Fish options for a 40g

My last post about the tang didn't go so well so this time I'll give you more options. I've created this list of candidates that appeal to me and wanted a little feedback from you all. I plan to have coral and anemone at some point but have none at the moment. If you had only this list to work with, and you had my setup, what would you choose? Please do create different combinations that will work together, and be suitable for my 40g.

Update: This list is now a more complete list of what I think will work. I've also tried to make the list chronological in terms of adding each of them to the tank. Does this list look okay?

Ocellaris Clownfish, tank bred
Coral Beauty Angel
Starry Blenny (obtained)
Falco Hawkfish (obtained)


Happy Holidays to all!
Doratus

 

Merry Christmas to you too!
I would go with 6-7 fish, at most. Flashers wrasses generally need more swimming room as well.

 

I would pick 4-5 fish out of the good ones

 

You may have issues mixing the bleenies. In a larger tank possible, but not enough real estate you may see territory issues. One blenny would be ideal.

I think some type of clownfish are ideal. Since you are thinking anemone down the road clownfish maybe a good fit. Captive breed clowns are hardy and always make a colorful and active addition to a tank.

Resisting the urge for a butterfly may avoid the dissappointment and frustration that usually comes with these fish when placed in newer systems.

Coral beauty or Potters angel while both sometimes a challange to acclimate have proven to be less likely to nip as corals and clams IMO.

Perhaps a smaller goby such as a yellow watchman, orange spotted, orange stripped or the clown gobies make a better fit and do not throw as much sand around.

Good luck. Karma for doing the research.

 

Hawknoses aren't going to work if you want inverts. Butterflies should have more than 40 gallons. I wouldn't mix blennies, especially including an algae blenny in that size tank. Other than that, I think 5-6 of your favorite fish from that list would make for a nice display.

 

Be careful with the Falco Hawk, especially with more timid fish like Flashers. They are sneaky and divebomb them when you're not looking. I had to remove mine from the reef tank for this reason. A friend of mine had a few fish die in his tank. I told him to keep an eye on his Hawk, and sure enough, it was him. He wouldn't attack when someone was in front of the tank, though.

 

Hmm I had a falco hawkfish once and my algae blenny bullied it around, probably since they usually just lie on the sand and dont swim continuously like oher fish, which possibly made it think it was a blenny as well i guess. I wouldn't really worry about the falco in terms of inverts; i had a coral banded shrimp and the hawkfish wouldnt even go near it, probably since it's alos a dwarf hawkfish. I'd recommend a pair of ocellaris clown; I personally like black and white, but thats just me. Starry blennies are really sexy LOL but there might be fighting between it and the hawkfish. I'm not really a wrasse person so I won't comment on that. Instead of orange spotted goby maybe a yasha goby, yellow watchman goby, or somehting of that sense IMO. with the coral beauty you may have problems if you r gonna keep corals, its a 50/50 chance that it'll nip, since my flame angel didnt nip any of my corals when i had it

 

Thanks for all the replies! What if I switched the Orange Spotted Goby to some kind of Dragonet? I would add it close to last to give the tank time to stabilize.

I think I will wait until last to add the Coral Beauty, which gives me time to think about whether or not I actually want it. Same goes for the Dottyback.

I'll take my chances with the Falco. But thanks for the heads up, and if something goes wrong by all means, you can remind me that you told me so!

So here I think is my final list, as long as the Dragonet is an option.


Falco Hawkfish
Ocellaris Clownfish, tank bred
Starry Blenny
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Dragonet (I like Green, Red, or Spotted)
Springeri Dottyback
Coral Beauty Angel

Thanks again!

 

isnt the list still practically the same? all you took out was the goby for the dragonet (you need copepods for the dragonet!!!! I cant stress how important it is!!)

 

... and re-arranged the stocking order a tad.