Initial fish selection...

[Logan A.]

Within the month my tank will be ready for its first batch of fish. I have $100 dollars to spend and I will be buying them from liveaquaria. what would be the best test/starter fish for me to buy. All suggestions and input is welcome!

 

[eatbreakfast]

What size tank?

 

[Logan A.]

What size tank?

75 gallon DT

 

[eatbreakfast]

Flame or longnose hawk, royal gramma, watchman goby/pistol shrimp pr, yellow coris wrasse, mccosker flasher wrasse, starry or stigmatura blenny.

 

[lion king]

Don't go with what you call "starter" fish, give us an idea of what you like. As you get experience you will get bored of those "starter" fish. Find what you like and learn as much as you can about their requirements and care. I've found when people choose fish that fascinate them they become much more successful. Obviously don't start out with a $400 show fish, but choose a couple of fish you find to just be awesome. That's what I did almost 30 years ago, had my 1st tank been a couple of clowns; I likely would not be doing this anymore.

 

[Mr. Limpid]

This would be my last fish if this was my tank.

Lemon Peel. And school of these are cool

Pajama Cardinals.

 

[Logan A.]

Don't go with what you call "starter" fish, give us an idea of what you like. As you get experience you will get bored of those "starter" fish. Find what you like and learn as much as you can about their requirements and care. I've found when people choose fish that fascinate them they become much more successful. Obviously don't start out with a $400 show fish, but choose a couple of fish you find to just be awesome. That's what I did almost 30 years ago, had my 1st tank been a couple of clowns; I likely would not be doing this anymore.

I guess I didn't think about it this way...thank you this is what I will be doing.

 

[ESAYARKAY]

Flame or longnose hawk, royal gramma, watchman goby/pistol shrimp pr, yellow coris wrasse, mccosker flasher wrasse, starry or stigmatura blenny.

These Wrasses and Blennies, Watchman Goby and Royal Gramma will be aggressive towards some other fish. I'd plan carefully because you might end up wanting fish that won't be compatible with these. There are Wrasses that are very peaceful and beautiful that will most definitely not be OK with the suggestions above. Another thing, if you want corals, check if the fish are reef compatible. Once you decide which fish you want, a general idea of genera, plan the order in which to add them because the more aggressive they get the later in the game you might want to add them. The general rule is adding fish from least aggressive to most aggressive in order, so the more peaceful ones can feel settled instead of coming into a tank full of "different" personalities.

 

[wiselyy73]

@Mr.Limpid Lemon Peel is not reef safe isn’t it?

 

[Susan Edwards]

I agree with choosing what you like. I just ordered my first fish for my new build--to put in QT first. 3 wrasses and 2 clowns. I'm trying to stay away from "typical" starters, though will add a couple just because I like them. Tried for Royal gramma but they were out of stock.

 

[eatbreakfast]

These Wrasses and Blennies, Watchman Goby and Royal Gramma will be aggressive towards some other fish. I'd plan carefully because you might end up wanting fish that won't be compatible with these. There are Wrasses that are very peaceful and beautiful that will most definitely not be OK with the suggestions above. Another thing, if you want corals, check if the fish are reef compatible. Once you decide which fish you want, a general idea of genera, plan the order in which to add them because the more aggressive they get the later in the game you might want to add them. The general rule is adding fish from least aggressive to most aggressive in order, so the more peaceful ones can feel settled instead of coming into a tank full of "different" personalities.

Yellow coris wrasse and mccosker wrasse are 2 of the most peaceful wrasses available, even with other wrasses.

Starry blennies will defend their perch, but are not aggressive to planktivores. Stigmatura blennies are very peaceful.

Royal grammas will defend their cave, but are generally pretty peaceful as well.

So please, @The Pessarium, which wrasses will not do well with these fish?

 

[Logan A.]

Thank you everybody for your input it really does help!