Good first fish???

[phunkie99]

I am looking for suggestions on a good first fish for my 55gal tank. Reef friendly is a must.

[vr697getta]

my first was a pair of false perc clowns everbody loves to see nemo they stay small and are reef safe
plus they are fun to watch

[kathainbowen]

Percula and ocellaris clowns are always a tried and true. They're very hardy.

If the tank is covered, I'm a big fan of firefish. They're pretty hardy, not too expensve (if you stick to the common or red firefish), and are a neat little fish that don't get too big. To make it even better, they're pretty easy to find since most LFSs consider firefish to be a "bread and butter" fish. They're also reef safe. But, they're notorious for jumping from tanks, so make sure you have a good cover on it!!!

I like cardinals, personally, especially the bangaii. They're pretty hardy, common, and not-too expensive like the previous fish. However, many people find them to be boring since they pretty much just hang out in the current and not really move around that much, seeming to hover in place for ages. But, I look past that and see a truly unique and interesting animal. I also find the bangaiis with their sharp black/white patterning to be really neat and pretty. This is just not an opinion I know to be shared by most people.

[phunkie99]

Thanks for the input vr697getta & kathainbowen those were two of the fish that I was leaning toward (ocellaris & the firefish (however I do not have a lid and was not planning on getting one)) I was also considering a watchman goby, or a yellowhead jawfish

[Ritten]

I love my firefish. I also love my yellow watchman goby and my black and white clowns.

[Sk8r]

Yellow watchman or pearly jawfish---both personable. ywg doesn't sift enough to scatter sand, makes neat pair with tiger pistol shrimp.

[phunkie99]

do you have a lid Ritten?

[Ritten]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10740582#post10740582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phunkie99
do you have a lid Ritten?

I don't.

[phunkie99]

how long have you had the firefish? just wondering cause I don't want a lid for heat purposes and eggcrate on the top of the tank just looks ugly IMO.

[phunkie99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10740574#post10740574 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Yellow watchman or pearly jawfish---both personable. ywg doesn't sift enough to scatter sand, makes neat pair with tiger pistol shrimp.

why do they make a neat pair??

[Ritten]

I have had him about six months. I did have one jump in the past. Probably best fish for a tank with a lid. I truly believe that a six line wrasse that I no longer have made him jump so I took the chance.

[coast2coast7390]

id do a tomato pair...these clowns are more hardy

[schutzstaffel]

Get a nurse shark, they are pretty easy to take care of.:rollface:

[aquarius77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10740668#post10740668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phunkie99
why do they make a neat pair??

They form some sort of relationship and are always together. From what i understand the shrimp will always have one antenna on the fish.

[coast2coast7390]

wow ok you only need about a swimming sized pool to keep one...:lol:

[schutzstaffel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10741173#post10741173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coast2coast7390
wow ok you only need about a swimming sized pool to keep one...:lol:

Really? My lfs told me it would be ok in my 75!!:lol:

just kidding...don't get a shark

[rbtwo4]

Lawnmower blenny & a yellow clown goby.

[cplklegg]

Lawnmower blennies are cool, a most engaging personality and they eat nuisance algae.

[schutzstaffel]

My lawnmower is a pretty fun fish.

[rlee81indy]

my first fish was a six line wrass...what a huge mistake, apparently those should go in last (very territorial if put in first) I couldnt keep a fish alive after the wrass until I caught him and traded him in. I like the perc idea. they are really fun to watch

[IslandCrow]

Just about any type of clownfish is pretty easy to care for, though they are Damsels, so some of them can get pretty mean (like Maroons - though mine's a sweethart. . .kinda). I think six-lines are pretty good fish, but I didn't get one as a first fish, and it sounds like rlee81indy has had a bad experience there. If you need to catch one, though, they're fast, but especially dumb from what I've seen. I had mine eating out of a fish net in less than a week.

[Pea-brain]

If you put a lid on your tank I'd say get a jawfish. They are funny, active, cool to watch. They do move alot of sand making a burrow, and that can be a problem for some people (I let mine move it where they want. As long as they don't build a giant wall against the front glass they can do whatever they want :) ) But, if you want a firefish I highly suggest it be the first fish, because if you introduce something else first and then you add it it won't feel safe makinga burrow in a visible place...
Dan

[Mavrk]

Chromis are cheap and hardy. They school and are peaceful to other fish. Otherwise, go with clowns.