Need help deciding on a new fish...

IndoorOcean · 03/11/2007, 04:50 PM

My 20 gallon has been up and running for 4 years now, with only one fish - a yellowtail damsel. I did add an Ocellaris clown shortly after the damsel, but he jumped out of the tank one night and the cat ate him. I also had a lawnmower blenny that would never eat and died of starvation... part of me thinks the damsel may be linked to both deaths. The tank was a FOWLR for almost 3 years, then I upgraded the lighting system and added a few corals (shrooms, xenia, and hammer coral). It's been probably 2 years since I've tried adding another fish, but the tank looks so empty with just one, so I've got to give it another try.

I'm currently in the planning stages of a 75, so whatever fish I add will eventually be transferred. However, it may be as long as 6 months before the 75 is up and ready so I can't purchase a fish that may outgrow my 20. Also, the the tank currently doesn't have a lid, so if the fish is a known jumper, it would not be a good addition... another expensive treat for the cat!

I would like for my new fish to cost less than $50. I plan on having a pair of clowns in the 75, but don't want to purchase them now since I'm leaning toward tomato clowns and they get too big for a 20.

So let's hear your ideas.

Scuba_Steve · 03/11/2007, 04:56 PM

there are too many fish to even name for me...my only thought is get rid of that damsel first

IndoorOcean · 03/11/2007, 05:01 PM

I plan on putting the damsel in a 10 gallon nano that I will set up in the office after the 75 project is complete. So, I'm basically looking for a specimen that can coexist with him in the 20 and later be a good inhabitent for the 75. My wife wouldn't hear of getting rid of him.

SDguy · 03/11/2007, 05:05 PM

One of the smaller pseudochromis would be able to handle himself just fine with your damsel.

kingfisher62 · 03/11/2007, 05:06 PM

what ever you get needs to be tough enough to hold it's own against that damsel. I have to say the yellow tails are probably one of the mellowest damsels but he has established territory now. My suggestion would be a strawberry dottyback or something similar , or maybe a sixline wrasse.

IndoorOcean · 03/11/2007, 05:23 PM

I do like the strawberry dottback, but I've read that they may eat smaller shrimp. Has the one you have ever bothered your pepermint shrimp?

kingfisher62 · 03/11/2007, 05:30 PM

no , i have even seen my shrimp cleaning him.My shrimp was as big as him so I don't know about smaller shrimp.

It's funny you said that because my canary wrasse just ate my peppermint two days ago.
Well I am not sure but I noticed he was pretty fat before feeding time. Plus he has no alibi to speak of!

IndoorOcean · 03/11/2007, 05:37 PM

Sorry about the loss of your peppermint. I actually used to have a peppermint that mysteriously "dissapeared" after about 6 months, but I seriously doubt the damsel ate him.

kingfisher62 · 03/11/2007, 05:42 PM

Thanks i was hoping that he molted and was just in hiding!
but that wrasse got fat on something!

03/11/2007, 04:50 PM	#1
IndoorOcean Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 219	Need help deciding on a new fish... My 20 gallon has been up and running for 4 years now, with only one fish - a yellowtail damsel. I did add an Ocellaris clown shortly after the damsel, but he jumped out of the tank one night and the cat ate him. I also had a lawnmower blenny that would never eat and died of starvation... part of me thinks the damsel may be linked to both deaths. The tank was a FOWLR for almost 3 years, then I upgraded the lighting system and added a few corals (shrooms, xenia, and hammer coral). It's been probably 2 years since I've tried adding another fish, but the tank looks so empty with just one, so I've got to give it another try. I'm currently in the planning stages of a 75, so whatever fish I add will eventually be transferred. However, it may be as long as 6 months before the 75 is up and ready so I can't purchase a fish that may outgrow my 20. Also, the the tank currently doesn't have a lid, so if the fish is a known jumper, it would not be a good addition... another expensive treat for the cat! I would like for my new fish to cost less than $50. I plan on having a pair of clowns in the 75, but don't want to purchase them now since I'm leaning toward tomato clowns and they get too big for a 20. So let's hear your ideas. __________________ "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable." - Dwight Schrute Current Tank Info: Without a tank at the moment :(

03/11/2007, 05:01 PM	#3
IndoorOcean Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 219	I plan on putting the damsel in a 10 gallon nano that I will set up in the office after the 75 project is complete. So, I'm basically looking for a specimen that can coexist with him in the 20 and later be a good inhabitent for the 75. My wife wouldn't hear of getting rid of him. __________________ "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable." - Dwight Schrute Current Tank Info: Without a tank at the moment :(

03/11/2007, 05:05 PM	#4
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	One of the smaller pseudochromis would be able to handle himself just fine with your damsel. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/11/2007, 05:06 PM	#5
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	what ever you get needs to be tough enough to hold it's own against that damsel. I have to say the yellow tails are probably one of the mellowest damsels but he has established territory now. My suggestion would be a strawberry dottyback or something similar , or maybe a sixline wrasse. __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

03/11/2007, 05:23 PM	#6
IndoorOcean Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 219	I do like the strawberry dottback, but I've read that they may eat smaller shrimp. Has the one you have ever bothered your pepermint shrimp? __________________ "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable." - Dwight Schrute Current Tank Info: Without a tank at the moment :(

03/11/2007, 04:56 PM	#2
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	there are too many fish to even name for me...my only thought is get rid of that damsel first

03/11/2007, 05:30 PM	#7
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	no , i have even seen my shrimp cleaning him.My shrimp was as big as him so I don't know about smaller shrimp. It's funny you said that because my canary wrasse just ate my peppermint two days ago. Well I am not sure but I noticed he was pretty fat before feeding time. Plus he has no alibi to speak of! __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

03/11/2007, 05:37 PM	#8
IndoorOcean Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 219	Sorry about the loss of your peppermint. I actually used to have a peppermint that mysteriously "dissapeared" after about 6 months, but I seriously doubt the damsel ate him. __________________ "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable." - Dwight Schrute Current Tank Info: Without a tank at the moment :(

03/11/2007, 05:42 PM	#9
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	Thanks i was hoping that he molted and was just in hiding! but that wrasse got fat on something! __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef