Livestock suggestions anyone?? :)

My 40 gallon breeder has been setup for around 3+ wks now and is good to go! The other day I purchased 2 tank raised ocellaris clowns (Cayman and Maui). They're doing great so far, eating and swimming around as happy as can be . Lately i've been putting some thought into my future livestock.. I was hoping yall can help me out with that part There's just so many choices its almost overwhelming lol, but a good problem to have I suppose. I'm looking to get all docile fish, nothing that is too advanced to take care of.. As this is my first salt tank. I'm looking for fish that have somewhat of a "personality", and obviously some that look cool Although I haven't seen to many that don't! I won't be adding any new members to my little ocean for a couple weeks at least, but I can't help but plan all this out. Im obsessed! 8)


Thanks for any suggestions guys!

 

For a 40g, I would add 2
Spotted Cardinalfish
cool looking and a great personality.
1 watchman goby
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Yellow Prawn Goby
For Inverts,
Add a cleaner shrimp and a CUC
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497 525 696&pcatid=696

 

I always like to see movement throughout all the tank. Clownfish don't move much. I would find a fish that runs around on the sandbed. I would find one that picks on the rocks, and I would find one that is constantly swimming in the water column.

 

agreed, this way you can make it seem full with only 3 or 4 fish. also wait a while longer your tank probably isnt done cycling in 3 weeks so wait maybe another month before adding much else, when its ready you could add a dwarf angel. but sometimes they can eat coral its really a crap shoot. cardinals are good and there are many gobies and blennies that swim on the sand, for a fish in the water collumn you could get 2 or 3 chromises or some other schooling fish. just an idea

 

+10 to this:

You have already just added two new fish in a relatively young tank. In all liklihood your clowns will be fine. But adding any other fish at this point would be pushing the limits of the capabilties of your young bacterial colonies in terms of handling the waste generate from that many fish - coming from zero fish before.

Best to let your new inhabitants be by themselves for at least a month. That is the generally accepted guideline for intervals between fish additions.

Being patient will only help you in the long run.

 

We'll he did say that he wouldnt be adding any new inhabitants for a few weeks. So I do think he has expressed somwhat patience.

Hello and welcome. I dont want to be the barer of bad news but as a 46 gall owner myself, you will find your statement above to not really be the case.

Although you have probably seen many diffrent types of fish while researching, you will find your choices quite limited in a 40 gall tank. (unless however your doing FOWLR) but if you are doing a mixed reef research long and hard before you buy. I will give you a general list of your main choices and a general list of fish not recommended and why.

Possible otions.
Clowns (U already have)
Certain wrasse fish (not all reef safe)
Cardinal fish (however there is debate on weather to keep in groups wheras to many required for smaller systems.
Goby fish or jawfish (generally burrowing fish)
Chromis (but usually schooling)
Blenny fish
dottybacks.
royal gramma (and couple other bass fish or basslets)

There may be a few others ive left out that other members may suggest.

The problem with this list is alot of these fish are not free swimmers and alot are nano often really small fish.


That pretty much somes up the list. Trust me ive researched and researched until I realized I needed a bigger tank if I wanted more options.

now here is the list of fish that you cant keep.
Tangs (reef safe but to big for your tank)
Large angels To big not reef safe
Dwarf angels (this may be an acception if you can find the right one. but there personality dependent. worse case senario they will nip at stony corlas.
triggers
boxfish
batfish
anglers
butterfly
hogfish
lion fish
puffers.
All these fish listed above are either not reef safe or to big for your tank.
anthias (to big for your tank and need be kept in groups)
dragonets(reef safe but not for the novice aquarist)

I dont mean to be mister negative just wanted to give you a heads up . howver fish only tanks your options grow but still have size limits.
but generally since you did ask for suggestions so typically the first list is your first options. (research wrasse fish. many options in that group and dwarf angels if you dare take the risk.) good luck and welcome.

 

"I won't be adding any new members to my little ocean for a couple weeks at least, but I can't help but plan all this out."

No worries guys, as I said in the first post, I won't be adding any new little buddys for at least a month. I don't get paid for a few weeks, so I wont be tempted lol. I just want some suggestions from people who have some experience with fun/active fish! I agree with yall about the movement, my clownfish follow me from side to side when I walk in the room lol. Probably thinking they might get lucky and i'll feed them haha. I'm not a big fan of the chromis and cardinals. They're cool, I've just heard of people having those schooling fish, and the stronger ones in the group singling out the weaker ones.

As for the dwarf angel, I LOVE coral beauties.. But if I end up getting him, it'll probably be the last one. I'd want to get any smaller fish I may get first, to allow them to get comfortable. So he's still on the maybe list. I have a few fish on my radar, I'd appreciate any input yall have on them.. Here's a list for yall.

2 ocellaris clowns (already in the tank)
Yellow watchmen goby
firefish
Longnose hawkfish
Royal gramma
Coral beauty

I'm not going to be adding all of these to my tank, this is just a list of fish i'm interested in. I'd like to pick a group that can coexist, obviously. Thanks for any input guys

 

2 ocellaris clowns (already in the tank)
Yellow watchmen goby
firefish
Longnose hawkfish
Royal gramma
Coral beauty


that's a good list. and the order you listed them is good too. only thing that could maybe change is doing the royal gramma last...they seem to be territorial and can be mean.

 

I would say thats a acceptable list although I did have to take a coral beauty out of my tank for nipping on LPS. and I would swap in a wrasse for the firefish.

 

having a smaller tank does limit you, but still the choices are overwhelming! you named several genus but individual species there are hundreds to choose from.