Who's got the best personality?

[Dargason]

Hi all!

I'm still working on a stocking list for my 200 g reef. I've already got a coral beauty, percula, and a goby.

I'm considering several other fish, including a hippo tang, yellow tang, bicolor blenny, bangaii, chromis, and many others.

So here's the question: Which fish (compatible with the others I've listed) do you think has an interesting personality or behavior? Which are friendly?

Thanks!

 

[Brian J]

Go with a Hippo.Have one in my 125,they are a great fish.

 

[Blk_Gto]

I like the 6 lined wrasse and also a pygmy(?) angel

 

[Diane]

Just my personal thing about the Hippo Tang. If I were to start over again I would probably pass on the Hippo...aka ick magnet. I would go for a cool Naso Tang first.

Diane

 

[EmilyB]

I agree, a tang or tangs. I love my Yellow Tang, but I adored my Naso Vlamingi. However, I had to make some tank decisions, and Ajax went to live in a much bigger tank than I felt I could ultimately provide.

I do not recommend this, but I have a clown tang. It is extremely personable, however they have a very bad reputation. Tangs, tho, still get my vote, at least for reefs, since you can't put a trigger in there !!

 

[davelin315]

In a 200g reef, you could do all of the fish you mentioned specifically. Why not put them all in there? You also don't have many compatibilty problems that won't be solved with a pecking order within a few days of introduction.

 

[toptank]

Now here is "Personality"

He eats from my fingers.

Barry

[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]</p>

 

[Dargason]

Thanks for your comments! I guess I wasn't very clear in my original message -- I'm looking for additional fish that would be compatible with the ones I named, not picking from that list. I'll probably have at least 1 of each of the ones I named. (I'd like to have a school of fish and so far the green chromis is the only one I can find that schools...)

I had a hippo tang and I think he was my favorite for the 3 weeks I had him... He was a gorgeous specimen, brightly colored. After the first week or so he lost his shyness and spent most of his time in the "sun", drawing the CB out also. But he was too small... only about 1.5" and I came home one day and he had gotten trapped against the grill on the overflow. He was still alive but didn't make it. *sniff* Now my CB is back to spending 75% of his time behind the rockwork.

So, of all the fish you've "met" that are compatible with the one's I've named -- which was the most interesting or friendly?

 

[Dargason]

Toptank,

What kind of fish is that? Scooter blenny?

Blk_gto,
I'm not familiar with a pygmy angel. Is it a dwarf angelfish? If so, is it reef-safe, and would it get along with my Coral Beaty?

 

[toptank]

Lawnmower Blenny. This is the best fish I have. I put my hand in the tank and wave the water and he swims to my hand. This is just a neat fish/

Barry

 

[jrodrig692]

My vote would have to be for a FlameHawk. Mine comes right up to the water surface and takes food from my fingers, and will follow me along the glass when its time to feed.

 

[Dargason]

The flame hawk would be a nice addition! I like the red. Unfortunately, the book I have says they eat snails and shrimp... is this true, or am I being overly cautious?

Any other interesting fish species out there?

 

[bigtank]

Flame hawks will eat ornamental shrimp, but not snails or hermits. These fish are VERY COOL. IMO they probably have more personality than any other small reef fish. At feeding time, you will be surprised how exuberantly and tenaciously they wolf down food. I had one (lost him in a temp spike) and highly recommend this species.

 

[EmilyB]

I don't know what you want from your schooling fish, I just wanted to add my chromis (5 pack) pretty much just hang in the center of the tank. Bit of a disappointment to me, but they are still pretty cool.

I don't suppose you could do three yellow tangs in a tank that size.....that would be beautiful...

 

[Dargason]

I'm considering getting 3 hippo tangs. I think they are a beautiful fish, but I'm afraid three might be a bit much when they get fully grown.

The LFS had some small blue/green chromis's that I was tempted to get... I ended up getting a bicolor blenny instead. So far he's been quite interesting, although he's still quite jittery when I'm around. I was surprised he came out from behind the rocks at all on the first day, though, so that's a good sign.

 

[Terra Ferma]

Vlamingi Tang

 

[LisaP]

Hi Dargason,

Yep Flame Hawk's are, IMO, very cool. A great fish with bags of personality. However if you want to keep shrimp, then ahhh, I wouldn't recommend them! My Hawk feasted on Cleaner shrimp when I added some (even though he was well fed AND the shrimp were much larger than the fish's mouth).

Here's mine swinging on the lettuce clip

He's just coming up for his 7th birthday in my tank.

Regards

 

[cubera]

I am torn between three fantastically loyal and entertaining tangs.....A sailfin, a Kole (Ko Lee), and a scopus. They are in different tanks. I love them as much as my dog and I have a great dog!

 

[Anonymous]

Love my long nose hawk!