What are some fish you want but won't fit in your tank for whatever reason?

[swebb]

1. Post the species and photo
2. Post why it would not work (size, lack of reef safe, compatibility, etc)

I saw a picture of a surge or rainbow wrasse on Reddit, unfortunately it is far to large and not reef safe for me to get one.

 

[jgvergo]

Hippo, Achilles and Powder Blue tangs. I have an 85 gallon DT .

 

[64Ivy]

Sohal Tang. I have a 500g.

 

[FredsNJReef]

Napoleon Wrasse.

And why, well because 7 feet !! (tight squeeze for my Fusion 20 lol)

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Ooo! Good thread topic! As I have a 50g cube, there's lots that I want that won't work for my tank, but two that I REALLY wish I could add right now are

1) a pair of Japanese Swallowtail Angels (here's a couple of pics of a male owned by @Mike&Terry)




and a lineatus wrasse (pic by @Titanwerx)

 

[FredsNJReef]

I'm adding another dream fish: Look Downs!!!
Always wanted a few! They need too much room though.

 

[swebb]

Hippo, Achilles and Powder Blue tangs. I have an 85 gallon DT .

I wish I could get a tang but only only have a 40 breeder, hopefully someday.

Sohal Tang. I have a 500g.

That is a beautiful fish!

Napoleon Wrasse.

And why, well because 7 feet !! (tight squeeze for my Fusion 20 lol)

Seven feet is only 84 inches, so you could probably fit it in a 90 gallon.

 

[FredsNJReef]

Seven feet is only 84 inches, so you could probably fit it in a 90 gallon.

Touche!

 

[Mrod]

About 99% that I want as have a 16 gallon tank

Love the pics and look down fish are so cool!!

 

[jgvergo]

About 99% that I want as have a 16 gallon tank

Love the pics and look down fish are so cool!!

Ya know Mrod, you are right. We are all lucky to have the tanks that we have. I withdraw my lament about tangs. I LOVE my tank!

 

[Robink]

I would love to have a Harlequin Tusk, not reef safe...

 

[swebb]

I would love to have a Harlequin Tusk, not reef safe...

All tusk fish are so cool. I saw the video on BBC Blue Planet 2 of the orange spotted tusk fish breaking a clam on coral and it would be unbelievable to have a fish that intelligent.

 

[haanstang]

You can have harlequin tusks in a reef. You just might have to replace snails and crabs every now and then.
They don’t eat coral. They do eat clams

 

[saltyhog]

Queen Angel, too large and aggressive. Bicolor angel, not reef safe.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Powder blue tang.

This is a fish i love. But i have been given good advice that they need a larger tank than i have, why this is so, & i respect the advice.

 

[Waters]

Any of the large angels or tangs.

 

[Venator]

Ahhh, this is a fun topic!
Let’s see, Belonoperca pylei (orange spotted soapfish) and
Bulbonaricus brauni (galaxea pipefish) are some cool ones!
Edit: I suppose I forgot No. 2; both are ones I’ll probably never see in real life, unfortunately... but hey, ya never know.

 

[haanstang]

Unicorn tang
I have a 6’ x 2’ x 2.5’ tank but this fish would out grow it.

 

[Kremis]

I would love to have a Harlequin Tusk, not reef safe...

I have a tusk in my reef. they are fine with corals but any shrimp/hermit crabs/snails are at risk. mine hasnt touched my snails.

id always wanted a stingray but my 180 isnt suitable for one

 

[swebb]

id always wanted a stingray but my 180 isnt suitable for one

Rays are extremely beautiful. My favorite is the eagle ray, but they require an extremely large tank.

Eagle Ray

Two other fish that would be really cool to have in a tank are a trumpet fish and a needlefish, but both get extremely large and could potentially eat there other tank mates.


Trumpet Fish


Needlefish