Compatible Fish?

I thought u really wanted the mandarin XD. goby or blenny... well I gave an idea of pistol shrimp/goby combo, but u cudnt really keep any cleaner shrimp then. if you want just goby, try like a yellow watchman goby, randalls goby, hi fin red banded goby, maybe even a yasha goby. For blennies is the sailfin/algae blenny, bicolor blenny, and starry blenny (my favorite). I'd recommend these really.

 

I do love the mandarin, i just love the wrasse more haha and I love cleaner shrimp. I looked at alot of gobies and blennies and cant decide so I will just leave that spot open;D

 

k its 53 gallons? Here's what I would do: 1 mandarin (I'm not much of a wrasse fan for some reason lol, probably cuz ive never had one!), black and white ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman goby, scooter blenny (same rules apply to it; its a dragonet and needs copepods), and maybe a banggai/kaudern's cardinal. For corals maybe a kenya tree, different kinds of zoanthids, mushrooms (such as red mushroom, my favorite!), and maybe some leather finger mushrooms as well. Some button polyps too maybe. For other inverts, maybe a cleaner shrimp, blood red fire shrimp, a coco worm or feather duster (maybe a few), emerald crabs (Caution since they sometimes will eat corals), and a serpent sea star ;D

 

Do you not like the tang?

 

I do but tangs usually outgrow 53; minimum is usually 100 gallons for any tang really, or so i'd recommend

 

Just a forwarning, The Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse will probably become super aggressive in the tank of that size.

If you're going off of LiveAquarias info its a bout outdated. Considering My Red Velvet is almost 5" big.

 

Kole tang's are one of the smallest species and grow to 7inches only. Ive gotten many opinions and they all say he will be fine in the tank. You can see what they look like here

 

Yeah I've seen them, but I'm just saying that I'd get at least 100 gallons for any tang species because they need lots of live rock and swimming room

 

I agree. I have a red velvet in my 90 and sometimes I feel that tank is too small. They are very active and get quite large, and are one of the more "aggressive" fairy wrasses.

 

Thats fine and dandy, but if that fish ever hits max size, You will regret having a fish that big in the tank.

Theres always the debate if the fish will or will not.

I have a few 5-7" tangs in my 120gallon. And They keep getting bigger. Did have an 8" at one point and It looked so cramped.

Im sure it would be fine. But I can guarantee you when the fish maxes out in size (Since it is the smaller of the tangs it probably will) That you will feel horrible for having it in that tank.