What fish to get?

[ariaanna]

Hello, i'm thinking about setting up my first saltwater tank- already started a thread in the new hobbyists board here . But i wanted to get more specific advice on the kinds of fish i was looking at, as most sites online are simply trying to get people to buy these animals. so i'm going to list the fish that i think might work and would appreciate to get your feedback. I already have SOME experience with getting fish to eat, as i have 3 types of fresh water puffers (dwarves, a gold puffer, and a red-eye puffer) and i think i can handle convincing a picky eater to eat.
anyways, without further ado, my present list of candidates: (ONLY ONE IN THIS TANK, AND IT'LL PROBABLY BE IN THE VICINITY OF 30-55 GALLONS, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF DEALS I CAN FIND THIS SUMMER.)
"Blue Spot Pufferfish" (Canthigaster epilamprus)
"Saddled Valentini Pufferfish" (Canthigaster valentini)
"Antennata Lionfish" (Pterois antennata)
"Fu Manchu Lionfish" (Dendrochirus biocellatus)
or Dwarf/Zebra Lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra)
i'd prefer this tank to be FO with a single aggressive fish and a small cleanup crew of either snails/hermits or a small fish, depending on if i get a puffer or lion.
also, i don't intend this to be a grow-out tank. i'd prefer this to be its permanent home, so please don't suggest anything that requires anything larger than a 55 to live in, and i'd rather not keep a fish in the absolute minimum sized tank it can stay in. thanks!

 

[ariaanna]

ok, it looks like i'm going to have a 38 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump. i'll buy equipment gradually over the next few months and after i move in september/october i'll set up the tank.
i think i'm leaning towards a valentini puffer, but i don't really know any specifics about the species (preferred environment, personality, any quirky problems with it.....)
do you think that'd be acceptable? (i'd still REALLY like a lionfish, but nobody has given me ANY feedback, and i already know a pretty good amount about freshwater puffers, so i think given lack of information, this would make the most fluid transition for me.)

 

[scubadoo]

Valentini puffers grow to about 4" in length and a minimum of a 40 gallon tank size is recommended for an adult.
They are known for fin picking other animals. He could pick at your clean-up crew as well. You simply need to be careful with this puffer and what you introduce. You stated you will not have corals...but they sometimes do pick on corals.

 

[ariaanna]

is it a 40 gallon tank or a 40 gallon system? everywhere i've seen have recommended at least 30 gallon tanks, but that's why i've come here.
my main question is about cleanup crew and environment.... what would you recommend as a cleaning crew (since snails and hermit crabs are pretty much out of the question) and do they need a lot of hiding places and caves, or do i just need to have some rocks and such in there to keep him amused? i haven't really seen anything saying whether or not they're shy.

 

[ariaanna]

ok. i'm going to upgrade my 55 community to an 80 community and i'm going to make the 55 saltwater.
i still can't decide between puffer or lionfish. i think i'm leaning toward lionfish b/c i have puffers already and lionfish are pretty much completely different from everything else i've kept (appearance-wise)
also, would you suggest any tankmates for the fish (either valentini puffer or one of the listed lionfish)? or do you think it's best to try keeping the fish solitary in the 55?
i'm moving in the next few months, so i think i'm going to do the conversion when i move since everything is going to need to be emptied then anyways. so, i have time. but i like having a dead set PLAN, particularly since i'm not certain of WHEN i'm going to move..... depending on my roommate situation, it can be anywhere between right now and october. but i'd like to get the tank running pretty much immediately after i move (yes, i know about fishless cycling and i'll make sure the tank is fully cycled before i add fish, but that will only take a month or two tops)

 

[jcrim]

You could keep those two in a 55 gallon tank. If you have decent filtration you could even add another moderately sized fish.

 

[lionfu411]

Lions are pretty awesome fish. You could probly fit 3 fish in there depending on what you keep. Fu manchu lions are pretty cool but are one of the hardest to get to eat. They are really cool though so if u got one you could probly fit in 1 or 2 more fish. with a bigger lionfish you would probly be limited to 1 if any other tankmates.
For fu manchu tankmates i would suggest
-smaller scorpionfish
-smaller angelfish
- you could probly get away with a large blenny or goby.
- medium sized wrasses (3-5")