Stocking List

[hlcroghan]

Okay so after much questions being answered I have a list of fish that I really like so let me know what you think and if any are inappropriate to put together because of size, temperment, etc....Be kind I am very new and don't know what fish go with what.
black and white percula clownfish
false percula (bf just has to have Nemo)
coral beauty angelfish
lawnmower blenny
copperband butterfly
Harlequin tusk
blue throat trigger
flying fish (tank might be too small)
mandarin dragonet (once the tank is well established)
powder blue tang (once established)
Okay so the tank is going to be 150 gallons and i plan on using LR and LS to cycle it. Believe me though, I won't be introducing any of these fish until I know they have a chance to survive. So any feedback would be great.

 

[hlcroghan]

bump...i actually need some help

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2615512
bump...i actually need some help
Most of the fish should be fine together. But, don't mix clownfish. IMO, skip the flying fish; wait with the mandarin until the tank is very mature. Copperbands are very skittish and need a quiet tank to thrive; I wouldn't put one in with the tusk, just because the tusk is so active, or with any trigger, or with a PB tang. A yellow longnose butterfly is tougher than it looks and may be a good sub for the copperband.

 

[hlcroghan]

okay any chance of a dwarf lionfish in there? and which clownfish is better black and white or false percula?

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2615594
okay any chance of a dwarf lionfish in there? and which clownfish is better black and white or false percula?
Dwarf Lion should be OK. But, be sure all fish are at leasrt half his size or so; they can swallow a much bigger meal than you'd think. If I was going to put a clown in there, I'd get a maroon (goldstripe maroons are spectacular, IMO) or one of the other larger clowns. If you put perc-type clowns in, they should be about full grown, lions grow incredibly fast. Also, I'd make the lion one of the 1st fish, so you can get him weaned onto frozen foods without all the competition. Tell the bf the maroon is Nemo in drag.

 

[hlcroghan]

lol that is pretty funny. Nemo in drag... so that does look like a good list then? is that enough or could i do a few more? i would like to have (eventually) as many fish as I can that are very bright and colorful and a good mix of color. without hurting the fish of course.

 

[hammerhed7]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2615817
Dwarf Lion should be OK. But, be sure all fish are at leasrt half his size or so; they can swallow a much bigger meal than you'd think. If I was going to put a clown in there, I'd get a maroon (goldstripe maroons are spectacular, IMO) or one of the other larger clowns. If you put perc-type clowns in, they should be about full grown, lions grow incredibly fast. Also, I'd make the lion one of the 1st fish, so you can get him weaned onto frozen foods without all the competition. Tell the bf the maroon is Nemo in drag.
Nemo in drag?

I would say more like nemo on steroids, but that is just me. I would also steer clear of the copperband and powder blue, they can be a little more difficult to care for.

 

[hlcroghan]

yeah that is what i heard so i was thinking about the longnose and the pearlscale butterflies. how are those two?

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2616570
yeah that is what i heard so i was thinking about the longnose and the pearlscale butterflies. how are those two?
I've never kept a pearlscale; so only know what I read, I think its always a good idea to research as much as you can about a potential fish. Very, very basic; but often ignored. I do like longnose butterflies; like I said above--they are much hardier than they look and have a rep as being one of the easier butterflies to keep. IMO, a good addition to the fish you've been talking about.

 

[hlcroghan]

So with this list am I looking okay?
pearlscale butterfly
longnose buterfly
coral beauty
lawnmower blenny
Harlequin tusk
false percula (mated pair)
fuzzy dwarf (after other tank inhabitants are larger)
green mandarin
Now for a 150 gallon is that too many fish or can I do more safely and if so what kind would fit well? I would like very bright colored fish that are engaging and fun to watch and I know the mandarin tends to hide.

 

[srfisher17]

Just a couple of thoughts; just my opinions.1.)The male perc could easily end up as lionfish lunch. All the males of the mated pairs I've seen are small. A fuzzy dwarf can reach 7" and eat a small-bodied fish nearly half his size. If you really want a clown and a lion, IMO, it almost has to be one of the larger clowns; maroon, cinnamon, fire, or a single large perc. 2.) Longnose butterflies are fairly easy to keep --for a butterfly. As a group, these are not the easiest fish to keep. IME, if you're going to keep 2 butterflies, they should be introduced at the same time. 3.) A harlequin tusk is a great fish and will be the big, upfront fish in this tank. They rarely bother anything (except inverts), they are jumpers, and can stress delicate fish, just by their size & activity. The fish on your present list should be ok. Small tusks are almost impossible to find, so be sure other fish have grown to the point where they can handle this big, robust guy. 4) I'm sure you know mandarins shouldn't be introduced into a tank until it is quite mature, has plenty of LR, and is producing pods---a tough fish.

 

[hlcroghan]

yeah i did know that. the bf has all these ideas of what he wants but wants me to do all the research. i plan on having a refugium for more copepods for the mandarin after the tank has been up and running and it is safe to introduce one. i have a 31 gallon freshwater african cichlid tank now that i will convert. so maybe no to the lionfish then. that was my idea...lol. so what about any other fish then to go along with that list?
and are there any inverts that can be with the harlequin? i do want to have something in there eating all the crap on the bottom. i am hoping for an anemone for the clowns as well but not a reef.

 

[110innc]

I had a crowned pearl scaled bf. It took a while to find a food it liked but they love san fransico bay angel and butterfly diet. It seemed easy to care for once it was eating but I lost it to ich

p.s. there beautiful fish

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2617829
yeah i did know that. the bf has all these ideas of what he wants but wants me to do all the research. i plan on having a refugium for more copepods for the mandarin after the tank has been up and running and it is safe to introduce one. i have a 31 gallon freshwater african cichlid tank now that i will convert. so maybe no to the lionfish then. that was my idea...lol. so what about any other fish then to go along with that list?
and are there any inverts that can be with the harlequin? i do want to have something in there eating all the crap on the bottom. i am hoping for an anemone for the clowns as well but not a reef.
The harlequin will eat almost any invert; that is their natural diet; thus--the big blue teeth. IMO, a CUC is not necessary (and way over-rated) in a FOWLR tank; unless you are way overstocked, fish waste can easily be handled by your bio-filter and vacuuming the substrate. I have 3 tanks (a 4th in progress) with lots of fish and no inverts whatever, and excellent water clarity & quality. Anemones are very tough to keep and clowns do not do better just because they have one. I'm no Anemone expert, but have kept a few, and I think you have a couple fish on your list (butterflies) that may give them trouble.

 

[j.p]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2616782
So with this list am I looking okay?
pearlscale butterfly
longnose buterfly
coral beauty
lawnmower blenny
Harlequin tusk
false percula (mated pair)
fuzzy dwarf (after other tank inhabitants are larger)
green mandarin
Now for a 150 gallon is that too many fish or can I do more safely and if so what kind would fit well? I would like very bright colored fish that are engaging and fun to watch and I know the mandarin tends to hide.
BTT
some kind of nice wrase like a banana
longnose buterfly
coral beauty
lawnmower blenny
Harlequin tusk
false percula (mated pair)
fuzzy dwarf (after other tank inhabitants are larger)
green mandarin
is what i would do

 

[hlcroghan]

okay cool. thanks for the tips...

are there any more fish that could fit in there well, what about a green bird wrasse? i have heard that they are a lot of fun.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2618920
okay cool. thanks for the tips...

are there any more fish that could fit in there well, what about a green bird wrasse? i have heard that they are a lot of fun.
This is a pure guess; just based on a little knowledge of harlequin tusks. Tusks are wrasse too, and 2 large wrasse may be real trouble.