Help choosing first fish

[madrefkepr]

Hi everybody! Soon time to add first fish (in a couple weeks)! Have 65 gallon with about 80 lbs live rock. I plan on ending up with a royal gramma, some type of blenny, a mandarin, and a flame angel. Tank not mature enough for the support a mandarin yet (only 4 months old). Don't plan on much for coral, just shrooms mostly. Anyone have suggestions on which should be first? Any problems with my choices? any other recommendations? Happy Holidays!

Dave

 

[JeffK]

I'd recommend starting with the royal gramma. These little beauties are very well-behaved in the mini-reef environment and will thrive on a combined diet of flakes and small meaty items. Also, they can function as a sort of "canary in the coal mine" since their striking coloration fades quickly when water quality begins to deteriorate.

Best of luck!

 

[Anonymous]

The Royal Gramma first ...........the Angel last. Have Fun!

 

[Expos Forever]

My choice a tank-raised Banggai Cardinal ! I emphasize tank-raised because this fish is endangered in the wild and readily available captive bred. Mine never hides during the day (they have the reputation of hiding)and fears no fish and bothers no fish. And IMO looks pretty damn cool.

 

[Anonymous]

any of the fish you listed should be fine as the first-w/the exception being the mandarin, as you've already noted :wink:

 

[Contesini]

Blenny is a good choice because it eat algae and help to clean the tank.
I also like the percula clown... Why not ? )
Good luck !

 

[madrefkepr]

Now how did the percula clown miss my list???

LFS gets some captive bred ones in now and then, and actually I will be keeping an eye out for them.

 

[Anonymous]

My choice a tank-raised Banggai Cardinal ! I emphasize tank-raised because this fish is endangered in the wild and readily available captive bred. Mine never hides during the day (they have the reputation of hiding)and fears no fish and bothers no fish. And IMO looks pretty damn cool.

i know they're being bred in captivity, but i wasn't aware that they were being bred in amounts sufficient to compete w/the wild caughts for the hobbyist market.

could you tell us of a supplier of readily available captive bred banghhais?

 

[Expos Forever]

Vitz wrote

i know they're being bred in captivity, but i wasn't aware that they were being bred in amounts sufficient to compete w/the wild caughts for the hobbyist market.

could you tell us of a supplier of readily available captive bred banghhais?

Being a Canadian and only having a crappy LFS close by I have only seen two types of tank raised fish at this store: the banggai and ocellaris clowns... I have seen the Banggais relatively often, maybe there's a local breeder? ORA tank raised fish are now available up here through J&L Aquatics in B.C.

As for the yanks here's a few links I found:

http://www.aquatouch.com/live_stock.htm
http://www.inlandaquatics.com/prod/tr_fish.html
http://www.acmereef.com/marine_fish_for ... tank_.html

Have not done business with any of these companies so I cannot speak for their service or quality of fish. Not sure if that qualifies as "readily available" or not but with the slightest bit of effort one should be able to find one or even breeding pairs. Well worth it IMO.

 

[Expos Forever]

Hey Vitz...

You know Jerry would approve :lol:

 

[Trigger Me Happy]

A pair of tank born percula clowns is a great addition to any tank. They are generally active and hardy.

Todd

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Vitz...

You know Jerry would approve :lol:

St.dilbert blesses you :wink: