Pick my next fish...

[DrBegalke]

I have a dwarf fuzzy lionfish and angler (trained to eat silversides) in a 55g. Very cool fish, but both are cryptic and don't swim in the water column much.

Would like to add another fish that's colorful and swims around...

any ideas?

[NbMaxx13]

Good timing on the post ... We have a Fuzzy Dwarf and are getting an Angler here in the next week and have been studying up on what would be compatible, so i'm very interested to see everyones opinions on this ....here is what we have found so far ... now as far as activity in the water column , I really don't know for sure .... but as far as the fish we have listed from all the compatibility charts here goes ....


1) Tangs .... Get one small enough to last in the 55 for a while until you get someone in your life attached to it ..then you will have to upgrade lol

2) Boxfish ... I've seen these compatable

3) Foxface ... I love the way these look ..

These are the ones I had on my short list on my desk ...

Let us know what you decide to go w/ ... I'll be curious to see how it works out ...good luck

[DrBegalke]

I've considered a Kole Tang or a large dwarf angel like a lemon peel...

Also, I have no problems with the angler eating... some sources state that the lion will out-compete the angler for food... I trained mine using hemostats to hold live rosy reds in front of it, then dead ones, then frozen foods/shrimp....

[NbMaxx13]

Yeah ...everything that i've read says you are doing the right thing .... How long have you had the two together?

[DaveG99]

Yellow tang, coral beauty, or even a auriga butterfly. I have all three and they swim around constantly. All are pretty easy to take care of. But the butterfly only likes to eat mysis shrimp.

[LisaD]

anglers and lions don't mix. lionfish are a favorite food of anglers. and anglers don't mix with any fish that picks at rock, they tend to harass anglers, thinking they have edible skin. the tang and coral beauty could pick at the angler or become its next meal.

the angler needs to be in a tank of its own. I speak from experience. anglers can eat far larger fish than you think, and they are total gluttons. they will eat tankmates eventually, no matter how well you feed them.

if you don't believe me, then read the angler chapter in Reef Fishes volume 1 by Scott Michael. the information is accurate and very useful.

[DrBegalke]

Lisa:

The concern with lionfish is that they will out-compete anglers for food, correct? If so, I think this is mitigated b/c all of my fish are now eating frozen foods.

The tang issue is a possibilty....

As far anglers eating larger fish then you think, I agree!

I placed a larger (same length as the angelfish) lemon peel in with them. It was gone in less the 15 min... The yellow feces today (very weird looking!) confirms the meal. Lesson learned.

I think I am going to place a blue-jaw trigger with them... but still open to other ideas.

[JeremyT]

I think triggers will pick at them like an angelfish would. Not sure but thought I would mention it.

[DrBegalke]

well, i think a clown trigger would, but i don't think a blue-jaw will...

[LisaD]

I still think you need the angler in a species tank. Any trigger, including a blue chin, will outcompete the angler and probably the lion as well, for food. Besides that, your tank is way to small for any kind of trigger or tang. You are talking a 55 gallon tank!