Quick Question

[FishKeeper99]

OK, after countless hours of research and decision-making, I've come up with this list of what I'd like in my tank. How does it sound?

55 Gallon
40 - 50 lbs. Live Rock
1 Antennata Lion (Pterois antennata)
1 Acanthurus Tang (Powder Blue, GoldRim, etc.)
1 Heniochus acuminatus (Butterfly)
1 Bicolor Angel

* I'm "cycling" with a small Blue Devil Damsel and a Lunare Wrasse, but the Damsel would (hopefully) become a snack for the Lion, and the Wrasse will be going when he gets bigger. I understand I'll need to get the angel (and all the others for that matter) bigger than the Lion, so they won't be on the menu as well. Well, what ya think?

 

[Anonymous]

i'll leave the tang police to reply to that specific item!(you may need a bit of flame retardant gear :wink: )
not sure if other than the bicolor-which may be tricky, depending on where it's coming from&how it's caught-the other fish you've listed will be cramped in a 55's dimensions.

the fish don't have to be bigger than the lion, just bigger than its mouth :wink:
ever see a lion yawn? :lol: :wink:

are you going fish only? or reef?

 

[FishKeeper99]

About the Tang, I've been told by a few people that it'd be the only Tang candidate for my small tank. Also, I have a wonderful supplier of fish, I'm not too worried about the Bicolor. And, I chose the Antennata Lion over the other because (at least from what I've seen) they're one of the smaller ones. I plan on having this a Fish Only Live Rock tank. Any other stocking suggestions if this setup wouldn't work? I don't plan on upgrading tanks anytime soon, unfortunately, I barely had room for this one as it is. Thanks

 

[danmhippo]

i'll leave the tang police to reply to that specific item!(you may need a bit of flame retardant gear :wink: )

(we ain't biting the hook)

 

[Len]

Tang police are asked to check in their flame throwers here at Reefs.org.

 

[danmhippo]

Fishkeeper99, the only tang I could think of stays relatively small and grows slow are probably Chevron, even that you may need larger tank (say 75-100G) to appreciate it's natural swimming motion. 55G is still small, IMHO, for any tang.

 

[Chucker]

Something a few people skipped over in the hurry to address the tang- do not cycle with fish. It's cruel and unusual punishment for them. There is plenty of material on/in the live rock to cycle with.

 

[FishKeeper99]

Ok, a Tang is out of the question. I want to keep the Lion, so what other fish would you recommend (if any) could comfortibly go in a 55 with him? And, about cycling, I HAVE realized I made a big mistake, and unfortunately I have no pet shop within 60 miles to take them, and no one that I know of who has an established saltwater tank to want them either.

 

[Anonymous]

And, about cycling, I HAVE realized I made a big mistake

just don't let it happen again, mister...<shaking finger> :wink: :wink:

 

[danmhippo]

A puffer (not spiny ones, they grow big, and fast), or a moray, maybe. If you want action, most wrass will give the tank plenty of movements, just have to find one that does not grow too big (less than 6" max).

 

[reefsRcool]

some triggers stay small. i would want to get a picaso if i were you they are cool as all getout. i have never had a trigger myself but have come close several time to setting up a preditor tank just to keep one. i will agree that the tang should come off the list. don't know if it would work with a lion and trigger and everything else but lawnmover blennies are pretty cool and i believe bigger then what the lion would eat. for future referance i have used a chunk fresh shrimp meat to cycle my tank before and it worked pretty well.

 

[tazdevil]

If your looking for a trigger, my suggestion would be a niger. They have a great personality, can be hand fed (I'd do it with tong assisted hand feeding, they have a sharp beak! 8O ) and don't tend to be as belligerent as a picasso (those little guys come with an attitude!). Plus, they are also one of the hardiest triggers around.

 

[Dewman]

Ditch the antennae Lion and go with a Zebra Lion or a Fuzzy dwarf. I think Fu ManChu Lions are cool too, but make sure it's switched over to dead food when you get it. Some are heard to train.

 

[Anonymous]

i have seen puffers destroy the finrays on lions-once on discovery,or some nature show, they had a tiny puffer that would harass a lion to no end,always nibling on his fins-the lion tried to eat the puffer, and spat it back out, because of the nasty taste-the puffer then continued to nibble on the lion-what made it almost comical was that the lion was a good size-an 8-10" volitans, and the puffer was small, maybe 2-3", and the lion was 'powerless' to overcome it!(a species of sharpnose, i think)

 

[Anonymous]

If your looking for a trigger, my suggestion would be a niger. They have a great personality, can be hand fed

when i was a marine lab assistant at my college a few years back :roll:, we had a 100 gallon tank that housed a niger trigger. you're right about the handfeeding - he used to eat from a pair of long tweezers i had. it was pretty neat though i remember him being quite aggressive.

 

[FishKeeper99]

Thanks for all the suggestions. A Trigger does sound nice, I'd only be worried about it outgrowing a 55 though. Would two Lions possibly work out in a 55? Two of the relatively smaller species, say an Antennata and a Dwarf, or something like that? Or is it asking for trouble when they reach their full size? Thanks Again.

 

[reefsRcool]

the size issues with a niger is why i didn't recomennd it. book says they can grow to almost 20 inches versus the 10 for a picasso or 12 for an undulate