eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
Swales basslet, blackcap basslet, chalk bass, group of squammipinnis anthias, clown goby, neon goby, blue gudgeon goby, purple tilefish, blue jaw tile, red stripe tile, margarita cardinals.
Need help deciding on whether or not a fish is right for your tank? Post here and we'll help!
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StephanieRodriguez
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Sorry not sure if I am responding right, but I wanted some opinions on the fish I am adding to my tank. I have a 40 gallon, eventually wanting corals. My plan was:
2 clowns
1 coral beauty
1 green mandarin
Any thoughts, or other recommendations? Thanks in advance!!
2 clowns
1 coral beauty
1 green mandarin
Any thoughts, or other recommendations? Thanks in advance!!
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
Coral beauty angels may nip corals, they are certainly a risk.
Mandarins are a demanding fish regarding diet most recuse any food that we as an aquarist may feed. They rely almost entirely on the pods produced in the tank. They also have a very short digestive tract, so they need to eat almost constantly. Therefore, it is necessary to let the tank mature for at least 6 months, maybe longer to allow the copepod population to grow and stabilize. Also, avoid any fish that will compete for pods, such as other dragonets or Halichoeres and leopard wrasses.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
I would in no way recommend a hogfish to a 40g or a tank with a mandarin.
StephanieRodriguez
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Are there any other fish for a 40 gallon for a beginner you would recommend? Thank you for the advice!!
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
Possible additions would include;
Royal gramma, yellow assessor, firefish, sunburst anthias, zebra dartfish, neon goby, swales basslet, stigmatura blenny, barnacle blennies.
Lowstorm
Well-Known Member
Howdy. I'm not new to this but since this tank is my biggest yet i need a few suggestions.
125 gallon. It will be a mixed reef. The only fish for sure I'll have is a group of flasher wrasses and a pair of clowns and a few small gobies. To please my husband, I need one or two bigger showy fish. He hates tangs and angels are out. What he really wants.... is a trigger. UGH!!!! But I'm hoping someone could produce a nice list for me to show him so he could pick something out.
125 gallon. It will be a mixed reef. The only fish for sure I'll have is a group of flasher wrasses and a pair of clowns and a few small gobies. To please my husband, I need one or two bigger showy fish. He hates tangs and angels are out. What he really wants.... is a trigger. UGH!!!! But I'm hoping someone could produce a nice list for me to show him so he could pick something out.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
Here are a few options:
Blue jaw jaw, crosshatch, or pinktail trigger, marine betta, drachi soapfish, jackknife, melatremus eel.
I don't recommend them for a reef. They eat inverts and can get aggressive towards new fish.
I'm not @Aquaph8 
but the Genicanthus family are considered reef save.
Only thing is that you have a 40G tank and basically they are recommended for close to 100G tanks or up.
The Dwarf Angels are a better choice but it's a hit and miss on if they will nip at your corals in a later stage, I wouldn't take a chance on that as you are pretty new to this.
If you can find a small Bellus Girl from the Genicanthus family you should be fine for a year or so before it gets to big
but the Genicanthus family are considered reef save.Only thing is that you have a 40G tank and basically they are recommended for close to 100G tanks or up.
The Dwarf Angels are a better choice but it's a hit and miss on if they will nip at your corals in a later stage, I wouldn't take a chance on that as you are pretty new to this.
If you can find a small Bellus Girl from the Genicanthus family you should be fine for a year or so before it gets to big
Wife and kids have finished their voting and I wanted to run their picks through the collective smarts of the internet before I commit. We currently have a Percula Clown (out of QT for about a week happily bopping around the return) and they want to add Royal Gramma, Banggai Cardnial, Blue Chromis and Midas Blenny. Tank is a 30G 36" long. Thanks for the help!
Are good choices, in a 30 gallon I would stay away from Royal gramma as they require a territory and will attack fish if they come close.
A fire fish may be a good substitute or a small wrasse but make sure you put a screen on top of your tank as nor only wrasses jump but all fish do.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
All those will be fine. The aggression of royal grammas is overstated. While they claim a cave or overhang as their own, any displays are mostly bravado. They are also no more aggressive than midas blennies, and all the fish on your list are more than capable of holding their own.
StephanieRodriguez
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What about a watchman goby or orange striped prawn goby?
I also read cherub angels are less likely to nip is this still case by case basis?
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
A watchman or orange stripe prawn goby will fit nicely.
I, too, have read cherubs are less likely to nip, but have seen several specimens eat coral, so it is definitely a case by case basis.
Good choices too but you want to look from a design stand point that you want fish on all levels in your tank as not only bottom dwellers.
A balance is what we looking for
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