Anyone with fish experience?!?!?!?

ClayWagner · 04/24/2008, 02:32 PM

Planning on getting a combination of few/all of the following: flame angel, foxface, mandarin, and CB butterfly fish. Anyone with experience regarding these four? I have researched them and found that the flame angel has been noted to pick at SPS and the CB will nip at zoo's. I have BOTH! I'm looking for some extra algae pickers along with aiptasia control. Other suggestions appreciated. Also...thinking of introducing some shrimp to the tank, will this be a $20 meal for my adult wild maroon clown?

snorvich · 04/24/2008, 02:38 PM

Well, CBB may or may not eat aiptasia and in fact, they may or may not live as they have a notoriously low survival rate. They also may or may not be reef safe. Flame angels may be ok or they may NOT be ok. Mandarins will do well in established (6 months or more) tanks with lots of live rock and a refugium. Foxface will be reef safe if they are well fed. Or maybe not.

kar93 · 04/24/2008, 02:38 PM

Flame Angels just like all other angels are 50/50 when it comes to nipping, you may get one that nips you may get one that wont. CBB's may nip at zoas and may eat aiptasia but they are also finicky eaters. you may get one that eats you may get one that wont. The Mandarin will need a mature tank to feed at least 6-9months as its main food source is pods. The foxface would be a nice fish. A cleaner shrimp would be good and the Maroon shouldnt eat it.

ClayWagner · 04/24/2008, 11:04 PM

Well if that doesn't add to the seesaw of decisions

. I'll probably scratch the CBB because I have been reading numerous articles about negative captive feeding. I would hate to see a fish starve to death knowing it might happen. I absolutely love the look of the FA though, ashame about the possible coral eating. Any other fish suggestions or comments on the ones listed? I know lots of you have/had these fish! Is there a difference in habits of the dragonet mandarin and green spotted mandarin? Also, I've always used saltwaterfish.com because I assumed they were the most inexpensive...any opinions on others?

Happy reefing,
Clay

snorvich · 04/25/2008, 04:15 AM

There is a difference in apprearance between the species of mandarin but no appreciable difference in feeding or other habits. The green spotted is reputed to eat flatworms; this may or may not happen. Buying cheap fish is in the long run expensive.

ClayWagner · 04/25/2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Buying cheap fish is in the long run expensive.

Unfortunately always the case. Anyone else with experience/suggestions?

JBuffetReefer · 04/25/2008, 03:54 PM

find a good LFS and be very picky when choosing your fish. Their is a book out showing essential info on all the fish and invertebrate you'll likely to find in a LFS. It costs about $25 for it and it is definately worth buying.

joesynodontis · 04/25/2008, 04:04 PM

cbb is bad to buy, I am one of the statistic that had a cbb die due to importing stress. My tank was already established when I introduced this guy to get rid of aptasia, it dies in less than a day. I chose to get a potters angel because it was so nice looking and looked like tha flame angel. it is a picker of corals. foxface is cool but it will grow big. Mandarin is the coolest but My tank is too agressive, instead i got a scooter blemmy. oh my peppermint shrimp that eats aptasia, gone in after 4 months,it took care of the smaller aptasia , but not the big ones. those bigger aptasia was taken care of with an injection of kalkwasser in its mouth.

so the shrimp does not become a $20 meal, when introducing itto your tank be sure to put the shrimp in your hand and show the fish you are putting it in .....do not just drop it in.

Aquarist007 · 04/25/2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClayWagner
Planning on getting a combination of few/all of the following: flame angel, foxface, mandarin, and CB butterfly fish. Anyone with experience regarding these four? I have researched them and found that the flame angel has been noted to pick at SPS and the CB will nip at zoo's. I have BOTH! I'm looking for some extra algae pickers along with aiptasia control. Other suggestions appreciated. Also...thinking of introducing some shrimp to the tank, will this be a $20 meal for my adult wild maroon clown?

as a suggestion:
coral beauty
yellow tang or tomini tang
foxface
anthias
variety of gobies
basselette
pajama cardinal
three green chromies

I have had no trouble with this combination(and a few others)

ClayWagner · 04/25/2008, 08:06 PM

I think foxface, couple of green chromis', and a mandarin would suffice. Maybe the FA, but that's a gamble.

Aquarist007 · 04/25/2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClayWagner
I think foxface, couple of green chromis', and a mandarin would suffice. Maybe the FA, but that's a gamble.

I hope I don't have to be the one to console you when the mandarine dies in a month or so
you won't be able to support it in a new tank---you need a dedicated refugium to producing copopods--live ones---regardless what LFS states--that is all they eat

ClayWagner · 04/25/2008, 08:55 PM

I've had the tank for a year, and the guy before me for about 1/2 a year. Established refugium with cheato, and live rock section as well. I've got too many copepods - you wan't some

. Will a plentiful supply of copepods satisfy the mandarin's needs? I've read that live blood worms, brine shrimp, and various other live foods also work. Any opinions?

Aquarist007 · 04/25/2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClayWagner
I've had the tank for a year, and the guy before me for about 1/2 a year. Established refugium with cheato, and live rock section as well. I've got too many copepods - you wan't some . Will a plentiful supply of copepods satisfy the mandarin's needs? I've read that live blood worms, brine shrimp, and various other live foods also work. Any opinions?

that is great news----your mandarine will be pleased too

ClayWagner · 04/26/2008, 08:08 AM

I hope so, do they eat any other foods?

kar93 · 04/26/2008, 08:28 AM

Some may eat small pellets but its rare that you will find one that does, In your tank it may eventually start eating the pellets still this doesnt mean that someone with an unestablished tank can buy one but fortunately your tank would be great for a mandarin. When buying one make sure it is healthy fat and moving around alot.

04/24/2008, 02:32 PM	#1
ClayWagner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 304	Anyone with fish experience?!?!?!? Planning on getting a combination of few/all of the following: flame angel, foxface, mandarin, and CB butterfly fish. Anyone with experience regarding these four? I have researched them and found that the flame angel has been noted to pick at SPS and the CB will nip at zoo's. I have BOTH! I'm looking for some extra algae pickers along with aiptasia control. Other suggestions appreciated. Also...thinking of introducing some shrimp to the tank, will this be a $20 meal for my adult wild maroon clown? __________________ What kind of bee's make the best milk? ....BOO-BEES!

04/24/2008, 02:38 PM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Well, CBB may or may not eat aiptasia and in fact, they may or may not live as they have a notoriously low survival rate. They also may or may not be reef safe. Flame angels may be ok or they may NOT be ok. Mandarins will do well in established (6 months or more) tanks with lots of live rock and a refugium. Foxface will be reef safe if they are well fed. Or maybe not. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/24/2008, 11:04 PM	#4
ClayWagner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 304	Well if that doesn't add to the seesaw of decisions . I'll probably scratch the CBB because I have been reading numerous articles about negative captive feeding. I would hate to see a fish starve to death knowing it might happen. I absolutely love the look of the FA though, ashame about the possible coral eating. Any other fish suggestions or comments on the ones listed? I know lots of you have/had these fish! Is there a difference in habits of the dragonet mandarin and green spotted mandarin? Also, I've always used saltwaterfish.com because I assumed they were the most inexpensive...any opinions on others? Happy reefing, Clay __________________ What kind of bee's make the best milk? ....BOO-BEES!

04/25/2008, 04:15 AM	#5
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	There is a difference in apprearance between the species of mandarin but no appreciable difference in feeding or other habits. The green spotted is reputed to eat flatworms; this may or may not happen. Buying cheap fish is in the long run expensive. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/25/2008, 03:54 PM	#7
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	find a good LFS and be very picky when choosing your fish. Their is a book out showing essential info on all the fish and invertebrate you'll likely to find in a LFS. It costs about $25 for it and it is definately worth buying. __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank

04/24/2008, 02:38 PM	#3
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Flame Angels just like all other angels are 50/50 when it comes to nipping, you may get one that nips you may get one that wont. CBB's may nip at zoas and may eat aiptasia but they are also finicky eaters. you may get one that eats you may get one that wont. The Mandarin will need a mature tank to feed at least 6-9months as its main food source is pods. The foxface would be a nice fish. A cleaner shrimp would be good and the Maroon shouldnt eat it.

04/25/2008, 04:04 PM	#8
joesynodontis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: burbank, ca Posts: 360	cbb is bad to buy, I am one of the statistic that had a cbb die due to importing stress. My tank was already established when I introduced this guy to get rid of aptasia, it dies in less than a day. I chose to get a potters angel because it was so nice looking and looked like tha flame angel. it is a picker of corals. foxface is cool but it will grow big. Mandarin is the coolest but My tank is too agressive, instead i got a scooter blemmy. oh my peppermint shrimp that eats aptasia, gone in after 4 months,it took care of the smaller aptasia , but not the big ones. those bigger aptasia was taken care of with an injection of kalkwasser in its mouth. so the shrimp does not become a $20 meal, when introducing itto your tank be sure to put the shrimp in your hand and show the fish you are putting it in .....do not just drop it in. __________________ "The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says, 'Go!'; a leader says, 'Let's go!'" - E.M. Kelly Current Tank Info: 150g acrylic tall true reeftank 45g sump/fuge, jbj1/3 hp arctica, 2x korelia 4, T5 lights 48 ich 54 watt x8, skimmer , uv, little giant 3 external pump. CoraLife LED 29g Biocube Reef.

04/25/2008, 08:06 PM	#10
ClayWagner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 304	I think foxface, couple of green chromis', and a mandarin would suffice. Maybe the FA, but that's a gamble. __________________ What kind of bee's make the best milk? ....BOO-BEES!

04/25/2008, 08:55 PM	#12
ClayWagner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 304	I've had the tank for a year, and the guy before me for about 1/2 a year. Established refugium with cheato, and live rock section as well. I've got too many copepods - you wan't some . Will a plentiful supply of copepods satisfy the mandarin's needs? I've read that live blood worms, brine shrimp, and various other live foods also work. Any opinions? __________________ What kind of bee's make the best milk? ....BOO-BEES!

04/26/2008, 08:08 AM	#14
ClayWagner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 304	I hope so, do they eat any other foods? __________________ What kind of bee's make the best milk? ....BOO-BEES!

04/26/2008, 08:28 AM	#15
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Some may eat small pellets but its rare that you will find one that does, In your tank it may eventually start eating the pellets still this doesnt mean that someone with an unestablished tank can buy one but fortunately your tank would be great for a mandarin. When buying one make sure it is healthy fat and moving around alot.