What kind of fish do you like? What is the fish that you "must have"?
You can build your fish list around that one fish.
You can build your fish list around that one fish.
alright, i'm convinced.
- Thread starter silentskream
- Start date
we really dont have a must have.
i like cardinals, but i also like dwarf lions (well i like the big ones too, but i would like to have more than one fish). my boyfriend likes eels, but he also likes damsels (the blue and yellow ones).. i like gobys (and mandarin dragonets but i know they're delicate)
i mean i've been keeping freshwater fish for years now, and by switching to saltwater suddenly i have more options than i ever could have imagined... i'm a little overwhelmed.
i do know i would like something i can hand-feed. i think that would be really cool.
i like cardinals, but i also like dwarf lions (well i like the big ones too, but i would like to have more than one fish). my boyfriend likes eels, but he also likes damsels (the blue and yellow ones).. i like gobys (and mandarin dragonets but i know they're delicate)
i mean i've been keeping freshwater fish for years now, and by switching to saltwater suddenly i have more options than i ever could have imagined... i'm a little overwhelmed.
i do know i would like something i can hand-feed. i think that would be really cool.
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Hm.. I would take a couple of trips to your local fish stores. That will give you an idea on what is available in your area and some ideas. You also have determine what kind of tank you will have. Just like freshwater, you can have a community, agressive, or species tanks. Almost any fish can be taught to be hand fed. However you may want to stay away from those that can do damage.
there aren't any saltwater lfs around here.. i'd have to order anything i get over the internet. we went out of town last weekend to a saltwater store, and those fish that i mentioned are the ones we liked.
Pick up a copy of Scott W. Michael's Reef Aquarium Fishes. It lists over 500 species and has color photos and details on each including compatibility. Be sure to get the one with the blue cover as it has updated information and more details.
so does that mean that i can't have any combination of the fishes that i mentioned before?
if i had to pick one i'd say the dwarf lion.. can i have anything else in a 55 with one of them?
if i had to pick one i'd say the dwarf lion.. can i have anything else in a 55 with one of them?
When it comes to Lions, they can be trained to not eat fish smaller than them, but like regular lions, they cannot be predicted. They may very well try to eat anything they think they could fit in their mouth. An easy way to combat this is to never feed them fish of any sort, only shrimp. Lion's (and most salt water fish) will learn to associate you with food and you want that. I have a zebra dwarf lion with a catalina goby, he could easily inhale him but doesn't have any interest in him as food. They're other fish like chromis, dwarf angels, and wrasses that you could be happily kept with a dwarf lion.
Eel's will make it hard to keep a good cleanup crew, like sally lightfoot crabs or emerald crabs. I also wouldn't get a snowflake unless you at least had a 75 gallon.
I would also strongly suggest you get some live rock. It will provide a natural filter, numerous hiding spots, create a beautiful aqua scape, and hitchhikers are fun.
Eel's will make it hard to keep a good cleanup crew, like sally lightfoot crabs or emerald crabs. I also wouldn't get a snowflake unless you at least had a 75 gallon.
I would also strongly suggest you get some live rock. It will provide a natural filter, numerous hiding spots, create a beautiful aqua scape, and hitchhikers are fun.
ok here are my narrowed down stocking options:
A)
1 juv dwarf zebra lion
a few (how many?) coral beauty dwarf angels
OR
B)
6 spotted cardinals
1 false percula
1 green clown goby
1 royal gramma basslet
3 yellowtail damsels
does that seem reasonable so far?
A)
1 juv dwarf zebra lion
a few (how many?) coral beauty dwarf angels
OR
B)
6 spotted cardinals
1 false percula
1 green clown goby
1 royal gramma basslet
3 yellowtail damsels
does that seem reasonable so far?
If you're ordering from Live Aquaria, or anywhere online, make sure you get a "medium" sized lion, the smaller ones are sucky shippers (I had three show up dead or died within a few hours).
You can only keep one dwarf angel at a time unless they're a mated pair. They will fight constantly and one, or both, will end up dead.
Have you thought about a flame hawkfish?
You will seriously want to avoid damsels, they're really aggressive when they age.
You can only keep one dwarf angel at a time unless they're a mated pair. They will fight constantly and one, or both, will end up dead.
Have you thought about a flame hawkfish?
You will seriously want to avoid damsels, they're really aggressive when they age.
darn, i was told the yellowtail damsel was less agressive. oh well.. that sure is a pretty blue color.
the hawkfish is pretty.. but can't go with the lion right? so it would have to be for option B in place of the damsels.. correct?
the hawkfish is pretty.. but can't go with the lion right? so it would have to be for option B in place of the damsels.. correct?
