Fish selection

[Mike]

Hey everybody! I've been thinking about what fish I want to have in my 90 gallon, and I want to get your opinions. It's still going to be a few weeks, but I'd like to get my plan sorted out. The tank has been running with just water and substrate for several weeks now, I should get my lights next week, and then some live rock. Once the cycle is completed, I'm thinking of adding a pair of firefish gobies - are these hardy enough to be the first fish? Eventually, over the next several months, I'd like to add a lawnmower blenny, one or two scooter blennies, maybe a royal gramma, a small sailfin tang, and either a naso tang or perhaps a powder blue, although that one would probably be some time down the road, and I'm not sure if it would be a good idea. The naso would undoubtedly outgrow the tank, though. I'd also like a gold striped maroon clown. I love butterfly fish, but I'm a bit leery about them in a reef setting. I'm going to start off with soft corals initially, but I love SPS, and I'd like to move to that in the future. I was thinking of a pearlscale butterfly (Chaetodon xanthurus). It seems to me from what I've read that this is one of the most reef-safe of the butterflies, but you can never predict what an animal is going to do. Does anyone have experience with these fish? How hard are they to keep? Any opinions or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Mike
:cheers:

[afss]

Personally I would wait on the fire fish. I have always found them to be a bit on the fragile side and they seem to like to carpet surf.

If you decide to get a scooter blennie I would suggest you only get one. Some people have had success in getting a pair, but other wise they will just fight amongst each other.

IMO the lawn mower blennie is a great addition after the tank is cycled

The royal gramma is a nice looking fish, but they can quickly become the alpha of the tank so they should probably be one of the last fish added.

Sail fins will get large too, but if you are prepared for that then getting one should be OK. I would not recommend putting a naso and a sailfin in a 90. I personally think they would be toooo big and end up fighting. Powder blues are gorgeous, but i would wait till the tank is extremely mature before adding it. Also I would suggest not adding cleaner wrasse. They are good for looking after tangs but their rate of survival in captivity is dismal. If you want a cleaner for the tangs get some cleaner shrimp and a neon goby.

Butterflys are hit and miss. I don't have any experience with them but i know each has its own draw back and that some are safer than others.

A good first addition may be your clown fish. They will become protective of their area to other fish but seldom the whole tank.

Hope that helps

Scott

[ryan_lalande]

fire fish, very skittish and if you get any agressive fish liek the pb tang there is a good chance they will stay hidden all the time

maroon clowns can be really agressive and may not let you add any more fish after

butterflys are always a risk like scott said

lawnmower are good, but the one problem i had with them that could be a rare problem but it seemed he did not like any new bottom dwelling addition to the tank..especailly my mandarin which is similar to the scooter

pb tangs are ick magnets, and i agree with scott that a naso and sailfin is cutting it close in a 90 seeing as a naso can get to be 18 - 22 inches long

the are always exception to the rules, but its always good to know as much as you can
good luck

[Mike]

Thanks! That definitely helps. You say you would wait until the tank is extremely mature before adding a powder blue - how would you define extremely mature? If I decide to attempt the powder blue, my thought would be adding it after 6 months to a year of running without major problems. Another question I have is around the Barrie area are there any reputable LFS's that have a good selection of healthy, well taken care of fish? Big Al's often has a good selection, but I was in there today, and was appalled that they had put several triggers in a tank with several mandarin fish. Needless to say, the mandarins were not fairing well. Also, I've often seen signs of ich on many of their fish, but with the stress of being moved, overcrowded, and placed in a tank with no where to hide, I would imagine that would be understandable. Thanks for your help!

Mike

[ryan_lalande]

i would suggest jlaquatics.....never had a bad fish from them and they have great service as well as great prices....

[afss]

To me mature is around a year or more without doing major rock restacks and messing around in the tank.. Not scientific.. just me

Scott

[pbutkovich]

Mike I don't think there are any LFS besides Big Als in our area. I is true that some of the livestock does not appear the best. I imagine that most has to do with the stress of shipment. Not much stays around to get acclimated to their new home. It is gone before then. I wish they would not stock Mandarines period! Only bring them in on special orders. They come floating to the surface from behond rocks all the time during their cleaning. Makes you feel kinda sick.
Paul

[ryan_lalande]

www.jlaquatics.com

very good source

[Mike]

Thanks! I thought I might be rushing it with that 6 months thing.... JL aquatics is www.jlaquatics.com. Never considered mail ordering fish.... I think I'd prefer to observe them in person before purchasing them, but it's an interesting idea.... Thanks for the advice!

[afss]

J& L is in Vancouver i think. Its a mail order.

I would not suggest a mandarin in a 90 with out a refugium.

If you are looking for quality fish i would suggest ORG in Oakville. Personally I want to see what i am buying if I can. J&L seems to have a good record, but i just prefer to see it first.

Scott

[ryan_lalande]

jl is in vancover

www.jlaquatics.com
check out there new and noteworthy page! actually pics of livestock for sale

1 888 840 1146 is the toll free number ...they are very helpful

[Mike]

I never see too many fish when I'm at ORG. I suppose they can get them in? That would be my first choice of a place to get them. I know I'll be buying all my corals from there. I have a good sized refugium, but have no plans to get a mandarin right now. Especially not a half eaten one from Big Al's. I love those fish, but I think a scooter blenny is also a form of dragonet, and would compete for food. As the scooter blenny is probably a lot easier to care for, and exhibits similar characteristics, although not the gorgeous colouration, I think I'll stick with that for the first while, anyway. Thanks!

[afss]

scooter and mandarin would definitely compete for food
Scott