Clownfish (Amphiprion mccullochi)
-Either a Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) or an Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
-Ritteri Anemone (Heteractis magnifica)
-Watermelon Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
-Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus)
-Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
-Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
-Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
-Mexican Barnacle Blenny (Acanthemblemaria macrospilus)
-Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis - Indian Ocean)@
-Coral Beauty Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
-Black Nox Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge nox)
-Annularis Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
-Scribbled Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)
-Tangaroa Shrimp Goby (Ctenogobiops tangaroai) & Randall's Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus randalli)
-Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
-Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
-Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis)
-Scissortail Dartfish (Ptereleotris evides)
-Chinstrap Jawfish (Opistognathus sp 6)
-Longspine Cardinalfish (Zoramia leptacantha)
-Mystery Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus ocellatus)@
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List 2: (Bold text = known potential issues)
Angelfish:
-Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
-West African Angelfish (Holacanthus africanus)
-Xanthurus Cream Angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthurus)
-Six Bar Angelfish (Pomacanthus sexstriatus)
-True Shepard's Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge shepardi)
-Yellowfin Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge flavipectoralis)
Anthias & Hawkfish (weird to have these all grouped here, but the Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish is in the subfamily of anthias, so I just grouped them all):
-Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis - Normal/Pacific Ocean)
-Bartlett's Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum)
-Squareback Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia)
-Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish (Plectranthias inermis)
-Falco Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco)
-Red Hawkfish (Cyprinocirrhites polyactis)
Blennies:
-Panamic Barnacle Blenny (Acanthemblemaria hancocki)
-Eyebrow Barnacle Blenny (Ekemblemaria myersi)
Butterflyfish: (Bolded because not reef safe)
-Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)
-Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
-Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon aureofasciatus)
-Sunset/Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis)
-Racoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
Clownfish & Anemones:
-Goldflake Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus)
-Gold Nugget Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus)
-Snow Storm Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
-Fancy Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
-Ultra Bulb Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
-Rock Flower Anemone (Epicystis crucifer)
-Tube Anemone (Ceriathus sp.)
Foxfaces/Tangs:
-Foxface Lo (Siganus vulpinus)
-One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)
-Bicolor Foxface (Siganus uspi)
Gobies:
-Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
-Wheeler's Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) & Tiger Pistol Shrimp
-Panda Clown Goby (Paragobius lacunicolus)
-Starry Goby (Asterropteryx semipunctatus)
-Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris)
-Sleeper Banded Goby (Amblygobius phalaena)
-Hector's Goby (Koumansetta hectori)
-White Spotted Dwarf Goby (Trimma cf. caesiura)
-Masked Goby (Coryphopterus personatus)
-Gold Neon Eviota Goby (Eviota pellucida)
-Yellow Trimma Goby (Trimma kitrinum)
-Greenbanded Goby (Tigrigobius multifasciatus)
Miscellaneous:
-Black-Axil Chromis (Chromis sp.)
-Fusilier Damselfish (Lepidozygus tapeinosoma)
-Neon Damselfish/Allen's Damselfish (Pomacentrus alleni)
-Zebra Barred Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra)
-Tiger Jawfish (Opistognathus randalli)
-Australian Stripey (Microcanthus strigatus)
-Randall's Assessor Basslet (Assessor randalli)
-Marine Betta (Calloplesiops altivelis)
-Indigo Hamlet (Hypoplectrus indigo)
-Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum)
-Lantern Bass (Serranus baldwini)
-Belted Sandfish (Serranus subligarius)
-Banded Longfin Basslet (Belonepterygion fasciolatum)
-Hulafish (Trachinops taeniatus)
-Bicolor Goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides)
Nocturnal:
-Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
-Sammara Squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)
-Big Eye Black Bar Soldierfish (Myripristis sp.)
-Hi-Hat (Equetus acuminatus)
Wrasse: (Bolded because of difficulties keeping multiples of a species)
-Pink-streaked Pygmy Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)
-Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)
-Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)
-Eightline Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus octotaenia)
-Royal Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides severnsi)
-Sneaky Wrasse (Pteragogus cryptus)
-Eightline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia)
-Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres claudia)
-Nebulous Wrasse (Halichoeres nebulosus)
-Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus)
-Red-Lined Wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus)
-Radiant Wrasse (Halichoeres iridis)
-Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres annularis)
-Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)
-Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
-Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubeus)
-Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)
-Multicolor Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
-Naoko's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus naokoae)
-Bluehead Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura)
-Rosy Scale Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
-Yellow Fin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis)
-KwaZulu Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus spp.)
-Golden Rhomboidalis Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis)
-Labouti Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)
-Girdled Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
-Scott's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus scottorum)
-Blue Margin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus pylei)
-Sunset Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus pylei var.)
-Temmincki Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus temminckii)
-Tono's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus tonozukai)
-Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus)
-Hooded Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus)
-Splendid Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus isosceles)
-Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus linneatus)
-Lunate Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lunatus)
-Blue Sided Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura)
-Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
-Pygmy Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella tanakai)
-Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella nigropinnata)
-Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)
-Divided Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)
-Kuiter's Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon kuiteri)
-Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)
-Quoyi Parrotfish (Scarus quoyi)
-Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)