Invert check...1....2...

[puffygrrl]

I recently posted about "Smiley Gin" my Porcupine fish and first additon to my 30 gallon hex w 25 lbs LR and his HORRENDOUS eating habits. After some research and good advice I went out and bought 3 Scarlet Hermit crabs, 10 Blue-Legged Hermits, 3 Turbo and 2 Astor snails as a clean-up crew. WOW! In 3 days the tank is almost immaculate! Although I thought I would have to replenish the invert population every now and then (since Porky's are supposed to eat inverts and figured it might be a good additional food source for him) - little Smiley isn't too quick and hasn't had a single successful "chomp" yet...they actually keep him quite entertained. ANYHOW...damn I have issues with staying on the point. Does that sounds like a good amount, too much or too little inverts for a seriously messy Porky? I plan on adding a Cowfish in a month too. Any invert advice welcomed

 

[balistidae]

that is about the bare minimum for a tank of that size....a few more hermits wont hurt..just make sure you watch the porky and make sure he isnt mowing any of them..how big is he anyways?

 

[entice59]

sorry to say this, but any puffer and cowfish will not work in your tank that size. Puffers and cowfishes need larger tanks, i think the minimum would be 75 gallons and up. Because they will grow big and will need a lot more swimming space. I wanted a horned cowfish in my 55 gallons but because other fish might be aggressive towards it and its need for larger swimming space, i skipped it.
What i would do, trade it in for store credit at your local fish store, check your ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels before adding anything else. Make sure its safe to put anything else in there. With the store credit, look into getting smaller fishes.
I personally like them better then larger fishes. Here are some great looking fishes with a lot of color and personalities. Lawnmower, bi-color blennies. A pair of percula or maroon clownfish*my personal favorites*. pair of firefish, goby + shrimp combo (they work together* do some research before buying*), a dottyback, 4 line wrasse and 3 bagaii cardianls. I do not mean buy them all, they are just some ideas.
Sorry if i have ruined your day, i know my dad was pretty upset when i enforced "NO TANGS IN THE 55 GALLON ", he eventually quit caring about getting a tang or a large angel when he got the pair of perculas and the lawnmower, now he cant stop talking about how he likes watching them.
Good luck

 

[ophiura]

I think we've covered the puffer in the 30 hex issue already , but good suggestions!

 

[puffygrrl]

Thanks Balistidae for replying about my acual subject, I think I will pick up a couple more Hermies cause Smiley's really messy entice59 - I know about upgrading the size of the tank and I do not plan on keeping him in the 30 gallon for more than 6 months. He's only about 3.5 inches right now so he has tons of space at the moment. I am going to be buying a 75-100 gallon this summer for him, and I won't be adding the Cowfish anytime soon, I appreciate the reminder though All my levels have been excellent for the past month, not even a blip on the screen (all 0) ophiura - I did take in what you said B4, but I just adore him and couldn't part with him now despite what obstacles might lay ahead. The hermits and snails are doing a great job so far and I'm testing the water daily. I'll keep my fingers crossed
Thanks guys!

 

[entice59]

i just wanted to make sure, it sucks to lose a fish everyone loves, i remember when my angel died in my 15 gallon due to bad advice, "sure you can put 1 angel in your tank" and it was during a sale where you can get 15 dollar flame angels... i guess i was tooo tempted to buy one

 

[killafins]

by at least ten more snails, u said u bought only five right? Well if so snails are good, actually great for ur tank. buy more... then a few baby hermits or keep the hermits the same size in ur tank. I just prefer babies cuz all they rely on is algae, large ones can catch fish and stuff.. gerr