What fish hooked you?

[Peter Eichler]

Many of us probably started out with freshwater tanks and saw a particular saltwater fish that we fell in love with that made you take the leap. So what was your fish?

I'd say mine was the Emperor Angel.

Also, what was your first fish other than a damsel or a clown?

Mine was Chaetodon trifasciatus. Gotta love the Asst. Buttefly from back in the day...

[JR719]

Lfs had several Mandrins. Loved the fish, had to have. Also the regal (hippo) tangs. My original 20 or 29 turned into a 55, now turning into a 300.

[Donkin]

The Flame angel hooked me. I remeber first seeing on at a lfs when I was there to get some guppies lol. I was 11 at the time, by the time I was 13 I had a 110 gallon reef set up with a wet/dry ( I know, I know) and two 250w 20k mh. My first fish in there besides the 3 yellow tail damsels was a hawk fish. Loved the guy to death (even after eating 50 of my blue hermits lol). Got my Flame angel after the tank was a year old with lots of lps corals and a huge elephant ear. He lived for about 2 years and died along with everything esle but my candy canes, ear, red brain, damsels and my maroon clown when my 4 year old bro fed the tank a 16 ounce can of prime reef flake while I was at a friends house... the tank was pink when I got home... all pink...

[drummereef]

Yellow Tang. I know it's about the most common reef fish, but as a kid I loved it's little snout and tiny mouth. Tangs look like they are smiling all the time.

[Apostle]

I decided I wanted a reef tank when I moved to my new house. Looking in the lfs I was captured by the look of Lion Fish, Puffers, Cowfish and Mandarins. Typical me, 3 non reef safe and one for the mature tank.

Still, I’ve got 2 clowns, an anthias, a flame angel a firefish and a blenny. Far from my original choices but I couldn’t be happier with the hobby.

[Salty Brother]

Powder blue tang, even though I wont beable to have one until I have an apartment or a house. Cause I dont think it would be to happy in a 40 ;) . And my first fish was 2 false percs.

[lux_06]

black back butterfly was the fish that hooked me, i had clowns and damsels in a 29, but it wasnt till i got the butterfly i was like geeez this stuff is SICK! i blame him for putting the lfs owners kids through school...... lol

[everl0ng]

i really really dig the sixline because of how sleek they are when moving gracefully throught the rocks, and i love the stripes on their eyes, and their ability to suck sooo much food through their tiny little mouth

[bman2221]

The powder blue tang hooked me but my tank wasn't large enough for it, so I gave into my fiance and got a clown fish.

[SDguy]

When my dad bought my older brother a FW tank setup, it came with this little Tetra minibook about marine tanks. Talked about UG filters, adding potting soil to start the cycle...you get the idea...from the '70s I believe. Anyways, the cover had a gorgeous queen angel on it, and inside was a picture of a regal tang. Those two fish had me hooked! Heniochus, PBT, navarchus, regal angel...all were pictured too, but the blue of the regal tang and the dorsal and anal fin streamers of the angel captured my imagination.

[SEAFLOWERS]

A gold stripe maroon going in and out of a bta in a local shop and I was hooked.

[dc]

Mine was mostly the corals, then a purple tang, of which I never did get. :D

[dougie]

Queen Angel, did me over.

Cheers.

[revance]

It was the corals for me. If I had to choose a fish it would be the powder blue tang.

[plandy]

Nemo :D

[Travis L. Stevens]

Lionfish is what got me hooked. Mandarin fish drove me in the hobby. And now I'm torn between Hawaiian Longfin Anthias, Lyretail Anthias, Flasher Wrasses, breedable fish, Neon Gobies, Shrimp Gobies, etc, etc.

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8197447#post8197447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Donkin
The Flame angel hooked me.

Ditto. The Flame Angel.

It took me a few years before I was comfortable spending about $60 on a fish, but he's been great. I think I've had him for about 4 years now.

Dan

[blface]

Blueface angel. Still one of my favorites.

[kravi]

I have to say a mated pair of true percs who had nested in an anemone hooked me (I still hate the friend who showed me his tank - all the money spent).

My first fish was a bi-colour blenny. Still love the little guy.

--Me

[LauraCline]

Purple Tang

[TKByrnes]

Mine was the coral. but also the clowns and anemone's

[thatguy]

Green Spotted Puffer

It starts out fresh, moves to brackish and ends up in salt.

Cool little fish that loves to beg for food.

[WarrenG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8197960#post8197960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
... Anyways, the cover had a gorgeous queen angel on it, and inside was a picture of a regal tang. Those two fish had me hooked!

Queen Angels in the wild, eating orange sponge, being filmed by my wife in Grand Cayman...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/32771Queen-Angels.jpg

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8199451#post8199451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenG
Queen Angels in the wild, eating orange sponge, being filmed by my wife in Grand Cayman...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/32771Queen-Angels.jpg

Sweet!!

[Kgoarmy17]

Pair of clowns in a very large anemone.

[Asuran]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8199324#post8199324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thatguy
Green Spotted Puffer

It starts out fresh, moves to brackish and ends up in salt.

Cool little fish that loves to beg for food.

:lol: i thought i was the only one :D

after that the PBT for my reef tank and the bahamas tang comes in at a close second.

[Randall_James]

JAWS.....

keeps flipping out of the tank at night however ....:(

[Reefexplorer]

My first tank was a fish bowl with a Betta Fish at 5yrs of age and then loved fish ever since, My first saltwater tank was at 12yrs of age, what got me hooked was wheen I was working durring summer weekends at the fish store and saw Percula Clowns I remeber working my but off for those Clowns and first Saltwater setup boy I remeber scrubbing tanks and doing alot of water changes was worth it.:rollface:

[Randall_James]

Reefexplorer
[welcome]

[Timbor]

For me... yellowheaded jawfish.

Coincidentally, they are the first fish in my tank... being acclimated as I write this.

Tim

[Reefexplorer]

Thanks Randall_James
:D

[AdidaKev]

Orcinus orca is what got me into marine biology and the hobby. My first fish was a hairy blenny. He was so fun. :)

[catdoc]

I don't remember it being a particular fish that "hooked" me, I just always was obsessed with the ocean and its biology (nearly took the same path that adidakev did, btw!). It was actually what hooked my HUSBAND that prompted my first SW tank! He saw a reef tank at our local children's museum and came home asking why I didn't set one up.

My first SW tank was set up specifically to accomodate a pair of yellowhead jawfish, although I also knew I wanted clownfish eventually. The inverts are as fascinating to me as the fish though, especially the hitch-hikers.

[clkwrk]

clownfish and later PBT.

[Ooulophilia]

Without question a fiji puffer. I remember my first tank SW tank, 5 gallons with an undergravel filter (argh) and the one puffer.
I am now strictly a reefer, but still have a soft spot for those little guys - it is hard to find a reef safe fish with the same personality.

[hitster]

Nemo n Dory for me

[drummereef]

Ok... I take back my 1st answer. The Sohal Tang did it for me. :D

[DrBegalke]

Wrought Iron Butterfly - Chaetodon daedalma
Goldflake Angel - Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus
Conspicillatus Angel - Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus
Pepermint Dwarf Angel - Centropyge boylei
Japanese Pygmy Angel - Centropyge interruptus
Easter Island Pygmy Angel - Centropyge hotumatua
Black Tang - Zebrasoma rostratum
Gem Tang - Zebrasoma gemmatum
Helfrich's Firefish - Nemateleotris helfrichi
Laboutei Fairy Wrasse - Cirrhilabrus laboutei
Purple Rhino Scorpionfish - Rhinopias sp.
Japanese Dragon Moray - Enchelycore pardalis

[Snakebyt]

harliquin tuskfish.. I have always wanted one, Finally got one today :)

[rioratholenm]

A Red Volitan Lion!!! Thats my next tattoo.

[puffer21]

when i was little it was the domino damsel i have no clue why. then when i saw a porcupine puffer i feel in love but i still dont hve one.

[travisurfer]

first fish: pink skunk clown
favorite fish: cherub
no particular fish hooked me, just the reef. someday i want to setup a 50 or so gallon for a mandarin, cherub, and another pink skunk.

[corals b 4 bills]

Lunar wrasse - with my first fish only tank, then when I went reef it was the Mandarin.

[mr pink floyd]

Hi fin red banded goby, i finally got one about a week ago

him and a gold striped maroon i once saw at an LFS

[Peter Eichler]

Surprised I'm the only one to say Emperor Angel thus far...

Gotta agree with the people saying Powder Blue Tang as well. I can still remember walking into the saltwater section of the LFS when I was getting my setup for saltwater and seeing a Powder Brown Tang, Powder Blue Tang, Copperband Butterfly, Racoon Butterfly, Emperor Angel, and Longnosed Hawk. All fish I still love to this day.

[massman]

Harlequin tuskfish.
Caught thousands of em but still never "owned" one!

[Houtz]

When I was in 4th grade I picked up Simon and Schuster's Complete Guide to Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes from the bookcase in our living room. My mom has kept fresh water fishes off and on all her life, and she'd gotten the book at the fish store she worked at in the 80's. I'll never forget first seeing a picture of a Clown Triggerfish. I said, "someday, I'm going to have one of those." Several years later a museum in Salt Lake City set up a temporary aquarium exhibition thing and we went to it, and the only thing I remember there was a huge beautiful Clown Trigger. I watched it for half an hour.
Then in 11th grade when I got a job at our local pet store, the owner talked me into starting a saltwater tank. I drew a picture of what I wanted it to look like, including, of course, the Clown Trigger.
My dreams were shattered when I realized I just couldn't afford a big enough tank for one. I got into reefs instead, and to this day I still don't have my Clown trigger.
Someday, though. Someday.
My first fish was a dogface puffer named Fatso. He cycled my 29 gal. tank w/ug filter (wince) Fortunately for both of us I quickly began researching the hobby and realized the enormity of my error. He was returned and replaced with a pair of Tomato Clowns and an electric blue damsel, the three of which witnessed first hand a whole year of huge changes to their tank which finally turned it into a respectable reef tank.

[azgard]

Copperband Butterfly

[reefinmike]

dont know how i got hooked into this money pit two years ago but my first fish was a yellowtail damsel which is very nice and i still have him to this day in my reef.

[yeame]

like so many people the green mandarin the pet store had me out the door with one and a saltwater tank the same day
GO PETCO!!!! well anyway he lasted a year and a half a week later they sold me a sohal tang that was 2" for my week old 29g eclipse tank LOL the tang was my second sw fish but I think he is what hooked me and the mandarin was why my wifee let me set up another fish tank

[reefbuzz]

pipefish, mandarins, and I second the six-line.

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8209480#post8209480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by massman
Harlequin tuskfish.
Caught thousands of em but still never "owned" one!

I saw one at the LFS that was about 2 in. long. a few weeks ago. I've seen a lot of Harlequin Tusks, but never one this size. I so badly wanted to bring him home...

This has turned out to be a great thread. Thanks for all the contributions thus far and keep em comin!

[eskymick]

Copperband Butterfly

[BFG]

Firefish for me.

[cyan0069]

There were 3 that got me hooked...

Emperor Angelfish
Raccoon Butterfly
Harlequin Tusk

I started with a 29gallon though, so I couldn't keep any of them. My first fish I kept though was a Bangaii Cardinal that I kept for almost 4 years before I tore down and gave it back to the pet store. Awesome fish! There's always a point in the future for the other 3...

[Gillybaby]

It wasn't a fish that got me hooked, it was the inverts. I was fascinated by the cleaner shrimps and hermits and urchins that my lfs had in a display tank back when I used to keep Malawi's.

My first marine fish other than damsels was an algae blenny - best character ever. Still love my inverts though, have hundreds of em.

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8216434#post8216434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gillybaby
It wasn't a fish that got me hooked, it was the inverts. I was fascinated by the cleaner shrimps and hermits and urchins that my lfs had in a display tank back when I used to keep Malawi's.

My first marine fish other than damsels was an algae blenny - best character ever. Still love my inverts though, have hundreds of em.

Sea apples were the first inverts that really caught my eye. Sadly I bought one :(

[Medaka]

Scooter dragonets

Best PET ever (not just fish)

More personality than most other fish.

[Kinetic]

Pterois Antennata... I'd like to keep one one day, but I also love SPS. They don't go so well with 80x turnover rates =(

[Peter Eichler]

Lets hear some more :)

[Sk8r]

I had ducked out of the aquarium thing---and a roomie got a betta. Freshwater. 2 ponds, 2 100g freshwater, a 30 salt and a 100 reef later, we were truly in the soup...

I moved crosscountry. Thought I'd shaken it. Moved right down the street from one of the primo reef shops in the Pacific Nw. Could I resist that? Not past 6 months.

But I have NO ROOM for a second tank. That's firm!

[kass03]

Being it was back in the 70's I think the 1 small salt tank in the shop only had clownfish lol so it was clownfish.

Later it was tangs and butterflys before my reef and now I still love tangs. Plus alot of others lol.

kass

[snslarison]

For me it was yellow tangs and flame angels. You just cant get those colors in FW.

[rockindacheeks]

mine was a Clown Trigger.

[RedSonja]

I worked in an LFS that sold a few SW fish and cleanup crew, no coral though. The thing that hooked me was when they got in a blue Mandarin. Sadly the little guy only lived a month or so (barebottom tank, no LR or fuge, well duh :( ) Still don't have one although our 2 and 3/4 year old tank has swarms of 'pods and mysids, just paranoid about not having enough food for one. I didn't get into SW tanks until a couple of years after that, but now it's the coral that keeps me in it.

For the hubby, it was clams that hooked him in, not a fish or coral.

-Sonja

[manofcoral]

I love my Emperor Angel. He is about 10" and has the greatest personality. Wow, what a fish.

Paul<><

[MrsDorothy]

It was the clowns for me. If I had never watched finding nemo, I would probably still have some money. I have 7. Then the purple firefish and blackcap gramma.

[Eric Max]

It was the foxface that did it to me. The pet center that was near me had one and I would always stare at it. Six months later I bought a 29g to start and when I finally got my 55g, I threw in the foxface (the people at the store were not happy to see him go).

[jessp]

african pink bar goby

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8249358#post8249358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jessp
african pink bar goby

Cool fish but not one I expected to shop up here.

[Ryanqk]

When i first started in the hobby i had a mandarin goby i think that was what really hooked me but i also love my yellow banded maroon clown

[boxfishpooalot]

As devilish as they are the blue devil damsel. Its the most striking blue in direct sunlight!

Yellow tangs caught my attention too, but in schools.

[robs5134]

My parents got me an ID book of aquarium fish when I was about 8. The picture & description of a clown trigger was my goal for years. I eventually had 7 tanks in my parents house from 10-55 gallons an I was breeding discus. Then converted my 55 to salt and started with a flame hawk and snowflake eel. I still haven't had a triggerfish, but will always love them.

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8250895#post8250895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boxfishpooalot
As devilish as they are the blue devil damsel. Its the most striking blue in direct sunlight!

Yellow tangs caught my attention too, but in schools.

I've always loved Domino Damsels. They're so cool when they get big, too bad they're so nasty.

[818]

Heteractis crispa with a mated pair of WC Occ's.

[Aquabucket]

For me it was'nt any kind of fish but all the other types of marine life the hobby had to offer.

[leb]

I was just attracted to to colors of all the fish but my favorites were probably the yellow tang

[ezerasurfr]

When I was a kid, I saw a leopard shark in a tank at a pet store that is looong gone (Mid-State Pets in East Brunswick for anyone that lives in NJ and remembers). From that point on I knew I always wanted a salt water fish tank. The fish that got me back into fish tanks is the Achilles tang, though my tank cannot house one. My first fish back into the hobby were a mated pair of black ocellaris clowns.

[lucas73]

Just the vivid color's of all type's.

[Floowid]

Regal Tang and Mandarin goby. Ironically I still have neither.

And I love the color of the Blue Devil Damsel. I have always had one. My devil of 8 years died recently and after a brief mourning period, I just bought a new one this week.

[Psirex]

mandarin, Achilles Tang, Clown Trigger (actually any Trigger) and the color of corals....

[pr12]

Sharks, dog faced puffers, and cephalopods. I havent gotten to keep any of them yet, not enough room, though I may do a dwarf octopus tank soon.

[errattiq]

Clownfish :) False Perc's to be more specific....

[Bosha]

High fin banded shark was my first FW fish. As for SW, it is tangs. I like them all.

[HHIreefer843]

BLACK TANG and most recent I fell back in love with a fish and that is the world wide corals White Tang "Casper"

[Reefing Newbie]

Let's see, I fell in love when I saw a juvi queen angel, blue regal tang, and a PBT at a lfs when I was picking up bulbs for my first planted tank. I wasn't even planning on going to a saltwater store, but my normal lfs was out of bulbs but did deals with the lfs with all the saltwater craziness!

[Saadatski]

I primarily loved the relationship between the Clownfish and anemones. Just something about them really influenced me to start a big tank with major lighting.

The first things to get me unto them was NewYork Steelo's anemone and clowns. They looked really good and that is what provoked me to upgrade.

[El richie]

For me it was the first time I went to birch aquarium wich was when I was like 6 so I guess it was all the fish, my first one was a regal tang but my favorite fish I've owned so far is the moorish idol

[miwoodar]

Lfs had several Mandrins. Loved the fish, had to have. Also the regal (hippo) tangs. My original 20 or 29 turned into a 55, now turning into a 300.

Hippo tang for me. This particular photo made me decide to set up my first salt tank.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/miwoodar/Book.jpg

[Charley Diesing]

Copper Band Butterfly fish

[mudcat1]

A flame angel got me interested in the hobby but I never owned one because I had already purchased an open brain coral and the LFS recommended against it. My flame hawkfish is probably my favorite fish that I do own.

[SneakyPete]

I'm probably boring; clownfish were what interested me in the hobby.

[anbosu]

Harlequin Tuskfish, although I have yet to own one 10 years later...

[A_Z]

Mandarin Dragonet.

[aandfsoccr04]

mandarins followed by borbonious anthia.

[05f150fx4]

Queen Angel

Achilles Tang

If only I had a tank big enough for either of them :(