Still Making a List...

I have added a few fish and some inverts to my tank since I started. My list so far has been:
1. Misbar Clownfish
2. Purple Dottyback (Bully of the tank)
3. Peppermint Shrimp (MIA since addition of Damsel)
4. Cobalt Damsel (Gift from a friend)

These are my current fish and here is the rundown on the inhabitants.

The Misbar Clownfish is really neat to watch, he sleeps at the top left corner of the tank, and hangs out in the middle and top of the tank. He is real peaceful until I put my hand in the tank then he thinks I am food.

The Purple Dottyback, which was picked by my wife, (spontaneous buy) is a beautiful addition to this tank, he sleeps behind the rock work on the left side of the tank. He leaves the Clownfish alone but when the Damsel gets near any of the rock work he chases him off. I have even seen him chase the damsel when the damsel was no where near the rock or the dottyback's territory.

The Peppermint Shrimp used to hang out near the top of the tank on the powerhead on the left side of the tank. He disappeared about a week after the introduction of the damsel fish.

The Cobalt Damsel was given to us by my pastor. The Pastor said the Damsel was bullying his chromis and wondered if he would work out in my aquarium. I figured he would be okay and accepted him. The Damsel hangs out at the top of the tank on the left side of the aquarium and sleeps there as well. He has been the target of the Dottyback ever since he was added, but not as much now.

I have been trying to find some more fish for this tank and need some help making up my mind. Keeping in mind that I want a mandarin after I get my sump going. I am thinking of a hawkfish, and a coral beauty. Not going to be adding much more than this if any. Although I still like the goby shrimp and pistol shrimp pairings but I am not sure that would work out with a mandarin. Also I am curious how a starfish would look in my tank.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

 

The Dottyback probably killed/ate the shrimp.List the size of the tank please.

 

55g DT, going to have a 29g Sump/Refugium in near future.

 

55 ,you got lots of room ..What about a trio of scissor tails,or firefish.
A dwarf angel maybe,,lemonpeels are very bright and stand out.
Some banggai cardinals or flame cardinals maybe

 

Do you guys think I have done enough research on my livestock? Would the pairings be okay? Also I am looking at getting another clownfish to try and pair up with the one I already have. Any suggestions on how to do this properly?

 

Can't really tell you much about the pistol and goby ..never kept those ..
A starfish ,,,IDK ,,they need a very mature tank and very stable parameters ..The easiest is the chocolate chip star but still needs this..Mandarins also need a plentiful and constant supply of pods because it can be tricky getting them to eat frozen and dried foods ..
How big is your current clown? ..You will want to avoid getting one the same size..Either get a larger one or a tiny one.Preferably a tiny one though.This ensures it is a male(well 99%) ..2 females is bad..2 males are ideal..One will eventually turn female ,most likely the one you currently have,unless you get a much larger clown.It may already be female,but if yours by chance is female already and you add another female it will not end well..This is why i say get a tiny one.

 

Chocolate chip stars are predatory.I would avoid starfish altogether.Purchase the smallest clown you can find as has been suggested.
Your tank is a bit small for a Mandarin.You also have aggressive feeders that will out compete it for food.You will have to choose more aggressive fish as adding anything now will draw the ire of your damsel and dottyback.How about a sixline wrasse instead?

 

I was thinking of a Sixline Wrasse I love the way they look.

I have been debating on the Mandarin as I know the pod population needs to be strong. I thought about growing pods just to be able to keep a Mandarin, but I don't know if this will work. Also I really want a Goby and Shrimp combo. Would that be too much even with supplementing pods?

Now another thought or two. How about a Hawkfish? The one I saw at the LFS looked awesome and I would like to have it in the tank, but I am concerned about the aggressive Dottyback. He thinks that all the rock work belongs to him. I would get rid of him but my wife picked him out and wants to keep him.

I am also leaning toward a Coral Beauty or a Flame Angel. As another addition. I do not plan on adding any more after the addition of one of these guys. I think my stock list will be complete until I upgrade to a 75g or 90g tank.

 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I eventually had to tear my tank apart and remove my dottyback. He was the last fish, and still took over the rockwork just like yours almost instantly, viciously attacking anything that got too close, including fish and shrimp that were much larger. Virtually nothing was capable of fighting back and earning enough respect to be left alone- it just made him that much more aggressive.

As for the mandarin, I'd suggest waiting until you upgrade and have a well-established pod population and fuge. Supplementing pods can get quite expensive; you'd be surprised at how much one little fish can eat in a day. It will also limit your stock list as most other planktivores (many wrasses, some damsels, etc., etc.) will easily out-compete it for food.

 

Supplementing pods wont cost as much as you think especially when I would be growing them in my back room.

But I understand. I think I will have to talk my wife into getting a different fish. lol