Picking and Choosing: When considering buying new fish, what factor is the most important to you?

[AlyciaMarie]

There are several things to consider when thinking about adding a new fishy friend to your home reef, but each reefer may prioritize certain factors over others. It's true, I'm sure every factor is important, but...

When considering buying a new fish, what factor is the most important to you?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

For me its between how high maintenance is the fish going to be, and is going to be a suitable pick for the rest of the inhabitants in my tank.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Compatibility with other tank mates, and will the Tang police hunt me down if I do this (kidding...sort of)

 

[vlangel]

For me it's all of the above. First I have in mind what will be compatible to the rest of the community in my small to medium (56 gallon) size macroalgae/ softie/ LPS tank. Next I want predominantly omnivores who can thrive a week or so on flake/pellets since we often go for long weekends to see our kids. ( I do feed frozen every day when I am not away). Lastly I prefer to see fish in person at lfs to determine it's health.

 

[Reefer Matt]

In my reef tanks I tend to go with “easy” to care for fish. I want to feed them flakes and pellets every other day. So a lot of damsels, etc. The fowlr tank mates are by compatability, as there are large predators in it.

 

[BryanM]

There are several things to consider when thinking about adding a new fishy friend to your home reef, but each reefer may prioritize certain factors over others. It's true, I'm sure every factor is important, but...

When considering buying a new fish, what factor is the most important to you?

All of these really.

Now that I know reef safe with caution is a MYTH.... I'm two weeks in on trying to catch a dwarf angel that likes softies.

 

[Seansea]

You forgot an important one!! Looks!! I love colorful and vibrant and try to get every color of the rainbow

 

[exnisstech]

I have two requirements. I voted compatability with other members but compatability with the tank environment is also a must.

 

[Dburr1014]

That is eating!

 

[Troylee]

Other…. Each fish in my tank plays a special role wether it’s to keep algae from ever appearing or cleaning the sand or even eating aiptasia..

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

All of those things….

 

[AlyciaMarie]

You forgot an important one!! Looks!! I love colorful and vibrant and try to get every color of the rainbow

Other…. Each fish in my tank plays a special role wether it’s to keep algae from ever appearing or cleaning the sand or even eating aiptasia..

Good points! Added them!

 

[AlyciaMarie]

All of these are important and should be considered, but what is the most important for you?

I chose compatibility with the tank size and environment because I have a small tank, so the first thing I need to ask myself is, "Is this fish suitable for a 20g tank?" Once I've asked myself this question, I can move to the other ones. Temperament, benefits, and compatibility don't matter in my situation if the fish I want can't fit in my tank.

 

[shakacuz]

all of the above! wouldn't want a critter who would cause issues for the tank in the sense of eating corals, inverts, etc or potentially bringing in disease(which of course can be avoided with proper QT).

 

[deome]

Definitely role and purpose, as well as odds of longevity (I lose a lot of new fish).

I actually don't care much for fish; sure they add interest to the tank, but I have to feed them every day and then deal with nutrient export. Other than a dozen DT fish I bought two years ago when I first got into the hobby, there isn't a single fish in my system that doesn't have a particular job to do. For example, I occasionally buy a wrasse or clown fish to protect coral or refugiums from pests, but that's about it. Inverts are far better at dealing with pests and cleanup, and all I really care about is coral.

 

[KrisReef]

All of these are important and should be considered, but what is the most important for you?

I try to buy fish that meet most of the list but the most important is that my significant other likes it.

It used to be that she wouldn't throw a fit over the cost of the new fish but that has changed over time to where I hope she likes the new addition.

 

[vlangel]

All of these are important and should be considered, but what is the most important for you?

Well, if I have to choose MOST important I would have to say compatibility with the established community. I love the serenity the display tank brings to our livingroom but not when a fish goes rogue!