Help Me Pick Out A Fish

[Snowboarda42]

So I think I've decided I want one last fish, this one I want to be kinda rare in some sorts. Not something that you would see in a LFS much, probably over $100 as well. Like a prize fish I guess.

Right now my tank is as follows:
40 Gallon Breeder
45lbs LR
80lbs LS
Sps, Mushrooms, Chaeto, GSP, Xenia, some LPS in the future as well.

Tank Livestock is:
2 Lyretail Anthias
1 Starry Blenny
1 Yellow Watchman Goby + Pistol Shrimp

1 Cleaner Shrimp
7 Turbo Snails
10 Ceriths
3 Astrea
3 Emerald Crabs

SG - 1.025
pH - 8.3
Temp - 80.1* average
PO4 - 0.0
NO3 - 0 - 1ppm (never seen it more than 1)
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
Ca - 432ppm
Alk - 10dKH
Mg- 1250ppm
RO/DI 0ppm + Reef Crystals 15% Water Change Weekly (religiously done)

This tank can/will have a cover over it.

I like the Helfrichi Firefish alot, but I want other suggestions as well. And if possible, where I would get it.
Any Ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

Firefish might get picked on by the anthias and blenny. I'd go with a small fairy wrasse. Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis is a nice little species that stays less than 3".

 

[IconicAquariums]

Matt,

I've seen some C. rubrisquamis supermales over 5 1/2" in a recent shipment...

I would recommend a Starki damsel - here is a shot of mine. Though they are not that uncommon anymore, it would offer good color contrast to your other fish.

If you can find one, a Red Head Wrasse (Halichoeres rubricephalus) would also do quite well, and could eat parasites around the tank. I am quite fond of this fish, as they are very beautiful.

joe

 

[Snowboarda42]

I thought that most damsels are evil though... :twisted:


Anyways, I think I'm going to go with some kind of wrasse. Hmm...Any more suggestions? I'm looking at mystery, rhomboidalis, laboute's or lineatus wrasse.

 

[Anonymous]

Matt,

I've seen some C. rubrisquamis supermales over 5 1/2" in a recent shipment...

How about that, I found a pic Hiroyuki took with a 9 cm displaying male. Kuiter's book says max size is 6.5 cm. Guess we need a revised edition.

If you can find one, a Red Head Wrasse (Halichoeres rubricephalus) would also do quite well, and could eat parasites around the tank. I am quite fond of this fish, as they are very beautiful.

joe

Beautiful fish. I have heard these guys are terrible shippers though. :?

 

[IconicAquariums]

Yes, they don't ship them in large enough bags from Indo/PI most of the time. Once they get here they are usually pretty sturdy though.

H. trispilus is also very lovely, another Indian Ocean beauty.

Starki's aren't bad for a damsel. There are a couple that are peaceful (Pavo, Canary, Chromis, etc)

Any of those fairies get quite large, and I think they look crappy when they are full grown to be honest. All the color gets stretched out. These would possibly quarrel with your anthias as well.

Mystery wrasse are ok, but have an attitude. He would probably eat your shrimp too.

How about a Radiant Wrasse?

joe

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, they don't ship them in large enough bags from Indo/PI most of the time. Once they get here they are usually pretty sturdy though.

H. trispilus is also very lovely, another Indian Ocean beauty.

Starki's aren't bad for a damsel. There are a couple that are peaceful (Pavo, Canary, Chromis, etc)

Any of those fairies get quite large, and I think they look crappy when they are full grown to be honest. All the color gets stretched out. These would possibly quarrel with your anthias as well.

Mystery wrasse are ok, but have an attitude. He would probably eat your shrimp too.

How about a Radiant Wrasse?

joe

I'll second the Radiant wrasse suggestion, although your pistol shrimp may have a different vote on the matter.

 

[Snowboarda42]

I'll second the Radiant wrasse suggestion, although your pistol shrimp may have a different vote on the matter.

I was looking at one of those, it reminds me of a court jester goby, aka rainford's goby.

Why would my pistol shrimp not like the Radiant Wrasse?

 

[Anonymous]

I'll second the Radiant wrasse suggestion, although your pistol shrimp may have a different vote on the matter.

I was looking at one of those, it reminds me of a court jester goby, aka rainford's goby.

Why would my pistol shrimp not like the Radiant Wrasse?

I wouldn't be surprised if it ate it. Depends on the size of your shrimp and the wrasse of course, but a full grown adult would love to snack on a small one.

 

[IconicAquariums]

If the shrimp are established, I don't think it would be a problem. With the small mouth on the Radiant, he should leave it alone.

Perhaps you can witness some symbiotic protection from the shrimp & goby.

joe

 

[Len]

A mystery wrasse should work well in your tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Starckii damsel good choice. I had one for about 2 years and traded him in recently due to downsizing. Also maybe a really nice small dottyback. I have a Pseudochromis elongatus which is a very mellow fish for a dottyback and stunning in my opinion.

 

[Snowboarda42]

I think I'm going to take back the Mandarin and get a Mystey Wrasse.

Question is, Will it eat my Cleaner Shrimp, Hermits, or Emerald Crabs?

 

[Len]

It may eat the hermits and shrimp Emeralds are too beefy to be messed with.

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

>I've seen some C. rubrisquamis supermales over 5 1/2" in a recent shipment...


It's almost unbelievable, but if it is true it should be the largest record.

Hiroyuki

 

[mothra]

I'd vote for the C. rubrisquamis. In fact I'm a fan of most fairy wrasses, they're just cool fish Mine love to watch me, mainly waiting to see if it's chow time yet.

Mystery wrasses are nice to look at, at least until they get really big (IMO), seems like they have a mean streak though...

 

[Snowboarda42]

I think I've narrowed it down to either a Helfrichi Firefish, or some sort of Flasher Wrasse.

Male Cirrhilabrus exquisitus (Vanuatu Exquisite wrasse)

Male Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis (Maldives red velvet wrasse),

Halichoeres cyanocephalus (Belize Lightning wrasse)

Paracheilinus cf. flavianalis (Yellow fin flasher wrasse)

Any input?

 

[wrasseguy123]

if you are thinking of a flasher and you can find it get the line-spot flasher...thier color is just crazy...here is a few pics of mine flashing

 

[wade1]

Social wrasses (C. rubriventralis) are another nice choice that stay smaller than most wrasses. The males, if you can keep them male, are gorgeous IMO.

 

[Snowboarda42]

I've been looking around to find a Paracheilinus mccoskeri (McCosker's Flasher) but I can't find them. I think its the one I want to get.

BTW, how do you "keep" a Male from becoming a Female?