Pseudochromis+Wrasse??

[strikleebizness]

ADVICE!

My tank has yet to be stocked (cycling for the last month) and I am eagerly awaiting my first reef fish purchase. I have a 75 gal. with about 80 lbs. of live rock. I eventually want to have the tank stuffed full with softies, lps, sps. SO, what other inhabitants are suitable?

My Picks:

1) Orchid Dottyback
2) Flasher or Fairy Wrasse

Can I do both? More than one? Several?

I am attracted to bright colors, but am most concerned with compatibility.

I'd like to hear some suggestions on your favorite reef safe (guaranteed) fishes. I would love to do angels, but they're lps pickers, clowns might rough up my LPSs...such a dilemma

STEER ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

(i only have about 3 yrs. of experience, and a NEW tank)

Thanks guys!

[snorvich]

Orchid dottyback is the only pseudochromis that may work with fairy flasher wrasses. But if you are primarily going to be doing fairy and flasher wrasses, I would skip the dottyback. Clowns do better in a species tank but they are fun with the right anemone.

[strikleebizness]

Can you keep more than one dottyback per tank? I know it's not recommended...what if I introduce them simultaneously? Can you keep a variety of wrasses together? The males are obviously a little more attractive, but also likely more aggressive.

[falconut]

You could consider a Royal Gramma, just make sure it isn't a Bicolor Pseudo. I've had my Royal Gramma for almost three years and he's been fine with a Yellow Candy Hog (which is actually a wrasse), Yellow Wrasse, Hi fin Wrasse, and a few others. Really he doesn't bother anything.

As far as Psuedos go. I had a Purple Pseudo and it was the nastiest fish I ever had. It completely ripped the tail off of a fire fish, before I could get it out.

[hatfielj]

I too would just stay with flasher and fairy wrasses and not a dottyback. You can get plenty of brilliant colors with the wrasses, there's no need to risk getting a pesky dottyback.

[snorvich]

If you have the space for them, pairs or trios of fairy and flasher wrasses are wonderful behaviorly. Try to avoid the most aggressive fairy wrasses if you can.

[strikleebizness]

So a trio of fairy or flashers. All male?? What species would you recommend? I like the McCoskers...

And it sounds like avoid the Dottyback. Could I have a pair of Dotties?

[strikleebizness]

Input on other species of lively, colorful reef fish with great personalities...trios and pairs preferred, must be absolutely, undoubtedly reef safe

[mwwhite]

The Dotyback will be aggressive towards it and kill it. We just lost a gorgoeus fairy because of it. The devil came right out in that Dotyback who had been in the tank about a year.

Yeah and now try and catch that Doty in a 150..... how long do they normally live?

[strikleebizness]

Opinions on clownfish in the reef? I am not planning on keep anemones. I just want some more options. I feel like the only real colorful super reefsafe guys are dotties and wrasses

[mwwhite]

Clowns are excellent. Try a mated pair. We also do not have anemones but ours host in either a torch coral or a hammer coral. I've heard some will even host in a large leather. Clowns aren't fussy. They are peaceful, enjoyable to watch, voracious eaters and they get along with all others we have ever had in there...

[strikleebizness]

I have heard of clowns hosting LPS and softies before (esp. hammer, torch, xenia, hairy shrooms, etc.), but isn't this supposed to haver a NEGATIVE affect on the coral? This supposedly inhibits the coral from really opening up....am I off base? I have had clowns before, but this will be my first reef, at this point I am really pushing for harmony and happiness amongst all.

[mwwhite]

We've heard the same. I think it depends on the coral. We have a torch and a hammer so they host in them.

No ill effects on either coral.

Our opinion you can't find more peaceful and enjoyable inhabitants that get along great with anything.

[strikleebizness]

how long has the clown been hosting? also, where can I get the best deal on mated pairs?

[hatfielj]

back to the point of the thread, dottybacks are really not worth it in my opinion. They aren't nearly as interesting as wrasses and they definitely become quite boisterous towards all new fish added to the tank after them. I had one for awhile in my old tank and I was so glad to get rid of it after I switched tanks. He was mean towards all the fish in the tank and I couldn't add any new fish without him going after them and chasing them to the point of almost killing them.
If you're careful about picking out peaceful groups of fairys or flashers (1 male and multiple females added all at once) then you won't have these issues at all. They will ignore any other type of fish in the tank and will be quite peaceful towards each other. Plus, they will be a great asset to your tank if you have corals such as zoo's or montis as they are known to eat alot of common pests such as nudibranchs.

[strikleebizness]

OK, so how about wrasses and clowns?

[Sheol]

As mentioned, an Orchid dottyback (P. fridmani, the one with a black stripe through its eye & beautiful orchid color ( not a strawberry or pruple, they are killers!)) can work here.. with caution. ( add it LAST..)
Wrasses are egg predators on the reef & dottybacks care for their eggs. Almost all view wrasses as mortal enemies..

Matthew

[rfields]

Originally posted by strikleebizness
I have heard of clowns hosting LPS and softies before (esp. hammer, torch, xenia, hairy shrooms, etc.), but isn't this supposed to haver a NEGATIVE affect on the coral? This supposedly inhibits the coral from really opening up....am I off base? I have had clowns before, but this will be my first reef, at this point I am really pushing for harmony and happiness amongst all.

If this is true then someone forgot to give the memo to my frogspawn. It has gone from 3 heads abt 8 months ago to about 15 heads. Here is a pic of my clowns from abt 4 months ago.