Looking for a Purple Fish

gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
I'm looking for a purple fish to give my wife for our anniversary. My tank has only been up about six months, so nothing difficult to care for or that dies easily. Size is also a concern, since I have a 29 gallon that is almost at its bioload.
Does anyone know of any fish that fit this bill?
Thanks ahead of time for the help.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by gmann1139
I'm looking for a purple fish to give my wife for our anniversary. My tank has only been up about six months, so nothing difficult to care for or that dies easily. Size is also a concern, since I have a 29 gallon that is almost at its bioload.
Does anyone know of any fish that fit this bill?
Thanks ahead of time for the help.
Assuming you're not overstocked and the tank is very healthy; a blackcap basslet would be ideal. ( They don't mix with other basslets or dottybacks). I'll bet you get a lot more help if you tell us what's already in the tank. Happy Anniversary; if your wife likes a fish as a present, your marriage will last forever.
 
S

surfinusa

Guest
Coral beauties are cool purple fish very mellow and dont get that big.
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I've seen Coral Beauties at my LFS, and found them stunning. Also saw a small Bluefin Angel today that was of a purplish hue.
Never heard of the blackcap basslet, srfisher, but after looking it up, that's a unique and very purple fish.

As of an hour ago, my current stocklist is 2 clowns (big saddleback and small false perc) and 2 small 4-stripe damsels. I also have a cleaning crew of blue legs and snails, although the snails are being picked off by the crabs now.

I unfortunately set up my tank before realizing the importance of live rock, so now that I've cycled, I'm probably going to redo the cycle by adding a few pounds of live rock every few weeks until the tank is stocked.
I know my wife has seen Coral Beauties at the LFS with me, and while she says she likes them, I'm not sure she's sold. So far though, based on pricing and availability, they're in the pole position, though they'll have to wait until the LR is established and edible, then think about the Coral beauty.
Oh, and the tank was my wedding gift to my wife. She's a Nemo fan, so as long as the false perc lives, she's happy.
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
Heres my blackcap, its more purple in person. Being a women myself, I say this is indeed a purple women pleasing fish
And how about a purple coral to go with the new fish?

 
dinogeorge

dinogeorge

Member
One of the best fish I have ever had was a Fridmani, a.k.a. Orchid Dottyback. You'll find them on this site listed under Dottybacks.
This fish in awesome, behaves himself and and does not bother anything. Very, very hardy fish as well.
You should check him out.
Good luck.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
IMO; you're already have as much fish-life as a 29 gal will handle; even when properly cycled. The fish you do have are very hardy and can tolerate much higher amounts of ammonia and nitrite than almost any other fish. What are your current water parameters now? I sure wouldn't add anything now. Also, I have a feeling you'll regret getting those damsels; they'll probably be bullying other fish as they grow and are certain to be a problem in a small tank with a coral beauty. If it was my tank (and it isn't); when I was sure my water was safe and the tank matures some, I'd trade the damsels for the purple gift fish.
 
kjohansen

kjohansen

Member
I would agree you are probably at the bio load that tank can support.
A Purple Firefish is awesome.. I have one in my AP 24. I have two false percs also and that is it except for my cleaning crew.
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
First, thanks again everyone for the help.
Puffer, great picture. I haven't seen a good pic that really shows off the second shade on blackcap's head.
Dino, like the look of the Fridmani. Availability may be an issue, but I think he's taken the lead.
KerriAnn and KJ, I also personally like the look of the purple firefish (saw a similar one at LFS today), but I'm not sure its purple enough for my wife.
She has a serious addiction to purple.
Before I say anything else, I want to point out the two damsels I have are both under 1" in length and haven't grown at all in the four months since they were paroled. I don't want anyone to think that they are 4" monsters ready to tagteam any new residents. So far, they've been well-behaved members of the tank, and bystanders in any violence.
As far as bioload goes, today I sent a 3" bowtie damsel back to prison (aka the LFS) for bad behavior. Even with that PIA damsel, my parameters were 0 Amm/0 Nitrite/10 Nitrate. My salinity is right where I want it at 29 ppm and temp is 82.
I'm going to try and stick to the plan of adding LR, then the next fish. If I find my bioload is maxed after the LR is added, yes, the damsels will go. But I'm remaining optimistic that my tank will be able to handle one more fish again with LR without drastic measures becoming necessary.
Any more fish of a violet persuasion that people can recommend?

Also, I saw a fish in a coral tank today at a LFS that was a striking shade of purple. I looked online and couldn't find anything. It was almost the same shade as the blackcap's head, but the shape almost looked like a damsel or chromis. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
Is this the fish you saw at the LFS? Not a good choice in that size tank, and very difficult to get to feed.
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
Thanks for even more suggestions. At this point, I need to do some research on which of all these is going to be best for the tank, while still earning me points with 'the boss.' That doesn't mean late-comers can't make more suggestions though.

Puffer, the fish I saw was less pink. More of the color of this icon
than the more pinkish-purple that most of the fish people have discussed. What species is that btw?
Unfortunately the store I was at doesn't have a website, and if it did, based on the fact this fish was swimming in a coral frag tank probably meant it was a permanent resident, rather than transient. I also just went through the SWF list and can't find anything that even resembles it in the least, and at this point, my memory is fading.

I guess at this point, the only question I have is why no one has yet suggested a purple tang?

Note: The author of this post is in no way suggesting that a tang should live in a 29 gallon tank. Unless maybe that tank was shaped in a giant hollow oval (i.e., hula hoop) so the tang could swim continuously in circles without barriers.
Note to the note: If no one else has patented a hula-hoop shaped fish tank, I'm calling dibs.
 
dkw27

dkw27

Member
I have a blackcap basslet and absolutely love him! He is adorable & gorgeous....They tend to be a little shy at first and definitely need a lot of rock to hid in...They are found in very deep water and usually hiding in a rock, darting out to grab food etc....Mine took about 2 1/2 weeks before he got brave enough to get out in the open..He is one of my favorite fish...Go for the blackcap!!
 
fishygurl

fishygurl

Active Member
I would personally get the blackcap because they are soooo pretty very purple. and a purple firefish gets bigger so i would sticj with the blackcap here are mine




 
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