Which fish?

[Riptide]

My 55g should be cycled within 2-3 weeks from today. I'm not sure, but chances are that my maroon clown will not be ready to go back in at that time.

Can anyone else recommend a fish that would be a good first addition and would get along OK with the maroon down the road? I don't really want any damsels if possible...

These fish seem nice:

Pseudochromis fridmani
Pseudochromis paccagnella
Cirrhilabrus scottorum
Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus
Gobiosoma puncticulatus
Hoplolatilus starcki
Nemateleotris magnifica

[Stephen]

I have a gold maroon clown that I keep with 4 red fire fish and 2 damsels. Haven't had any problems yet.

I was too lazy to look up all the fish you had listed but can tell you that from my experience keeping 2 Pseudochromis or even one Pseudochromis and anything it thinks looks like it together is a bad idea. I have a strawberry pseudochromis that will not allow any other of it's own species or anything that is similar to it in the tank.

[NanoMan]

dottybacks are very aggressive.if you do get one i would make him the last fish.other than that there are many nice fish that will
be ok with a maroon. i have a humu trigger with a maroon and they are fine other than the occasional nip at feeding time.

[Riptide]

The fridmani pseudochromis and the strawberry are both gorgeous hardy fish from what I've read.

Would a wrasse make a more peacable addition? Are wrasse(s) hardy enough to make a worthy first addition? The scott's velvet seems like a gorgeous fish.

How about a gramma?

[Riptide]

*bump*

Did some research.
http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/fishcyclesw.shtml

I think the fridman's pseudochromis is likely to be the best choice for me. He'll possibly be the first fish in the tank with the maroon clown going in after him. Hopefully they can get along. Seeing as it's a 48" tank and they'll be the only two residents for a while I would hope they'd be OK.