Stocking question

[jah-hoeva]

6’ tank, current stock list is as follows:

Hippo tang 5”
Yellow tang 3”
Copperband 4”
Melanarus wrasse
Yellow corris wrasse
Bangai cardinal
Clown pair

Was thinking. About adding a Kole, and a duo or trio of leopards or trio of some anthias. Thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks

 

[Maritimer]

The melanurus may have an issue with the leopards - use a social acclimation box to test the waters there.

Hippo - and _especially_ - yellow tangs are likely to be aggressive toward the kole. Social acclimation box, removal of the yellow to your sump / a holding tank for a week or more, rearranging of your rockwork to break up existing territories, and the use of one or more mirrors as a distraction may all help. Yellow tangs have something of a reputation for aggression once established.

~Bruce

 

[ca1ore]

My favorite anthias is the bimac - colorful and not too intra-species aggressive. The only drawback is they are expensive. You could try lyretails. If they have space and enough food, squabbles can be controlled. Ignitus/dispar would be good choices as well. They stay a little smaller but generally hold their own. I had trouble with my old melanarius and leopard wrasses. I now keep a dusky instead; much less temperamental (only sample size of one though lol).

Edit - we all spelled Melanareous three different ways (now four). That made me laugh