Looking for very colorful/rare fish

[cards98765]

I have just recently (4 months) started getting involved with saltwater fish. A custom at my real estate agency as most associates have them in there cubicles. Wanting a relatively unusual tank I am trying to find some very colorful and rarer fish. Prefer fish that are not aggresive. Do you have any suggestions of fish I should look at? Thanks for any information Michael. :help:

 

[bang guy]

Cards - WELCOME!!!!
Keep in mind that a lot of the more colorful fish are rare in the hobby because they are difficult to take care of or have special needs or they are rare in the wild.
I strongly recommend that you get you feet wet with some of the more forgiving fish like Clownfish and as you learn more try the next step like a Flame Angel or 6-line Wrasse.

 

[polarpooch]

Is your tank 4 months old...or are you just starting your tank?
I'm with Bang Guy on this.
I would start with hardier fish, too. Unless you just have a ton of dough, and it wouldn't bother you to lose a $300 fish...then again, I bet the fish would object!
So many marine fish are colorful, that I'm sure you can find some that are hardy and beautiful at the same time.
I'd recommend getting a good marine atlas (Scott Walker's Marine Fishes is a manageable atlas with great info on tank size and aquarium suitability) and start planning a tank armed with all the info you can find on your fishes' needs.

 

[cards98765]

The tank is four months old. Have had more common fish like clowns in there but gave them to a friend to increase uniqness. Thanks for the replies so far. Michael

 

[polarpooch]

(OK, 4 months isn't bad...but I'd still stick with hardier fish. )
Another good book is: Fairy & Rainbow Wrasses and their Relatives by Rudie Kuiter.
This one has tons of gorgeous, odd, colorful wrasses, many of which are smaller in size, and can be kept together without aggression worries.
A good, hardy wrasse (if you could find one, which is questionable) is the Rooster Wrasse (type of Cryptic wrasse). It maxes out at about 5 inches and flashes dramatic color changes in yellow, red, pink, purple and orange. However, it is a touch on the aggressive side, but very beautiful. My LFS specializes in weird wrasses, which is how I got mine. Perhaps you could search a few books, and ask your LFS to order you a fish you might not normally see... Mine does, so it doesn't hurt to ask.
A bluespotted jawfish would also make an interesting and colorful addition to your tank. They can handle smaller tanks, since they mostly hang out in their ground burrows. I see these from time to time at my LFS, too.