View Full Version : Whats a must have fish?
texanstwoone
08-03-2007, 1:41 AM
I will always have a Harlequin. They are hardy and peacefull, but can be in a predetor setting too.
I think a must-have fish, if anything, in a marine tank is a yellow tang. That's assuming you have a 55-gallon tank or larger. They've always been a favourite of mine.
Slappy*McFish
08-03-2007, 2:20 AM
In a freshwater community - Angelfish and Cory cats. (if tank is large enough to house properly)
Saltwater community - Clownfish :D
Riverserver
08-03-2007, 10:51 AM
I recently picked up an incredibly shy flame angel. Everyone always picks him as their favorite fish because of his bright colors.
I also have a zebra lion in the same tank. He has bright red pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins. His pectoral fins are a bright green with two blue spots. He's absolutely gorgeous when he swims, which I've only seen enough times to count on one hand :( Usually he drifts through the current upside down. Yesterday I managed to get him to swim backwards upside down while I was chasing him with some food lol.
gomrjoe
08-03-2007, 12:48 PM
For me, the must have fish is definitely the Pacific Blue Tang (Hippo). My 3 year old loves Dori!
FeatherDuster
08-03-2007, 1:23 PM
I don't think you can go wrong with a clownfish. Each one has its own personality and its fun to hear people Oooo over "Nemo" in my tank :)
SigPiPup
08-03-2007, 1:26 PM
My favorite fish, when I had fish in the tank, was my Dogface Puffer. Great personality. Acted like a dog. A very wet, slimy, legless dog.
txaggies07
08-03-2007, 1:36 PM
Maroon Clownfish
dorkfish
08-03-2007, 2:31 PM
Clown - My tank just wouldn't be the same if I didn't get bit everytime I put my hand in the tank:).
Catpicklesdog
08-03-2007, 2:54 PM
Mine's got to be my Lawnmower Blenny. He's full of character and helps keep the tank free of algae:)
tankanator
08-03-2007, 4:17 PM
For me, the must have fish is definitely the Pacific Blue Tang (Hippo). My 3 year old loves Dori!
I agree the hippo tang is the must have fish, colorful, hardy and long lived. I have mine eating out of my hand. The LFS has had one for 11 years and you can pet that hippo tang, just stick your hand and he will come up and let you pet him.
My favorite fish, when I had fish in the tank, was my Dogface Puffer. Great personality. Acted like a dog. A very wet, slimy, legless dog.
They kind of look like pugs huh?
SigPiPup
08-03-2007, 4:37 PM
They kind of look like pugs huh?
Good point. :)
And everybody's missed a fox face...???? A must have for algae contol and viewing pleasure. mine never stops eating.. ok maybe when he sleeps, but i think even when he sleeps he dreams of eating.!!!:) Oh and i agree with keeping a common clown, they are just... just.. ah you know what i mean, everybody's had one at some stage. I will always keep one or two or three...:lipssealedsmilie:
SHK_ATK
08-03-2007, 6:03 PM
Must have would have to be a porcupine puffer, very "cute" and great personality. Common clowns are okay, unique clowns are better
missc4
08-04-2007, 12:34 PM
I have several that I think my tank wouldn't be nice with out...lol
Clowns for sure every tank needs a clown..lol
Lawnmower blenny a must have simply because they are so cute and have the funniest behavior.
Picasso trigger just because he is my favorite in my tank,begs for food acts like a dog follows me when I am near the tank and is not afraid.
The yellow tang just because I don't think I have ever seen a tank with out one.
Any one else ever notice that about all tanks have a yellow tang in them..
Marcus Fenix
08-04-2007, 12:55 PM
my "must have" fish is in my avatar.
Scribble68
08-04-2007, 1:43 PM
Marcus, is your bicolor in a reef or FO. I really like them but i am affraid to put one in my reef. If its in a reef how does he act around the corals?
SHK_ATK
08-04-2007, 2:10 PM
I think any dwarf angel has the potential to nip at corals that just something that you are going to have to monitor. Some do good and dont ever touch corals and some eat nice colonies for corals.
Marcus Fenix
08-04-2007, 3:20 PM
=Scribble68;1023764]Marcus, is your bicolor in a reef or FO. I really like them but i am affraid to put one in my reef. If its in a reef how does he act around the corals?
I didn't buy it yet, it's still at the LFS. the owner is keeping him for me until my tank is cycled and running well.
my tank will be FO
SuperScro
08-04-2007, 9:36 PM
Centropyge Angels.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m142/djelley/Wickedfrags/general/male.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m142/djelley/Wickedfrags/general/female.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m142/djelley/Wickedfrags/general/pair.jpg
texanstwoone
08-07-2007, 2:40 PM
yea, thats what I am talking about. Nice fishes
joander123
08-07-2007, 3:44 PM
wow, beautiful fish...
are those blue throat triggers?
clown-lover
08-07-2007, 4:01 PM
Very nice..
mudskippers
08-07-2007, 5:42 PM
GREAT SHOTS!!!
(IMO) - The "must have sw fish" would actually be a pair,
a goby and a pistol shrimp! there very cool when they pair up! :) :)
Slappy*McFish
08-07-2007, 6:35 PM
Them's some purdy fish. ;)
fishfin
08-08-2007, 8:46 PM
Couldn't go without my naso tang. He should have come in a tux and has awsome personallity.
ricsreef
08-08-2007, 9:29 PM
wow, beautiful fish...
are those blue throat triggers?
I think they are Cross Hatch Triggers,Very nice,Very expensive.About $400 for a pair.
ricsreef
08-08-2007, 9:36 PM
Marcus, is your bicolor in a reef or FO. I really like them but i am affraid to put one in my reef. If its in a reef how does he act around the corals?
I think angels are awsome,and I want one sooo bad,but they will "all" pick at corals,some more than others.Best kept in a FOWLR IMO.That is unless your tank is so full of stuff you dont mind sacrificing a little.
Riverserver
08-08-2007, 11:24 PM
I think angels are awsome,and I want one sooo bad,but they will "all" pick at corals
I have never seen my flame angel touch my tube coral. He begs for flake food like the rest of my fish.
dapettit
08-09-2007, 4:33 PM
Mine is a royal gramma, beautiful color and a weird swimmer!
clown-lover
08-09-2007, 5:47 PM
Clown - My tank just wouldn't be the same if I didn't get bit everytime I put my hand in the tank:).
LOL, yeah mine thinks my fingers are food as well.. Specifically because there is normally food on the ends of them when I am trying to hand feed them.. But I think clowns are the essential most needed fish for any tank.. Heck they are the only ones I have that don't hide behind the rocks 90% of the day..
Star_Rider
08-09-2007, 10:00 PM
I like em.....ALL
(sorry I couldn't make up my mind..sigh..I guess I'm just going to have to get a really,really big tank):)
Crosshatch Triggers actually. Like the Bluethroat, a reefsafe trigger.
wow, beautiful fish...
are those blue throat triggers?
Kodiak
09-04-2007, 1:47 PM
clowns, love them. So much energy and fun to watch.
jowek7
09-04-2007, 2:18 PM
clown fish and or angles so many choices and so much color. both kinds of angles also
A goby. Always and forever a goby.
trainedkilla
09-04-2007, 4:51 PM
I have three that I must always have in every tank...which is why I stay with FO tanks.
LionFish, Tusk Wrasse, and Picasso Trigger
SaltySAE
12-19-2007, 10:19 PM
Harlequin Tusk... gotta love that gruesome smile... just wish I had a bigger tank to get one of those guys
texanstwoone
12-19-2007, 10:35 PM
Our tusk wrasse isnt doing so good but going to do a 50% water change tommorow. We have sacarfied alot to keep him alive because he is the greatest.
texanstwoone
12-19-2007, 10:35 PM
Why a goby, Grins?
Grins
12-19-2007, 11:31 PM
personality, sand sifting benefits (mine only does top layer)...
Subliminal
12-20-2007, 7:53 AM
If I had a larger tank I'd say a powder tang. Those are the prettiest SW fish in the hobby, IMO. Sure, they're a challenge, but once the challenge goes out the door, so does my interest in the hobby.
Right now, my must have fish are either the clowns for their symbiotic relationship with my BTA (so cute to watch one anchor itself by sucking on a tentacle) or my scooter. I love the fact that he's self sustaining (I don't have to feed him), ich resistant and his eyeballs move all over the place.
Grins
12-20-2007, 10:43 AM
and his eyeballs move all over the place.
I love that same thing about my lawnmower blenny
mandy21
12-20-2007, 10:58 AM
:silly:
Saltwater community - Clownfish :D
Agreed, I'm starting a nano (with just rock and a pair of clowns) because I love them. :headbang2:
Oh and I love your avi. That stinking Abominable Snowmonster is what I collect in terms of Christmas decorations. i need to now watch it before going and buying more corals and tank and stuff for nano.
buzzbombtom
12-20-2007, 1:32 PM
there are 2 and if any one has been keeping tabs on me its easy
1mandrin dragonite, best fish ever
2. leopard wrass
strickrick
12-20-2007, 3:05 PM
You can't go wrong with any of the marine life but my personal favorite maybe a :
1.) red sea blonde naso male with streamers.
2.) powder blue tang.
3.) orange shoulder tang