Something Red

[a_free_bird73]

My Wife wants to add a touch of Red, orange or pink to the tank (purple is a much lower on the scale of preference). The tank currently has a couple of corals, a bi-colour angel and a green chromis with a rather strong bias towards greens, yellows and blues. The problem is it needs to be cheap, small (less than 3")and easy to look after (going through the list that is kind of asking for the impossible).

So far Clown is out of the question, She does not like fire gobies and she can live without a dotty back. Most hawks are predators and we have been told to stay away from them (except for long nose Hawk which is too expensive for us). We have also been told that Anthias are not easy to look after and may not like the company of the angel. So what is left?

Most red corals are too hard to look after to my knowledge and I am left wondering if a star fish could be a possibility. Is there a red star fish that does not grow large, does not eat corals and won't get eaten by the bi-colour (who is rather nasty towards a brittle star fish that is already there). Have I missed any red fish that could be a possibility. Forgot to say also that a flame angel is not a possibility.

[Boogiechillin]

Unless you're willing to save up the $30-40 required for most SW fish, you don't leave yourself many options. I'd say reconsider a tomato clown; it's the only cheap, reddish fish that comes to mind. Usually around $20 or so.

[OrionGirl]

Does it have to be mobile? There are some great sponges in those colors, and they are pretty easy to care for, prefer low light/high current areas. They usually aren't too costly--under $30 each time we've purchased one. Tile stars are bright red, and stay under 2-3 inches in diameter, we never had a problem with ours, think it was around $8--problem is, they aren't often seen. Most other stars will be too big, and compete with the brittle for foods.

Other inverts--like blood shrimp--would work, but tend to be a bit on the expensive side. There are cheaper ones, like camels and peppermints, but they are not as brightly colored.

[VoodooChild]

Six lined wrasses usually have a managerie of colors and I've seen those run for around $20. Pretty hardy too...

[lebloom]

Occasionally you might find a Flame angel, they are really nice red fish. But they are hard to take care of. I had 1 and he was eating really good, no problems. Had him for probably 6-7 mos. and then one day found him dead, hard as a rock???

[lebloom]

Occasionally you might find a Flame angel, they are really nice red fish. But they are hard to take care of. I had 1 and he was eating really good, no problems. Had him for probably 6-7 mos. and then one day found him dead, hard as a rock???

[OrionGirl]

A flame angel is out--the bicolor would kill it in a heartbeat.

[a_free_bird73]

I will propose the sponge idea although the bicolour has cleaned up a couple of sponge species that I had in my tank so I don't like my chances. He is a little on the distructive side but he also learns quick when he chops bits of something that does not taste good. If it is relatively cheap, I would not mind the experiment.

I will also ask if the LFS can get hold of a tile star. How big does a six lined wrasse get? My book says they get larger than I can accomodate.

The reason why I don't want to add a clown is because I am experimenting with conditions required to keep a flower pot. Clowns are likely to take it as a host adding another variable that I don't need.

[Boogiechillin]

Sponges are typically inexpensive, but make sure that your water quality is in great shape before you add them...algae growth on a sponge is usually deadly.

A sixline is going to max out around 3" with most not getting much bigger than 2". As for the tile star, is that a Fromia sp, Orion?

[VoodooChild]

On second thought, the wrasse may not be a good idea. Angels would be a problem in the first place for something as timid as a six-line, and one that's established could really be the death of the little guy. Even if you re-arranged the rockwork I'd still be too worried.

[DeltaUguy]

How big is your tank? I've never heard that Anthias are very difficult to keep. A male lyretail would fit the bill nicely, if your tank is big enough.

[a_free_bird73]

The tank is 50G.

What is the problem with Anthia's? Personally I have had no experience with them and initially thought they would be ideal. When I spoke to my regular LFS he told me that they don't tend to order them because they don't ship well. Also, he mentioned that his experience with them is they don't really survive well unless kept in groups of three or more and my aquarium is not big enough to house three of them. Does anyone have contradictory experience to this?

[Boogiechillin]

Pass on the anthias. They need a lot of attention to survive and should only be attempted in a bigger tank.

[OrionGirl]

Yep--the star was was a formia species. Closest pic I could find: http://www.2cah.com/pandora/F_milleporella.html

[squid]

May I suggest the Flame Hawkfish. I've found it to be a peaceful and hardy tankmate. It is a beautiful deep red color and has some very interesting behaviors.

It is accepting of many types of food. Mine was easy to acclimate and it quickly found it's comfort zones and hierarchies in the long time established tank. It began eating almost immediately.

I've had it for almost 2 years now and it has grown from 2" to 2.5" so it's no threat to outgrow your tank.

It is never aggressive toward any other fish but it's not timid and comes right up and takes it's share of food at feeding time.

JMHO

[Boogiechillin]

Nice fish, but a potential threat to shrimp & small inverts. Plus, I've never seen a flame hawk under $45-50, and freebird is looking for something less expensive. Good idea, though!

[a_free_bird73]

For the moment my wife seems to be sold on the Starfish but I will keep the hawk in mind since I would personally like to have one... Thanks for all your help

[g. mcclean]

How about a royal gramma? We have one with a flame angel, blue striped sebaue clown, and 3 green chromis. All get along well. The gramma is fun to watch; eats well; and very inexpensive.

[DeltaUguy]

Originally posted by Boogiechillin
Pass on the anthias. They need a lot of attention to survive and should only be attempted in a bigger tank.

I've never heard that. I have heard that they are easily spooked so you should stay away from them if you have the more rambunctious fish such as large tangs or wrasses. I am thinking about one for my 75 gallon. I've been told that male lyretails are pretty hardy and are easily kept as single specimens.

[Boogiechillin]

Nope. I've kept lyretail, huchtii, and Bartlett's anthias before, and none are what I would describe as easy fish. A healthy anthias is in no way easily spooked; they tend to be quite territorial and will constantly attack other planktonivores like basslets, grammas, damsels, chromises, firefish, etc, and slow eaters don't stand a chance around an anthias since they can REALLY pig out. The big challenge to anthias is feeding them enough food over the course of the day - they tend to crash if fed on the 1-2x per day feeding regimen. Anthias need multiple feedings of smaller quantities of food, which isn't easy if you have work/school to contend with. Plus, all this is assuming that you can get them feeding in the first place. I would strongly recommend putting a deposit down on an anthias at a LFS so that you can let them sit on it for a week or two and make sure that it feeds before you bring it home. Stock up on diverse foods or start making your own frozen blends as they don't do well on a consistent flake diet.

Also, please realize that male anthias will typically not keep those bright, flashy colors. Find out what the female of the species looks like before you buy one as males often revert to females in the absence of a social hierarchy. (For that matter, don't try a social hierarchy unless you've got a 180+ gallon system...it's usually a mess.) You've got the best odds of success with a single specimen alone, and for a lyretail, a 75g would be about the minimum that I'd try.

Let me know if you have any questions about anthias - they are AWESOME fish if you can meet their demands!

[Mandairn]

anthias are hard to keep for most people. I would have said the gramma but too late now, the angle will terros it till it wont come out, so i have herd. How long have u had the tank.

My reply, Yellow tail Damsel. Hardy and NOT as of asrtive as the blue devil, great color (to start but may dull with age). If you had the tank over a year i'd recomend a Green mandairn as a nother choice. Little mantice requird, great color and most likly will not get botherd or bother tank mates.

Damsel 1-3$
Dragonet 10-20$

Add 6-1-03
Red srephent sea star(will compete brittle for food but u can always feed them too) 20-30$
(if not keeping coral) Copperband butterfly 20-50

go with the hawkfish, (flame) they have great color puls there fun to watch hopping around everwhere watching every thing u do and the other tank mates as well.

[tonka]

i know im coming in late but if your looking for a cheap fish how about a red squirel We have one they are easy to care for and don't get to big kinda looks like a red goldfish with big eyes

[Boogiechillin]

Squirrelfish get too big and would happily eat the chromis already in his tank. Blue damsels aren't....well...red, since they're....ah...blue.

[MonoSebaelover]

BTW Mandarin, Blue Devils shouldn't fade with age. If anything they should become more vibrant. I have a pair in my 209 and they just GLOW! I have had them for a bit over 2 years. What about some Firefish (purple or Reg)? Also what is wrong with Pseudos? I have a Neon Pseudo in the 209 and he is the most peaceful Pseudo I have ever known. The Neons are by far the prettiest! Hope this helps and good luck with whatever you decide to add.

[OrionGirl]

Mandarin dragonettes should not be introduced to tanks that have any competition for copos, nor into relatively new tanks (inadequate copo levels), nor into tanks with smaller (ie, less then about 75-125 lbs) of live rock. As juveniles, they will not take prepared foods, which makes them low maintenance until they starve.

[Ray Pollett]

The red Sponge would be an option. There are a number of Red Starfish that could work. I would stay away from the anthias. The Mandarin and Six Line Wrasse require a lot of pods in a tank to survive. The Six Line wrasse does not ship well; so make sure it is a healthy one if you get it. The Royal Gramma are not red ( purple and yellow) but from my experience would be fine with the fish you have if you can get a healthy one. I do not know of a Squirelfish that does not get to atleast 6 or 7 inches. Yellow Tail Damsels would do fine with the fish you have.

I personally like the Flame Hawkfish if not for the expense for your tank. But you have to keep them well fed.

Ray

[a_free_bird73]

What about the spotted hawk fish. Are they too aggressive? Keep in mind that I just added a pair of Sand siffting goby. They eat pellet food well, but having observed them, I suspect that they would be too shy for any bottom feeding competition.

I saw the spotted hawk the other day for around US$20 which my wife liked. We also saw a flame angel but at $60 it is way too expensive for our budget at this stage.

At the moment, the Formia star fish idea is on halt. I asked the LFS and he told me he has never seen them and if they can't be caught in Australia then they can can't get them. Apparently there are restrictions on invertebate importation into Australia