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[malignaki]

So I've been looking a lot into saltwater fish. I have a 55 gallaon tank that I am work on setting up. I want to eventually get cuttlefish or an octopus...thats my goal. I know they are very difficult though...and I will need a bigger tank. So for now, since I'm a virgin to this I know it would be best to start with some cheaper, easier to care for, FISH. I figure then I will upgrade to a seahorse and so on and so on. So what fish would be a good starter and then another slighter more advanced one so I can go up a step? Keep in mind I have a 55 gallon tank.
I plan on adding some live rock and scavengers but nothing cluttered. I hate clutter.

 

[arlene1995]

Hi and welcome to the boards!

Here is the list of fish that I would do:
The easy ones:
A pair of Clownfish (specifically Ocellaris or True Perculas) would look nice and are easy to care for.
Maybe a Pseudochromis if you add it last and if you have no shrimp (same goes for a basslet)
The trickier ones:
A dwarf angel like a Coral Beauty or a Lemonpeel
A small butterflyfish.
Feel free to post any further questions! Also, keep in mind that the key to success in this hobby is PATIENCE!

DON'T rush things or it could end pretty badly. Just trying to help! Good luck!

 

[cranberry]

Were you gonna keep the inital fish when you introduce the seahorses? If you were, it would be best to consider seahorse-safe tankmates. And even if you don't plan on that now... you may fall in LOVE with your first fish and not want to give them up. So, if I were you, I would get beginner type fish that will also mix well with seahorses in the future.

 

[texasmetal]

You should check out TONMO.com
It is a very good idea to work your way up to keeping more advanced creatures than just diving right in. Really the most important thing is to become familiar with maintaining the aquarium and water quality. Once you've built up your confidence on those subjects, keeping an octopus is not really that difficult.
Honestly I personally think octopuses are easier to keep than fish, and most definitely easier to keep than seahorses. Cephalopods don't get the problematic diseases that fish and seahorses often get.
The main things to consider are A) Getting a small, young specimen and B) Making sure there are no escape routes in the tank, and with cuttles you don't have to worry about that part.
A 55 gallon tank is okay for most of the common species of octopus in the trade, although I would suggest as big a tank as you can afford so you will get a broader range of behaviors out of the octopus.
Right now Sepia bandensis is probably the only cuttlefish you will find anywhere, and that's good because they are dwarfs and only grow to about 5 inches max. You could keep 3 in a 55.
Good luck, and have fun!
Dale