Is it a problem if I cant point out a Fish?

robertg

robertg

Member
[hr]
O.K now that I enticed you to look at my thread with my dumb title name I need some help. I know absolutley nothing about tanks or saltwater fish. I have been reading alot on the sight but still havent had all my questions answered. I want certain types of fish but I dont know if there are compatable or not or if they are reef compatiable (whatever that means?) anyway here is the list of the fish I would like tell me what you think
-a serpent starfish of some kind or color
-a eel of any kind
-a few clown fish
-a sea horse
-a orange starfish
-maby another type of normal fish taking any recomendations on pretty fish
BTW im not looking at buying a tank that takes up my entire room just whatever will get the job done any help you can provide will be much appreciated.
Also a few questions I would love to have answered
-what is the difference in coral safe and reef safe?
-if there is no minimum amount of water listed by a certain fish does that mean it can live in basic conditions
-and in any size tank how do you know about how many fish you can fit in the tank
 
T

tizzo

Guest
In short, fish are catagorized in two ways. "reef fish" and "ocean fish", reef fish need very little room to roam since they usually find a spot and live in it, while ocean fish like to swim...think Dori.
So if there is no gallons listed, then it is most likely minimal.
Difference between reef safe and coral safe...
A good reef usually has inverts like shrimp, hermit crabs, emerald crabs, and snails. A fish deemed reef safe will not eat these. If it is deemed "coral safe" that means it will not eat corals but is likely to eat inverts.
Your list...lemme look again, but one thing stood out.
You said a few clowns. That's a bad idea. You will read that they will fight, but I just saw first hand experience this month. Guy buys 3 ocellaris clowns. Has them for about a year and they get along great. 2 of them are just starting to turn female (they do that)... 2 females in one tank, one male one host... One of them will die.
So, get a pair. Either very young, or already bonded.
A seahorse requires it's own cnditions that are not likely compatible with regular tanks. Seahorses like very little flow, lower temps and cannot compete for food.
An orange star, needs an established tank, and I know cause I just asked our "expert" about these yesturday.
Pretty fish that are easy to keep that quickly come to mind, assuming you want reef safe are chromis, clowns, neon gobies...
How big is your tank gonna be??
But I gotta give you kudos on the title...it was clever.
 
robertg

robertg

Member
Im thinking around like 30-45g tank. Im looking at these yellow kuda seahorse and it appears they can live with other fish alright. So you also think I should stick with just two clown fish. Also the site says that pipefish and scavenger starfish can intermix with other fish? what do you think
 
T

tizzo

Guest
They are compatible in the sense that they will not fight, but pipefish, like seahorses are slow moving fish and at feeding time, they are hard pressed to get their food. You can't overfeed cause that messes up your water parameters, so they sometimes go to bed with out dinner and they can only do that so many times.

And stars are usually fine with other fish, the problem with the stars is that you may not have what they eat. Research your stars! The sights that sell them lie about diet. Find the star you want, then post for info on it in the reef section. This sights expert will tell you what you need to know to keep it.
 
robertg

robertg

Member
lol your being very helpful so im going to grace you with a few more questions I guess until you get tired i revised the list a bit see what you think about it.
-2 young clown fish
-1 or 2 yellow kudda sea horse
-1 pipe fish
-1 either red,serprent,or brittle star fish the scavenger type?
also with each fish i find I like i see there not compatabile with coral only reef which im slightly confused on what a reef is and it said that a brittle starfish and a shrimp may not be compatible but I have seen them live together at my work. Someone has a tank and they live together for as long as i can remember
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Your list appears OK, but you may wanna double check in the seahorse forum. I have never had them, so I am unsure of all of their requirements.
Brittles with shrimp are 9 times outa 10 fine. very rarely will they eat your livestock if you feed them properly.
Reef is a tank with corals AND snails and crabs and shrimp.
You can keep corals without keeping snails or crabs or shrimp, then a coral safe fish would be fine.
Technically, just having corals gives you rights to say you have a reef tank. But when a fish is "reef safe" it automatically includes the snails, etc...
 
the egregious

the egregious

Member
Originally Posted by robertg
http:///forum/post/2528113
-a eel of any kind
I don't know of any eel that will comfortably live in that size of a tank. Also even though there are a lot of eels that are labeled not has aggressive as others it doesn't mean that they will not eat other fish you have. Eels are hardy under the right water conditions but, you need to have your parameters in check before you get one (naturally with all living SW life) as well as lots of LR for dwellings.
Korbin
 
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