Worst livestock mistake you have ever made and why?

[cdmckinzie]

@mcarroll I agree with your "beginner's corals" comment! However, if you go into a LFS and ask for "something that I can't kill" then you are likely going to get pointed to something that you REALLY DON'T WANT. That's a question that beginners ask too frequently. A better question a new aquarist should ask is "What can I have in a young tank that is hardy but won't become a nuissance." Unfortunately no one knows to ask that question (because we are all awestuck by the beauty of it all, how could something so pretty take over EVERYTHING) which is why it is important to pick a good LFS to go to, so they steer you clear of the kenya tree, the red mushrooms, the xenia and other things that are going to ruin your experience in the long run.

I made the mistake in this tank in letting some GSP escape onto a rock, I know I will regret it. I'm thinking I'll likely need a laser to get rid of them.

We haven't set up our tank yet but I got 2 for Christmas, so I immediately started looking at fish and making a list of everything I wanted. THEN I started researching and found half the fish I wanted are monsters (damsels and triggers of course) I have slowly whittled down what is on my list and what we will start with. But what is a good hardy fish to get as a newbie?

 

[mta_morrow]

I keep seeing the emerald crab as part of CUC, what crab should I get then

They are very unnecessary. I personally have red leg and blue leg hermits and nassarious snails and 1 small conch

 

[sil40sx]

Question about xenia, my hubby and I both really want a blue pulsing xenia when we get out tank set up. What can you do to keep it from taking over? Lots of people have them so there must be something you can do, any suggestions would be really appreciated

Put it on an isolated rock. From there you can control it by trimming excess growth rather than occupying your main rockscape.

 

[Rick.45cal]

We haven't set up our tank yet but I got 2 for Christmas, so I immediately started looking at fish and making a list of everything I wanted. THEN I started researching and found half the fish I wanted are monsters (damsels and triggers of course) I have slowly whittled down what is on my list and what we will start with. But what is a good hardy fish to get as a newbie?

Small peaceful fish in the beginning. This is very relative with marine fish. All marine fish are very adept at surviving in a very dynamic and dangerous ecosystem, they all have different strategies to accomplish this. On top of this, most marine fish are really individuals and will rapidly adapt their habits to suit their environment.

The order you add them to a new aquarium is largely based upon what your list is made up of. So in your situation I would formulate a list of things that you think will go along with each other and then with that in your hand, ask someone you trust, who knows what they are talking about! Add the complexity of what corals you want to keep and whether the fish are going to behave is an additional concerns. So it's best to have at least a general understanding of what you want to keep as far as corals, and also take that with you to the discussion. With all of those things in your hand you will be off to a great start.

The way you get into trouble is impulse buying a fish or coral that you haven't done your homework on. (This is pretty common unfortunately, and often times it ends poorly).

Just things to think about.

 

[LBehr]

Clowns can be Jerks but are cheap easy and fun to look at. Chromis are a alot like damsels but less aggressive. There a lot of fairly inexpensive gobies out there that are pretty hardy.

 

[RamsReef]

never again this snail with LPS

What a jerk!

 

[tj w]

My CLOWN TANG! His name is Lucifer. He's only 3 inches and was the second to last addition in my tank of 28 fish. He chases everyone. If I could go back I would have never put him in. Also, just to let some of you know, my niger trigger is a model citizen for me. He's about 5-6 inches and doesn't bother anyone. He's beautiful! Probably one of my favorites!

 

[Frop]

Box of water?!?!? Do you know how heavy that stuff is? Totally dangerous.

An empty tank with air and some plastic corals in it is the only safe option.

Plastic? That stuff causes cancer! Totally unsafe. I was thinking just a picture of a fish tank on the refrigerator.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Plastic? That stuff causes cancer! Totally unsafe. I was thinking just a picture of a fish tank on the refrigerator.

Papercuts!!!

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I'm think more along the lines of the emerald crab being the killer. I had an emerald that killed a flasher wrasse......caught him in the act, almost had it cut in half. And I even fed that crab every day! Off to Shawshank he went.

Yeah I had originally been thinking the same thing. I saw the crab go into the firefish's "lair" the night before. I talked myself out of it after googling both inverts and seeing more people claiming their CBSs to be killers.

 

[cdmckinzie]

Small peaceful fish in the beginning. This is very relative with marine fish. All marine fish are very adept at surviving in a very dynamic and dangerous ecosystem, they all have different strategies to accomplish this. On top of this, most marine fish are really individuals and will rapidly adapt their habits to suit their environment.

The order you add them to a new aquarium is largely based upon what your list is made up of. So in your situation I would formulate a list of things that you think will go along with each other and then with that in your hand, ask someone you trust, who knows what they are talking about! Add the complexity of what corals you want to keep and whether the fish are going to behave is an additional concerns. So it's best to have at least a general understanding of what you want to keep as far as corals, and also take that with you to the discussion. With all of those things in your hand you will be off to a great start.

The way you get into trouble is impulse buying a fish or coral that you haven't done your homework on. (This is pretty common unfortunately, and often times it ends poorly).

Just things to think about.

Thank you so much. The fish I want do get along as far as I have found out, flame angel, a couple of tangs, gobi, clowns. I also want to start with soft corals like xenia. I do want a couple of anemones too and am just starting to research what the clowns will like and what won't eat my other fish.

 

[mdpitts]

Anthelia... by far the most invasive coral I've ever dealt with. It grows between polyps, over the top of GSP, on acro branches, you name it.

I am on here searching for a way to remove it from a rock that is my "zoa island". Over the past month it is taking over a lot of my little tank. How did you remove it?

 

[mmw64]

I bought a rock covered in Zenia for $45 thinking I got a great deal. To this day Im removing it from my SPS dominated Display Tank trying to keep it from over running my tank.

Dennis

My whole 72 gallon tank is covered with Zenia or orange bubble tip anemones. Bought 1 anemone and now have at least 20! Too old and tired to fight the battle.

 

[mmw64]

Thank you so much. The fish I want do get along as far as I have found out, flame angel, a couple of tangs, gobi, clowns. I also want to start with soft corals like xenia. I do want a couple of anemones too and am just starting to research what the clowns will like and what won't eat my other fish.

My whole tank is covered with Xenias, be pro-active and keep them in check.

 

[Uncle99]

Added a long nose hawk fish.
Shrimps lasted about 1 minute.
Hit them so hard.
What a dum move.
Researched nothing.
Two $50 shrimp dinners.
That will teach me….

 

[littlefoxx]

Powder blue tang… devil fish!!! But I came across a baby (literally so tiny) that I fell in love with. So he is in QT right now… dang my weakness for baby fish! Made me get a fish I swore I would never EVER have again!!! If he goes murderous Im do t with PBTs and I swear I mean it this time lol

 

[marlboroken]

having a bubble tip anemone room around the tank

 

[BristleWormHater]

Mithrax crabs

 

[Roatan Reef]

Added a long nose hawk fish.
Shrimps lasted about 1 minute.
Hit them so hard.
What a dum move.
Researched nothing.
Two $50 shrimp dinners.
That will teach me….

Yep...my Hawk had the best meals of his life, Shrimps, Snails, you name it...gone!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Powder blue tang… devil fish!!! But I came across a baby (literally so tiny) that I fell in love with. So he is in QT right now… dang my weakness for baby fish! Made me get a fish I swore I would never EVER have again!!! If he goes murderous Im do t with PBTs and I swear I mean it this time lol

This has always been my fear of getting one, even though I still somewhat want one in the future.