Stocking question with Predators

[Jenz]

Hey
Pulling hair out as 6wks before cycling a 90gal DT still unsettled about stocking. the more I read into the species, the more likely issues within a closed system.
For instance what would be suitable companions for Scorpionfish ie Leaf or Rhinopias in a 90gal display? Figured on a Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish but what would utilise the water column (hope correct terminology)? Have read algae eaters ie Rabbitfishes and Surgeonfish/Tangs can harass the Scorpions, am of opinion Blue-jaw (chin) Trigger is a no go and even the smaller puffers/Tobies can prove harassive.
On the other end of spectrum smaller fish can end up food.
My original plan was to stock some basic corals ie easier lps and possibly some soft corals.
Am slowly realising I should have stuck with a Discus tank
Thanks

 

[lion king]

I keep dwarf lions and anglers, which I consider the care of to be similar to scorpionfish and rhinopias. I believe they are best in a species tank with similar fish that require the same care, feeding them can be tricky all on it's on. So feeding can be challenging in a tank with more aggressive eaters, and sometimes rhinos and scorpionfish may even need to be fed live foods. Then other tankmates can either pick on them or become prey. There are people that keep them with other species but from my experience people that have kept them more successfully, kept them in a species tank.

 

[Jenz]

Thank you
Am figuring that may need to be the case.

 

[Jenz]

Lion king sorry to question and guess hard to answer but 90gal would you go Lions/Scorpionfish or Trigger/puffer or Toby's. Remember reading you've had tanks with variety of predators

 

[eatbreakfast]

Swallowtail angels are planktivores, so won't pick on the Rhinopias, they get big enough not to be eaten, and use the water column.

Other Scorpionids would have similar care to the rhinopias.

 

[lion king]

You could keep a toby puffer in a 90 indefinitely, almost all if not all triggers will eventually out grow that tank. Some say bluejaws can be in smaller tanks, I have a pair in my 210 that are about 5" and I wouldn't put them in my 90. The humu grows very very slow and could handle the 90 for many years, but if you are one to think that this tank is their forever home; I probably wouldn't go the trigger route. Any puffers besides the toby puffers grow very fast and would be too big for 90 in no time.

I have 4 lions in a 90 and they are happy and vibrant, You could do a scorpion/rhino/dwarf lion tank in that 90 and it would be awesome. The antennata and mombasa lions stay on the smaller side also. Here's a crappy pic of three of them.

 

[Jenz]

Eatbreafast I promise I won't trouble with any further stocking questions. Thank you for your patience as always. I will look into the Swallowtail Angel
Lion King I think am back to being convinced on the Scorpion/Lion route; have appreciated your help yet again and feel will restart the plan for my stocking list

 

[eatbreakfast]

Ask all the questions you can. Everyone here wants to help.

 

[Duke4Life]

Ask all the questions you can. Everyone here wants to help.

+1
Never hesitate asking questions on here.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

@Lionfish Lair

 

[rayn]

Rhino are slower moving and more of a ambush predator then a chaser. Most scorps fall into this category, but they can move fast when they want to.

Once fuzzier learn you, they will be in the water column more and actually start to beg you when you walk by.

What type of scorpion are you thinking?

 

[Jenz]

Either a Weedy scorpion, (Rhinpias) or a leaf Scorpion; both are available intermittently at one of the LFS. Got interested in them when reading the information on Lions.

 

[rayn]

There is a BIG difference between the two! Besides price, the leaf is notoriously difficult to wean to prepared food, and sometimes never does. Be prepared to feed live food indefinitely if you go with a leaf. Rhino are just plain cool fish, but pricey. I've had a couple and they wean to prepared food just fine. Their life span is unknown and therefore a gamble with their price.

A alternative, if you can find it, is a cockatoo waspfish. They are closer to the leaf fish in looks, but easily weaned to prepared food. They will also start to beg once they know you. Cool fish as well.

 

[Jenz]

Thank you again