Adding color to Lion tank

[madwabbit]

I have a 8" volitan lionfish and 10-ish inch SFE together in a 125.
Would like some ideas to add some color to the tank- Harlequin tusk maybe?
Some type of Angel? I dunno...my only experience is with triggers and I know I cant toss a trig in w/ the volitan. Would appreciate any suggestions guys!

 

[limitedslip]

tangs? wrasse? those would add color, and be very active

 

[ccampbell57]

There is a wrasse on another site in the Divers Den, the Thalassoma hebraicum. This is a SWEET wrasse that is a brilliant yellow and blue.
I think that you would be ok with any large angel. As far as color, Emperor and Blueface are great, but most colorful IMO is the Scribbled. They are just not often found in trade.
As far as triggers, Crosshatch or Bluethroat. Although, my triggers (niger, clown, and Blueline) all have wonderful color.

 

[surfinusa]

I'd add something like a blue hippo tang those are really cool

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by surfinusa
I'd add something like a blue hippo tang those are really cool

Surf - I would argue with that as I have a 7" Hippo in with my aggressive fish and she has now become aggressive. She used to eat the tail of my porky puffer till it was almost at flesh (I blame her for the death if him...cause she picked on him so bad.) She was even picking at my corals!
The Hippo is very colorful and active, but with her aggression, she is also still a frady cat and has now come down with ich 3 times!!!

And during this killed my PBT.
I know I am in the minority on this, but she is the one fish that I wish I HADNT ever added to the tank.
I love tangs, if I could do it over again I would get an Achillies or a Vlamingi instead.

 

[ccampbell57]

BTW...my puffer was 7" at the time and she was 6"

 

[srfisher17]

I love harlequin tuskfish (they are a wrasse), especially the Australian variety; well worth the extra $ (IMO). They're more colorful and hardier. This fish is beautiful, get very tame, active, eat anything (including most inverts) and never bother any other fish. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. This is a big, blue-tooth fish that visitors love and one that won't harass your lion. I had one pre- Katrina that was about 11 years old, a fantastic fish with no bad habits. If you want one, I'd do it soon; they're hard to find in the winter.

 

[hammerhed7]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
I love harlequin tuskfish (they are a wrasse), especially the Australian variety; well worth the extra $ (IMO). They're more colorful and hardier. This fish is beautiful, get very tame, active, eat anything (including most inverts) and never bother any other fish. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. This is a big, blue-tooth fish that visitors love and one that won't harass your lion. I had one pre- Katrina that was about 11 years old, a fantastic fish with no bad habits. If you want one, I'd do it soon; they're hard to find in the winter.

I second this, I have an aussie tusk with my 2 volitans, his movement and color add alot to the tank, and he doesn't bother anyone.

 

[sacremon]

I'm planning on a couple lions (volitans and antennata) along with a rabbitfish in a 125. Foxface are the most popular, and are certainly active and bring a splash of yellow to the tank. I'm presently leaning towards a Magnificus.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by Hammerhed7
I second this, I have an aussie tusk with my 2 volitans, his movement and color add alot to the tank, and he doesn't bother anyone.
My tusk just recovered from a floor dive; my fault for not relacing a piece of eggcrate. I avoid giving human qualities to fish, but this fish is as tame as a puffer; holds himself vertically in the water and spits water thru his big blue teeth at feeding time. Scares little kids, its great. I can't think of a downside to this fish. Lets keep this great fish, especially the Aussies, to ourselves, the price is high enough. BTW, most Aussie harlequins are caught by scuba divers fishing with barbless hooks; and I get stoned to death when I suggest this as the best way to catch damsels!

 

[leftyblite]

Have my dwarf lion in with a foxface and a blue tang and bicolor angel in a 150G. Tank has a lot of color in it. They all seem to get along great from what I've observed.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
Have my dwarf lion in with a foxface and a blue tang and bicolor angel in a 150G. Tank has a lot of color in it. They all seem to get along great from what I've observed.
Sounds like a great grouping. Congrats on the bicolor; very tough to get acclimated & eating, but a beautiful fish.

 

[surfinusa]

Originally Posted by ccampbell57
Surf - I would argue with that as I have a 7" Hippo in with my aggressive fish and she has now become aggressive. She used to eat the tail of my porky puffer till it was almost at flesh (I blame her for the death if him...cause she picked on him so bad.) She was even picking at my corals!
The Hippo is very colorful and active, but with her aggression, she is also still a frady cat and has now come down with ich 3 times!!!

And during this killed my PBT.
I know I am in the minority on this, but she is the one fish that I wish I HADNT ever added to the tank.
I love tangs, if I could do it over again I would get an Achillies or a Vlamingi instead.
I know what you mean I had a snowflake eel that was supposed to be peacful but instead killed almost every fish i ever owned.

 

[leftyblite]

I guess I got lucky, my bicolor angel was one of the easiest to get to start eating, the toughest was the lion.

 

[hammerhed7]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
My tusk just recovered from a floor dive; my fault for not relacing a piece of eggcrate. I avoid giving human qualities to fish, but this fish is as tame as a puffer; holds himself vertically in the water and spits water thru his big blue teeth at feeding time. Scares little kids, its great. I can't think of a downside to this fish. Lets keep this great fish, especially the Aussies, to ourselves, the price is high enough. BTW, most Aussie harlequins are caught by scuba divers fishing with barbless hooks; and I get stoned to death when I suggest this as the best way to catch damsels!
Deal, by the way, I have hooked a few damsels in my day