Caribbean Tank

[tah532]

I am in the planning process of starting a Caribbean only tank. It will be a large tank 84"X24"X24" and be FOWLR along with crabs and snails and such. Just curious about what you alls opinions are on fish combinations, substrate suggestions, and I want to pick one large angelfish and was wondering who would be best- french, blue, or queen. Also, does anyone know of a reliable supplier who sells Sargassum Triggers? Any tips and opinions welcome, thanks! Here is a list of fish I am thinking of right now:

Large angel
Sargassum trigger
Blue Tang
2-3 Royal Grammas
2-3 Chalk Basses
5 Blue Reef Chromis
Pygmy cherub angel
Red-spotted Hawkfish
Maybe some Neon Gobies and a Swissguard Basslet

[I like Triggers]

i have an emporer angel and i love it, but if i chose from your list, i would say queen, when i upgrade i will definatly be getting a queen. i had a sargassum trigger and it was a peaceful beautiful fish. if you want a beautiful one, go to www.vividaquariums.com, ive been ordering from there for my last 3 fish, and all came in beautiful, eating and great.

[tah532]

I like the selection and how they have it set up on their site, yet no sargassums for sale. I am beginning to see it may take a while to complete my collection once this tank is up and running.

[cjvolitan]

yeah i would take a queen for shure they are the prettiest fish in our waters if u ask me.

[tah532]

Yeah its between the queen or the french

[spotfin]

Try Tom's Caribbean Tropicals www.divertom.com. I have ordered from him before. I have also seem sargassum triggers occasionlly on liveaquaria.com.

[viggen]

definantly get a queen :)

I was shocked by how expensive vividaquarium's prices are....

ESPECIALLY on their large angels!! They wanted $200 for a xl queen who was only 6-8 in long if I recall.

definantly consider tom's carribean :) Or just get it locally

[Heterodonut]

Show size French or Queen for sure. Both are super. Got to go with Tom's-he has the fish and great prices. In fact, if my lagoon was Caribbean instead of Asian, I'd get Diver Tom to get me a Pair of Large French Angels.

[stykthyn]

those tangs get big, mean too. I would leave him out if you are getting a large angel. gorgeous animal though, especially when they are going through their color transition.

[tah532]

ok sounds good i will check toms out, thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[toonces]

sorry, gotta go against the grain and say french angel.

by far one of my top fish picks- maybe top 3!

[Kahuna Tuna]

Queen angels are very pretty but a french has the best personality and are generally a lot less agro than a queen. Another vote for the french right here. I like your stock list and possibly the only thing I would change is the hawkfish.

[I like Triggers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6951349#post6951349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by viggen
definantly get a queen :)

I was shocked by how expensive vividaquarium's prices are....

ESPECIALLY on their large angels!! They wanted $200 for a xl queen who was only 6-8 in long if I recall.

definantly consider tom's carribean :) Or just get it locally

yeah but they hand pick beautiful fish. a few of my friends work in their store and the fish they bring in are really nice. no flaws, and they have a 14 day guarentee.

so your gonna go with a queen?

[tah532]

I dont know, probably go with the french, i have always loved those angels, although the queen is beautiful but aggressive. Maybe drop the sargassum or the blue tang and add a blue angel and a french at the same time, whatcha all think?
Why not the hawkfish Kahuna?

[viggen]

I have a blue tang & he is by far the meanest fish I have ever owned & I have owned a LOT :(

He totally runs the tank & he is probably 10 or so inches long & 1.5+ in thick.

Why not get a lg french & a small queen :)

[tah532]

Yeah I keep reading the blue tang is a menace. I will probably end up going with two angels and axing the tang. I am not have much luck finding suppliers who have Sargassum triggers though. Anyone know of any besides Liveaquaria that might offer them from time to time?

[The Fish Finder]

I curently have 3 alantic blue tang and i never had any prob with them what so ever. As for the Sargassum triggers a friend of mine is selling two up state NY. There 4" $200 each. I am going to buy one from him this weekend. I know the price is high but he has them and no one else dose.


Here is a pic of two of the tangs
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/jpp118187/SV400349.jpg

[Kahuna Tuna]

Why not the hawkfish Kahuna?

Chalk it up to a few bad experiences with hawks I guess. The red spot is supposed to be one of the mellower ones but I really like crustaceans in my tanks and unfortunately so do the hawks! These guys seem to get sargassum triggers often and have one listed for sale now for $100 http://justrarefish.com/html/just_rare_fish_new_arrivals.html
I really like Heterodonut's idea, a pair of french angels would be awesome.

On the subject of Vivid aquarium's prices I have heard absolutely nothing but very good things about this outfit. A few months ago I sent out inquiries to several on-line retailers and Vivid was the only ones who bothered to respond, I plan on doing some business with these folks in the future. IMO if their prices are high it's well worth it to get quality fish with a great guarantee.

[tah532]

ok thanks for the tip on the sargassum! Do you really think two french's would work out together in a 7 foot tank?

[The Fish Finder]

i would say no bro sorry. They will fight to much.

[Glove]

Here are some shots for ideas. Angels are one of the most beautiful fish in the Caribbean. With-out question, my fav'. I dont know if I agree true large angel fish should be in the house though. Maybe for those really large tanks. The fish in these pictures are an easy 10+ inches .

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A1.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A2.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A3.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A4.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A5.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A6.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/84065A7.JPG

[Heterodonut]

MY lagoon is 20 feet by ten feet. I would definately not put a pair, even a mated pair, in a 7 foot tank. One large angel would be a show piece for sure.

[tah532]

Ok sounds good, it will be a french or a queen, I guess I will decide just by how things go with looking when the time comes.

[toonces]

well, i agree about the size thing- after seeing them in the wild, i don't know if i'd keep one in anything less than a 180, and a much bigger tank would be appropriate. a good size french is about the size of a dinner plate.

but, if you're gonna get a large angel anyway, i'd go with the french!

[tah532]

I will definately be going with the french angel, the queen is beautiful but i have always loved the french angels and queens seem to be more common. I was thinking of adding a couple butterflys too, are caribbean butterflys as sensitive as pacific ones?

[Opsanus]

I've caught the spotfin btfly here in NJ in the summer..all juveniles carried up by the Gulf Stream. I can vouch that they are somewhat sensitive, and difficult to start feeding. I've gotten a few started on blackworms, but many never ate. No big deal though, they were doomed to die anyway as soon as our water cooled.

[sean48183]

Hey glove Where were those pics taken? I have been to cancun , bahamas twice and the keys and have yet to see a queen. Plenty of frenchies and rock beauty's but no queenies. I spend much of my time diving around but never see any queens.

[tah532]

Yeah butterflies are probably not a good idea

[Kahuna Tuna]

Hey glove Where were those pics taken? I have been to cancun , bahamas twice and the keys and have yet to see a queen.

We saw lots of queens in the Caymans back in 2001. Went to Jamaica last year and didnt see any. Saw tons of rock beauties, frenches and grays in both locations.

[Glove]

Those pics were out off Cudjoe Key in Florida. I see less of the young ones and more adults.

[sean48183]

Those pics were out off Cudjoe Key in Florida. I see less of the young ones and more adults.


I never even heard of that key. How do you get to it? Is it only by boat?

[spotfin]

I caught a spotfin butterfly (juvenile that rode the Gulf stream) up here in Maine several years ago. Started it on baby brine shrimp and then mussel on the half shell. It will eat about anything now.

[tah532]

So you think atlantic butterflies might have a fighting chance in my tank since yours has made it a couple years now?

[spotfin]

They might. A small one may have a rough time though with some of your proposed tank mates. I think once they get established, they will do fine.