Overcrowding?

[krazedkazoo]

I have a 40g reef tank (one described in my sig) that has a flame hawkfish, yellow watchman, mandarin, and lawnmower blenny. I had two clark clowns but they were re-homed and replaced by the hawk. All the fish are small and are staying fairly small.

First question is: IS the tank overcrowded? There is no fighting for territory or food.

I have a BTA and miss the clownfish/anemone relationship. If I get one small ocellaris will it become super territorial with the nem? My pair of clarks apparently turned into Hulks when they're together AND in the anemone. They were loving the nem to death and trying to kill anything else living in the tank.

If the tank isn't overcrowded but the clownfish would be too much, would a firefish or a royal gramma be overkill? I want something that isn't a "rock-walker" (like how hawkfish/mandarin walk along rockwork and watchman stays on the bottom anyway).

Thanks in advance for reading my wall of text and I appreciate any help!

[redhairsunshine]

I think you would be fine with the one clown and the BTA. Clark clowns tend to be aggressive from what I have heard (and maroons). I had 2 misbars and a nem in a 30g along with other misc fish. As long as you have the rock to accommodate the fish I think you should be fine. In my 30g I had like 45lbs (maybe more) and had no issues.

[SwampyBill]

doesn't sound like overcrowding to me. An ocellaris would be fine in that sized tank. they're more peaceful too. My b/w occi pair were originally in my previous 37gal tank for a year & were model tankmates. I'm more concerned with your mandarin dragonette in a 40gal tank getting enough pods to eat (or are you trying to wean it onto frozen foods)?

[Gimplar]

seems like you got alot of perching fish. I wouldnt get another "bottom" fish like gobies, ect. But a pair of clowns and even a wrasse would be fine, imo.

[Mangodude]

+1 on what Gimplar said.

Def. not over crowded. I think you could get a pair of clowns and a royal gramma. Most of your fish are bottom dwellers so the clowns should show no interest in them. Royal gramma's or a wrasse are also mid-top level dwellers and shouldn't be a problem with rock-hoppers.

JMO

[jbax]

if you only get one then you should be ok. my oc clowns are back at it again and have put every fish on notice.

[aday2remmbr]

Originally Posted by krazedkazoo

I have a 40g reef tank (one described in my sig) that has a flame hawkfish, yellow watchman, mandarin, and lawnmower blenny. I had two clark clowns but they were re-homed and replaced by the hawk. All the fish are small and are staying fairly small.

First question is: IS the tank overcrowded? There is no fighting for territory or food.

I have a BTA and miss the clownfish/anemone relationship. If I get one small ocellaris will it become super territorial with the nem? My pair of clarks apparently turned into Hulks when they're together AND in the anemone. They were loving the nem to death and trying to kill anything else living in the tank.

If the tank isn't overcrowded but the clownfish would be too much, would a firefish or a royal gramma be overkill? I want something that isn't a "rock-walker" (like how hawkfish/mandarin walk along rockwork and watchman stays on the bottom anyway).

Thanks in advance for reading my wall of text and I appreciate any help!

kudos to you for being concerned most will fill the tank up and then ask if its overcrowded. well i think your fine except i would trade in the mandarin they depleat the pod supply and are a pain in the *** to keep

[krazedkazoo]

Originally Posted by SwampyBill

doesn't sound like overcrowding to me. An ocellaris would be fine in that sized tank. they're more peaceful too. My b/w occi pair were originally in my previous 37gal tank for a year & were model tankmates. I'm more concerned with your mandarin dragonette in a 40gal tank getting enough pods to eat (or are you trying to wean it onto frozen foods)?

She's an amazing little trooper! She's lasted in there for at least five months just on the natural population of pods. I recently ordered another batch of them for her just because I was nervous she might be depleting the population. I want to wean her on to frozen food, but she's so secretive and doesn't wait for me to feed her so she never holds still. I'm thinking I can maybe try to ninja a pipette of frozen stuff in front of her face, but only if she doesn't swim away first. =\

[chimmike]

in order for the mandarin to be properly fed, since you don't have a fuge, you need to be adding pods at least every couple of days, otherwise the mandarin is slowly starving.

[krazedkazoo]

Originally Posted by chimmike

in order for the mandarin to be properly fed, since you don't have a fuge, you need to be adding pods at least every couple of days, otherwise the mandarin is slowly starving.

Every time I get the pods it's always a massive order and I put them all in at once overnight. If that still isn't good enough does anyone want to trade a ocellaris, royal gramma, or a firefish for my mandarin? =P I definitely don't want the poor girl to starve eventually.

[Gimplar]

so your mandarin isnt eating frozen mysis?

[krazedkazoo]

Originally Posted by Gimplar

so your mandarin isnt eating frozen mysis?

Nope. She's been living off added pods and the occasional addition of live brine for fun.

[Gimplar]

Have you tried slowly acclimating the mandarin onto mysis? i could of sworn we've had this conversation before, but maybe im just losing my mind.

[krazedkazoo]

Originally Posted by Gimplar

Have you tried slowly acclimating the mandarin onto mysis? i could of sworn we've had this conversation before, but maybe im just losing my mind.

Haven't tried yet. =\