Need help deciding on whether or not a fish is right for your tank? Post here and we'll help!

fishguy777

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My tank is 80" by 26" by 26", for my last additions I want:
Banana eel (had one a few months ago-jumped)
Eppaulette shark
cleaner wrasse (heard mixed things)
harlequin tusk
borbonious anthias or other large anthias type
rainbow basslet
flame hawk (had one befoire
longhorn cowfish (lfs has a 7" one)

thoughts?
Rn I have a blue dot ray, snapper, a few tangs, dwarf angel, rabbitfish, blue throat trigger, and polleni grouper

I've had bad luck in the past with cleaner wrasse, and I'm also not sure if one would annoy my ray or a shark. Maybe a cleaner shrimp would be a better fit?
 

Slocke

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My tank is 80" by 26" by 26", for my last additions I want:
Banana eel (had one a few months ago-jumped)
Definitely need a good lid
Eppaulette shark
Was told they were best alone but not sure why
cleaner wrasse (heard mixed things)
Can be aggressive and wild ones often don't do well in captivity. Should do well in this tank though.
harlequin tusk
Shy and will eat inverts
borbonious anthias or other large anthias type
Need very regular feedings
rainbow basslet
Might be a bit shy for this tank
flame hawk (had one befoire
longhorn cowfish (lfs has a 7" one)

thoughts?

I mean if this were my tank Id add some fun fish like a dragon wrasse or a red breasted Maori
Rn I have a blue dot ray, snapper, a few tangs, dwarf angel, rabbitfish, blue throat trigger, and polleni grouper

I've had bad luck in the past with cleaner wrasse, and I'm also not sure if one would annoy my ray or a shark. Maybe a cleaner shrimp would be a better fit?
So they can be great for sharks and rays as they can help against flukes which are very hard to get rid of in some cartilagenous fish. However in the wild they service tons of fish a day and can easily starve in a tank.
 

fishguy777

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Definitely need a good lid

Was told they were best alone but not sure why

Can be aggressive and wild ones often don't do well in captivity. Should do well in this tank though.

Shy and will eat inverts

Need very regular feedings

Might be a bit shy for this tank


I mean if this were my tank Id add some fun fish like a dragon wrasse or a red breasted Maori

So they can be great for sharks and rays as they can help against flukes which are very hard to get rid of in some cartilagenous fish. However in the wild they service tons of fish a day and can easily starve in a tank.
I’ll look into more wrasse like those for sure, do you know if the cleaner shrimp would just be food for my other fish? My snapper is 12”-never even attempted to eat another fish though. I have a 2” flame angel which he leaves unharmed. His diet mostly consists of krill though
 

Slocke

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I’ll look into more wrasse like those for sure, do you know if the cleaner shrimp would just be food for my other fish? My snapper is 12”-never even attempted to eat another fish though. I have a 2” flame angel which he leaves unharmed. His diet mostly consists of krill though
The tusk would definitely eat it and probably the shark. Oh and definitely the trigger. I used to feed peppermint to my predators and triggers love them.
 

akaps

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Debating between snails and hermit crabs…
I had a pair of nassarius snails for 2 months before they died. I have no idea why, found one shell and have not seen the other in a while. I have an xl turbo snail who’s happy. So before I add anything, I’m going to check to see how my water is doing.
After I confirm my water is safe, I’m trying to decide if I should try with more nassarius snails or if I should get a couple hermit crabs. Or maybe a porcelain crab?
My tank has been up and running since early October. I have a yellow watchman goby (soon to have a pistol shrimp friend after unexpectedly losing one after changing my aquascape), a purple firefish, and two small clowns. The fish can be picky eaters sometimes and quite often leave food on the ground. Now while the goby eats some of it and so does the shrimp (or soon to be shrimp), they can’t get it all. It’s a small tank so I want to keep it clean.
Pros and cons of hermit or porcelain crabs? Pros and cons of trying again with nassarius snails?
FYI nothing will be added until my water levels are tested and confirmed safe. I’m suspicious that my pistol shrimp ate or killed the nassarius snails, they liked to be in the goby and shrimp caves.
 

akaps

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Debating between snails and hermit crabs…
I had a pair of nassarius snails for 2 months before they died. I have no idea why, found one shell and have not seen the other in a while. I have an xl turbo snail who’s happy. So before I add anything, I’m going to check to see how my water is doing.
After I confirm my water is safe, I’m trying to decide if I should try with more nassarius snails or if I should get a couple hermit crabs. Or maybe a porcelain crab?
My tank has been up and running since early October. I have a yellow watchman goby (soon to have a pistol shrimp friend after unexpectedly losing one after changing my aquascape), a purple firefish, and two small clowns. The fish can be picky eaters sometimes and quite often leave food on the ground. Now while the goby eats some of it and so does the shrimp (or soon to be shrimp), they can’t get it all. It’s a small tank so I want to keep it clean.
Pros and cons of hermit or porcelain crabs? Pros and cons of trying again with nassarius snails?
FYI nothing will be added until my water levels are tested and confirmed safe. I’m suspicious that my pistol shrimp ate or killed the nassarius snails, they liked to be in the goby and shrimp caves.
the nassarius snails were added initially to eat all the poop the turbo snail leaves. For those of you who don’t have a turbo snail, beware of the poop piles…..
 

fishguy777

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Definitely need a good lid

Was told they were best alone but not sure why

Can be aggressive and wild ones often don't do well in captivity. Should do well in this tank though.

Shy and will eat inverts

Need very regular feedings

Might be a bit shy for this tank


I mean if this were my tank Id add some fun fish like a dragon wrasse or a red breasted Maori

So they can be great for sharks and rays as they can help against flukes which are very hard to get rid of in some cartilagenous fish. However in the wild they service tons of fish a day and can easily starve in a tank.
My lfs got in a 5” rainbow basslet, do you think it’s worth the risk?
 

sam2216

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What are some of the best fish for a 55 gallon? I am switching a 29g to a 55g. I have a few fish in mind but wanting to know what are some other great fish. Also, in LiveAquaria, it says the longnose Atlantic butterfly is recommended tank size of 50g, so I might get it unless otherwise argued.

have:
2 clownfish
dottyback
1 turbo snail + astrea snail
soft coral + LPS coral

my ideas on great fish:
flame angel
royal gramma
firefish
longnose Atlantic butterfly
kole or tomini tang (and whatever is better suited for 55)
melanurus wrasse (maybe dusky margined?)
engineer gobies
jewel or sapphire damsel
midas blenny
valentine puffer
YWG
court jester goby
some type of anthias (carrberri?)
6-line
one spot foxface (for a few years or might keep it if people say its fine)
adult emperor snapper (jk lol)

not all of them will be in there together, just my thoughts. also I don't really like flasher wrasses (change my mind with pictures) TIA!
 

Slocke

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What are some of the best fish for a 55 gallon? I am switching a 29g to a 55g. I have a few fish in mind but wanting to know what are some other great fish. Also, in LiveAquaria, it says the longnose Atlantic butterfly is recommended tank size of 50g, so I might get it unless otherwise argued.

have:
2 clownfish
dottyback
1 turbo snail + astrea snail
soft coral + LPS coral

my ideas on great fish:
flame angel
royal gramma
firefish
longnose Atlantic butterfly
kole or tomini tang (and whatever is better suited for 55)
melanurus wrasse (maybe dusky margined?)
engineer gobies
jewel or sapphire damsel
midas blenny
valentine puffer
YWG
court jester goby
some type of anthias (carrberri?)
6-line
one spot foxface (for a few years or might keep it if people say its fine)
adult emperor snapper (jk lol)

not all of them will be in there together, just my thoughts. also I don't really like flasher wrasses (change my mind with pictures) TIA!
Many of those fish will not be able to added to a tank with a dottyback. Maybe the sideline and maybe some of the larger like the angel but it will be tough
 

fishywishy

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What are some of the best fish for a 55 gallon? I am switching a 29g to a 55g. I have a few fish in mind but wanting to know what are some other great fish. Also, in LiveAquaria, it says the longnose Atlantic butterfly is recommended tank size of 50g, so I might get it unless otherwise argued.

have:
2 clownfish
dottyback
1 turbo snail + astrea snail
soft coral + LPS coral

my ideas on great fish:
flame angel
royal gramma
firefish
longnose Atlantic butterfly
kole or tomini tang (and whatever is better suited for 55)
melanurus wrasse (maybe dusky margined?)
engineer gobies
jewel or sapphire damsel
midas blenny
valentine puffer
YWG
court jester goby
some type of anthias (carrberri?)
6-line
one spot foxface (for a few years or might keep it if people say its fine)
adult emperor snapper (jk lol)

not all of them will be in there together, just my thoughts. also I don't really like flasher wrasses (change my mind with pictures) TIA!
What kind of dottyback is it? If it’s like an orchid dottyback it might be alright because they are usually pretty chill for a dottyback. If not I would rehome it before you get anything new.

Other than that, the list looks pretty good, but be prepared for your snails and crabs to vanish with fish like the melanurus wrasse and saddle back puffer.
 

sam2216

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What kind of dottyback is it? If it’s like an orchid dottyback it might be alright because they are usually pretty chill for a dottyback. If not I would rehome it before you get anything new.

Other than that, the list looks pretty good, but be prepared for your snails and crabs to vanish with fish like the melanurus wrasse and saddle back puffer.
The dottyback is a neon. I’ve never seen it attack any of my clowns. This individual might be fine. If not then I’ll rehome.
 

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