Nuances of reef keeping

[Baldyreef]

As of right now, I have the following fish:

3 blue damsels (I believe they're blue devils)
2 percula clowns
1 candy basslet
1 emerald wrasse
1 sailfin tang
1 bluefin tang

Thank you for the recommendations! Based on the sailfin's behavior this morning, something tells me he won't survive but based on this thread, the tangs should go regardless.

I'm truly sorry for all the loss of fish it can be tough

 

[SeamusHarper]

@Baldyreef they look like this:

They chase each other around occasionally but aside from that, they don't show much aggression from what I've observed.

The fish deaths definitely are sad. They're all beautiful animals, I'm just learning all of this on the fly and trusted my fish guy which obviously has not panned out well.

 

[Baldyreef]

@Baldyreef they look like this:

They chase each other around occasionally but aside from that, they don't show much aggression from what I've observed

yeah definitely blue devils then, that's good that they're not outright aggressive, how big are they at the moment?

 

[SeamusHarper]

yeah definitely blue devils then, that's good that they're not outright aggressive, how big are they at the moment?

They're literally big, medium, and small haha.

The small one is tiny, close in size to the basslet although not as long. The largest one has gotten pretty big, slightly bigger than the clowns I would say. The medium one is somewhere in between in size.

 

[Baldyreef]

They're literally big, medium, and small haha.

The small one is tiny, close in size to the basslet although not as long. The largest one has gotten pretty big, slightly bigger than the clowns I would say. The medium one is somewhere in between in size.

do they all sort of hang out in one spot? you might've gotten lucky and ended up with a harem!

 

[James CNM]

I did not request two grammas at once. My original request for fish was fairly normal, to my understanding. It was the fish guy that kept adding after.

I absolutely understand my friend. I think you need to research more. My suggestion would be to hand any livestock in to a good fish store, they will give you a credit but you will be at loss. The reason i say this, eventually you will lose more livestock, it isn't about how much your pocket has been hit, it is about the life that you dream of observing and have the pleasure of looking after. Give up the livestock you have(re fish), learn about your water chemistry and research the fish you wish to keep, not all are compatible , just because they are saltwater does not mean all will get along .

No hard feelings, we have all been there, anyone that says they haven't , well...there the ones to avoid!...Just like your fish guy

 

[SeamusHarper]

do they all sort of hang out in one spot? you might've gotten lucky and ended up with a harem!

Not that I've observed. The big one likes to hang out in one spot of the tank. It'll definitely move around the whole tank but it's got a spot that it likes and often just hovers in that area. The other two are all over the place.

 

[Baldyreef]

Not that I've observed. The big one likes to hang out in one spot of the tank. It'll definitely move around the whole tank but it's got a spot that it likes and often just hovers in that area. The other two are all over the place.

got it so probably not a harem then, once the other two grow up it could lead to fights to the death for aggression if they end up claiming the same territories, it can also be an issue for other fish as they are known to bully fish that are well bigger than them in size

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Lengthwise your tank is ok for tangs, but width and height are not sufficient for even a Tomini, but that is just my opinion.

 

[SeamusHarper]

I absolutely understand my friend. I think you need to research more. My suggestion would be to hand any livestock in to a good fish store, they will give you a credit but you will be at loss. The reason i say this, eventually you will lose more livestock, it isn't about how much your pocket has been hit, it is about the life that you dream of observing and have the pleasure of looking after. Give up the livestock you have(re fish), learn about your water chemistry and research the fish you wish to keep, not all are compatible , just because they are saltwater does not mean all will get along .

No hard feelings, we have all been there, anyone that says they haven't , well...there the ones to avoid!...Just like your fish guy

Cheers, I appreciate the support.

I'd like to keep the original fish as they've survived this long and are otherwise doing well.

As much as the tangs are beautiful, I don't mind giving them up, especially if they endanger the rest of the fish. Ditto with the blue sea star. I'll check to see which places around me will take fish.

 

[SeamusHarper]

got it so probably not a harem then, once the other two grow up it could lead to fights to the death for aggression if they end up claiming the same territories, it can also be an issue for other fish as they are known to bully fish that are well bigger than them in size

I will keep this in mind. My fist concern would be the big one but I guess they'll all gain size at some point.

Lengthwise your tank is ok for tangs, but width and height are not sufficient for even a Tomini, but that is just my opinion.

This is what I was told and assumed fish guy, being an expert, would know this as well but I guess not.

 

[Baldyreef]

got it so probably not a harem then, once the other two grow up it could lead to fights to the death for aggression if they end up claiming the same territories, it can also be an issue for other fish as they are known to bully fish that are well bigger than them in size

I will keep this in mind. My fist concern would be the big one but I guess they'll all gain size at some point.

Lengthwise your tank is ok for tangs, but width and height are not sufficient for even a Tomini, but that is just my opinion.

This is what I was told and assumed fish guy, being an expert, would know this as well but I guess not.

Yeah as they get bigger they’ll become increasingly aggressive, just a single one can be an issue in many tanks, my lfs has one who has prevented them from putting any other fish in a 6 foot long frag tank because of pure aggression, but that one is a extreme case

 

[SeamusHarper]

Yeah as they get bigger they’ll become increasingly aggressive, just a single one can be an issue in many tanks, my lfs has one who has prevented them from putting any other fish in a 6 foot long frag tank because of pure aggression, but that one is a extreme case

The big one was aggressive towards the tangs in the beginning but stopped after a few days. I guess they asserted their dominance?

No one messes with the clowns I have observed, and the basslet is probably the sneakiest fish in the entire tank.

 

[James CNM]

Lengthwise your tank is ok for tangs, but width and height are not sufficient for even a Tomini, but that is just my opinion.

I agree, Tangs need swimming space. Saying that, I do have a Tomini in a cube 160ltrs, (I am a tang guy and he was chosen specifically because he is the smallest of tang species) he resides with three other fish, Midas, Clown, yellow wrasse, 3yrs running

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I will keep this in mind. My fist concern would be the big one but I guess they'll all gain size at some point.



This is what I was told and assumed fish guy, being an expert, would know this as well but I guess not.

You live and you learn. You're in the right place to get answers now.

 

[SeamusHarper]

You live and you learn. You're in the right place to get answers now.

Indeed. I'm just hoping the tangs didn't introduce something into the tank that will kill the other fish. I'm thinking when I get home tonight I'm going to find the sailfin dead based on what I saw this morning and I know both tangs were covered in white spots a few weeks ago.