Fish Suggestions

[FrancineJ]

Hello everyone I’m looking for some full tank suggestions (for fish) for my new tank:

It’s a 110g and has a 40g sump
Fish that I would like to have:

Anthias (1 M 2 F?)
Wrasses (about 3?)
Clowns (just 2)
A shrimp/goby pair

I am basically looking for a tank with a lot of smallish fish rather then having just a couple big ones and I’m open to any suggestions as long as they are reef safe and will all get along

But I’d like some suggestions from some people who have had these fish for a full tank list.... instead of just suggesting this fish or that fish... hope that makes sense
Thanks in advance! 😊

[suta4242]

Francine, are you new to keeping marine fish?
Do you have a low tolerance for high maintenance fish?

Reason I ask is to give you better suggestions appropriate for your situation...

[ThRoewer]

Which Anthias? Some of them get really large so make sure to pick some that stay small. Also, most Anthias need to be fed near constantly during the day. One or two feedings a day won't cut it!

Personally, I like the six- and four-line wrasses in pairs or harems - if they were not such meanies. Flasher wrasses might be your best bet as most stay rather small and are rather peaceful.

Clownfish = A. percula, which would be a good choice. Most other anemonefish would be good choices as well. If you want to give them an anemone just keep in mind that carpet anemones like gigantea and haddoni do not mix well with bottom-dwelling fish like gobies, jawfish, dartfish,... Your best bet may be a Heteractis magnifica since it is easy to keep in one location and not particularly dangerous to other fish.

Which shrimp gobies are you thinking of, one of the smaller Stonogobiops (nematodes, yasha, dracula, xanthorhinica,...) or one of the larger Cryptocentrus or Amblyeleotris? Stonogobiops associate with the smaller candy cane pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli) while Cryptocentrus or Amblyeleotris associate with larger pistol shrimps like the tiger pistol shrimp (Alpheus bellulus).
My recommendation would be to go with the smaller Stonogobiops and candy cane shrimp as they are more outgoing and the candy cane shrimp get along with less sand and will not move it all into one corner like the tigers will do.
BTW, gobies are easy to pair: just put two of the same species together and you will get a pair as they change sex as needed. This is most definitely the case with Cryptocentrus or Amblyeleotris.
With Stonogobiops it is also possible to pick pairs based on coloration. With S. yasha and S. xanthorhinica it is the easiest:
Yasha males have a black spot at the tip of their fuses ventral fins.



Xanthorhinica males have an elongated dorsal fin.



With S. nematodes and S. dracula it is a lot harder but if you look closely you can spot subtle differences in coloration.
Here an example of S. dracula:

[/QUOTE]

In a 110 tank you may actually be able to keep two pairs of these gobies.

[FrancineJ]

Originally Posted by suta4242

Francine, are you new to keeping marine fish?
Do you have a low tolerance for high maintenance fish?

Reason I ask is to give you better suggestions appropriate for your situation...

No I’m not new... I have about 10 FW tanks from 10g to several 75g’s and I have 2 SW tanks 32g biocube with mods and a 40g breeder... and yes I know that anthias are needy fish... I’m not an expert by any means but not near a beginner.... I’ve been in the hobby about 5-6 years.... but again I know that anthias are needy and need several feedings a day... I’m going to have it stocked with pods and I have a large trigger 39” sump... in going to have a large Fuge for the pods... plus I have the FULL apex set up... so I will have the auto feeder as well and I have a screen top already as I know some of them can be jumpers....

I’m just looking for some people who would have a good suggestion for my full tank and the easier (I know fish are unpredictable) types of the fish I am looking for.... again hope that makes sense lol

[FrancineJ]

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

Which Anthias? Some of them get really large so make sure to pick some that stay small. Also, most Anthias need to be fed near constantly during the day. One or two feedings a day won't cut it!

Personally, I like the six- and four-line wrasses in pairs or harems - if they were not such meanies. Flasher wrasses might be your best bet as most stay rather small and are rather peaceful.

Clownfish = A. percula, which would be a good choice. Most other anemonefish would be good choices as well. If you want to give them an anemone just keep in mind that carpet anemones like gigantea and haddoni do not mix well with bottom-dwelling fish like gobies, jawfish, dartfish,... Your best bet may be a Heteractis magnifica since it is easy to keep in one location and not particularly dangerous to other fish.



Which shrimp gobies are you thinking of, one of the smaller Stonogobiops (nematodes, yasha, dracula, xanthorhinica,...) or one of the larger Cryptocentrus or Amblyeleotris? Stonogobiops associate with the smaller candy cane pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli) while Cryptocentrus or Amblyeleotris associate with larger pistol shrimps like the tiger pistol shrimp (Alpheus bellulus).
My recommendation would be to go with the smaller Stonogobiops and candy cane shrimp as they are more outgoing and the candy cane shrimp get along with less sand and will not move it all into one corner like the tigers will do.
BTW, gobies are easy to pair: just put two of the same species together and you will get a pair as they change sex as needed. This is most definitely the case with Cryptocentrus or Amblyeleotris.
With Stonogobiops it is also possible to pick pairs based on coloration. With S. yasha and S. xanthorhinica it is the easiest:
Yasha males have a black spot at the tip of their fuses ventral fins.



Xanthorhinica males have an elongated dorsal fin.



With S. nematodes and S. dracula it is a lot harder but if you look closely you can spot subtle differences in coloration.
Here an example of S. dracula:

In a 110 tank you may actually be able to keep two pairs of these gobies.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the response... I was actually thinking of the Tiger only because I fear I will never see my Candy cam shrimp...I have a YWG and a candy cane right now in my 32g and the little bugger only comes out to eat and stay under the cave digging all day (I know that’s what they are supposed to do. If I worry in a larger tank I’ll just never see him)

As for the anthias yes I am aware they need to be fed several times a day... my tank will be pre seeded and stocked with pods before any fish go in to get the population up...I know A LOT of people who get away with feeding theirs 3 times a day... so I would probably do frozen in the am (I have mysis cups that drain the water out of the cubes then rinse it in rodi water then you just dump the cup in) they are from BRS and super handy for getting rid of the excess water if you haven’t seen them... anyway and then I have the FULL apex set up with 2 feeders so I would likely feed day flakes around lunch and then pellets at supper or something similar...

I am just looking for some people with some experience with mostly the wrasses and anthias and which ones I should get (easier ones) and which ones and less aggressive as I said in my original post I want a nice colorful tank with a lot of smaller fish like 3-5” max kinda thing instead of like 3 or 4 bigger fish

Again hope that makes sense

I already have 2 o. Clowns, blue green chromis, neon goby,YWG, Candy cane shrimp, lawn mower Blenny, firefish and CUC (40g breeder with 20g sump)

And then I have 2 Percs, blue green chromis, purple fish, royal gramma, (32g biocube with some mods)

So I’m looking for something different...maybe some different clowns but ones that are not crazy aggressive like I would never get any cinnamon or anything like that but a different color that’s about the same temperament as my percs ans O clowns.... and then some anthias that are “easier”and wrasses that are easier and which ones can go together... like mix and match and they will still be ok together if that makes sense.... I will likely have a six line in there so I’m looking to see if I can have 1 sixline and then some other types of wrasses that will all get along

And same with the anthias’ do I have to get all the same kind or can you mix and match like a group of 3 small sized ones and then a different group of 3 that again will all likely get along

Basically I’m looking for someone with a lot of knowledge about some beautiful colorful smaller fish... I’m thinking I could keep at least 10-15 if I stay on the small side as I will have 150g minus my rock (100lbs) and my sand (not doing a DSB or anything) and I have a ton of caves and swim throughs... it’s basically a 3 island set up that are attached by large arches....and a ton of swimming room plus a ton of hides...and I don’t plan on any anemones or many (if any sps) I’ll likely do each island with corals that will get along with each other and that way they are all separate from each other...I have decent lighting...I have 3 kessils (a360we’s) so that should be plenty for zoas, palys, and LPS

I again just want to see what people with experience would stock the tank with if they were doing it and looking for colorful small fish community tank 😊

Thanks again for all your advice

[OrionN]

What ThRoewer suggested are a little small for a 110 gal tank IMO. Consider the Randalli shrimp goby pair. I don't have a picture of this pair but had them in the past. They are perfect and would not get lost in a larger tank.
Consider Flame angels. Keep 3 they will be very interesting in a reef. I would consider them reef safe.

Consider a Mandarin pair in a 110. Very beautiful fish

About wrasses, these are several that I have right now and happy with them. Basically you can choose 3 Flasher wrasses and perhaps 2-3 Fairy wrasses. For these wrasses, best keep single wrasse per species.
Paracheilinus octotaenia (Eightline Flasher)

Paracheilinus carpenteri (Carpenter Flasher)

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus (Exquisite Fairy)

Make sure you do research on temperament of them. Maybe post here once you see one that catch your eye (or one at the LFS)
Consider Leopard wrasse and a few other wrasses, like Anampses neoguinaicus (China Wrassse),This is a Juvenile. You got to look online for mature Terminal male and female. You can keep one or a pair.

and Macropharyngodon negrosensis (Black Leopard). Mine is a juvenile, look for image of a mature male and female on line. Can keep one or a harrem.


Regarding clowns, you can't go wrong with A. percula. Anemone is another mater and another thread all together.

[OrionN]

more pictures. Can't load more than 5 at a time

[FrancineJ]

Originally Posted by OrionN

more pictures. Can't load more than 5 at a time

Thank you for your help... my problem is I love them all lol

I do already have a YWG and pistol shrimp in my 32g and I lose my shrimp in there lol I see him at food time and then usually just see the sand flying around lol

As for the clowns I have 2 percs and I have 2 Occerleris (no idea how to spell that lol) already on my other tanks so was looking for something different that has their same temperament....

As for the wrasses I really like the first 3... again I’m looking for bright and colorful.... so you would suggest getting 1 of each of those for example... and they would all get along? Or choose 1 and get 3 of the same

My goal for this tank is really some smaller wrasses and smaller anthias’..... no one wants to give too much suggestions on the anthias’... I am not a beginner I know what’s involved with them...I just want to know which ones people have had luck with when mixing with wrasses...

As for the butterfly I think I would have to pass I’ve heard too many horror stories about them eating peoples corals lol even though they are “reef safe” but they are beautiful

[suta4242]

I will bite on the anthias.

A hardier choice than most would be dispars but IME each species seems to do best in a minimum harem size. For dispars I think 4-5 would be ideal. Theres regional variations in colour but they seem to be a species worth trying, along with Randalls.

If you don’t mind a solitary species or even a pair if you match them appropriately, sunburst are beautiful. But these don’t hang around in open water harems. On this side of the pond Lori are also relatively easy, too. Evans definitely need a harem, but lots of regular food (more than previous suggestions).

There are many other smaller species I have had experience with but most require more maintenance / care with other tankmates, or won’t handle being bullied - especially by other anthias / planktivores or even within their own harems. I would start with the easier species before trying the more challenging ones.

Hope that helps
Angie

[ThRoewer]

Originally Posted by FrancineJ

I do already have a YWG and pistol shrimp in my 32g and I lose my shrimp in there lol I see him at food time and then usually just see the sand flying around lol

Which shrimp do you have there?
I try to keep my shrimps as pairs as well as the gobies. In my experience you see more of them that way.
I would disagree that the Stonogobiops species are too small for a 110 gallon tank. I had them in my 100 gallon tank and they most definitely did not get lost in there.

Originally Posted by FrancineJ

As for the clowns I have 2 percs and I have 2 Occerleris (no idea how to spell that lol) already on my other tanks so was looking for something different that has their same temperament....

All the other Anemonefish species get quite a bit larger. Though I found the Red Sea Anemonefish A. bicinctus to be rather peaceful - at least the wild ones I have.
The only anemone I would recommend for what I think you have in mind for the tank would be a magnifica. It's the anemone that is easiest to keep in a selected location and, unlike gigantea and haddoni, is not particularly dangerous to other fish, especially small bottom dwelling ones.

Originally Posted by FrancineJ

..... no one wants to give too much suggestions on the anthias’...

I simply stayed clear of the typical Anthias because they can't handle neglect as most other fish.
And the issue with many of the solitary Anthias like for example Odontanthias borbonius is that they are basically groupers.

BTW, I personally have been considering blennies of the genus Meiacanthus as Anthias substitutes. They are similar in behavior but much less trouble. And by now, many are available as captive bred.

Originally Posted by FrancineJ

As for the butterfly I think I would have to pass I’ve heard too many horror stories about them eating peoples corals lol even though they are “reef safe” but they are beautiful

I had pretty good success with Regal Angels, especially those I raised from juveniles. But that is a rather large fish.
Dwarf angels will nip on corals, even if just by accident. In a large tank with a lot of corals a little bit of nipping may not be too much of a problem, but in a 100 gallon I would not risk it.

[FrancineJ]

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

Which shrimp do you have there?
I try to keep my shrimps as pairs as well as the gobies. In my experience you see more of them that way.
I would disagree that the Stonogobiops species are too small for a 110 gallon tank. I had them in my 100 gallon tank and they most definitely did not get lost in there.


All the other Anemonefish species get quite a bit larger. Though I found the Red Sea Anemonefish A. bicinctus to be rather peaceful - at least the wild ones I have.
The only anemone I would recommend for what I think you have in mind for the tank would be a magnifica. It's the anemone that is easiest to keep in a selected location and, unlike gigantea and haddoni, is not particularly dangerous to other fish, especially small bottom dwelling ones.


I simply stayed clear of the typical Anthias because they can't handle neglect as most other fish.
And the issue with many of the solitary Anthias like for example Odontanthias borbonius is that they are basically groupers.

BTW, I personally have been considering blennies of the genus Meiacanthus as Anthias substitutes. They are similar in behavior but much less trouble. And by now, many are available as captive bred.


I had pretty good success with Regal Angels, especially those I raised from juveniles. But that is a rather large fish.
Dwarf angels will nip on corals, even if just by accident. In a large tank with a lot of corals a little bit of nipping may not be too much of a problem, but in a 100 gallon I would not risk it.

As for the anthias’.... I am home all day everyday so I am able to provide them with the feedings they need...
There are also many ways like auto feeders etc that can supply them with feedings as I have the full apex set up so I can have them automated
There are some very interesting ways to set them up so my plan is to hook it to the side of my sump (May use 2 feeders) and you place a small powerhead in the return chamber and the auto feeder will drop the food in and the powerhead keeps the food suspended and it will get sucked up by the cor 20 and then it shoots it out the return... this way I can have the screen top to prevent my jumpers from getting out and still have the ability to use to auto feeders... but again I’m a stay at home mom who doesn’t go away very often and when I do it’s not for long periods of time and I have someone who looks after my fish

I have also read on here and other forums of people who keep them and they are healthy and they feed them only 2 times a day... I’m just not sure about numbers of them needed and compatibility with some of the other fish I want... I’ll continue my research just thought maybe there was someone who keeps a tank similar to what I’m looking for and maybe had some suggestions

Thank you for your response

[FrancineJ]

Originally Posted by suta4242

I will bite on the anthias.

A hardier choice than most would be dispars but IME each species seems to do best in a minimum harem size. For dispars I think 4-5 would be ideal. Theres regional variations in colour but they seem to be a species worth trying, along with Randalls.

If you don’t mind a solitary species or even a pair if you match them appropriately, sunburst are beautiful. But these don’t hang around in open water harems. On this side of the pond Lori are also relatively easy, too. Evans definitely need a harem, but lots of regular food (more than previous suggestions).

There are many other smaller species I have had experience with but most require more maintenance / care with other tankmates, or won’t handle being bullied - especially by other anthias / planktivores or even within their own harems. I would start with the easier species before trying the more challenging ones.

Hope that helps
Angie

Thank you very much. Do you know if any of them would get along with certain wrasses better than others?

Thanks

[FrancineJ]

Originally Posted by FrancineJ

As for the anthias’.... I am home all day everyday so I am able to provide them with the feedings they need...
There are also many ways like auto feeders etc that can supply them with feedings as I have the full apex set up so I can have them automated
There are some very interesting ways to set them up so my plan is to hook it to the side of my sump (May use 2 feeders) and you place a small powerhead in the return chamber and the auto feeder will drop the food in and the powerhead keeps the food suspended and it will get sucked up by the cor 20 and then it shoots it out the return... this way I can have the screen top to prevent my jumpers from getting out and still have the ability to use to auto feeders... but again I’m a stay at home mom who doesn’t go away very often and when I do it’s not for long periods of time and I have someone who looks after my fish

I have also read on here and other forums of people who keep them and they are healthy and they feed them only 2 times a day... I’m just not sure about numbers of them needed and compatibility with some of the other fish I want... I’ll continue my research just thought maybe there was someone who keeps a tank similar to what I’m looking for and maybe had some suggestions

Also I am not interested in keeping any anemones... I was looking for a pair of clowns just a different color as again I have percs and occelleris (again no idea how to spell that lol) so I want clowns just something that’s a different color that is about the same temperament...

Thank you for your response