Firefish tankmates

[fyrefysh]

Hey all,

I'm looking at getting some tankmates for my Nemateleotris magnifica. I have a 50 gallon and am looking for tankmates for him and an Amphiprion ocellaris. I would also like to get a Dragonette at some point so I don't want anything that will compete with the Dragonette for food. Any suggestions? I'm open to Wrasses, Pseudochromis, Tangs, Pygmy Angels, etc. Please respond.

Thanks

 

[fyrefysh]

Oh, and yes, this is going to be a reef tank.

 

[Len]

Wrasses will do fine. For a 50 gallon, consider flasher wrasses (Paracheilinus sp.). Pseudochromis are out of the question. Tangs can coexists without problems, though they will outgrow your tank. Pygmy angels will coexists too but will compete with the Mandarin for food in a limited capacity. I've never had luck with mixing Centropyge angels and inverts anyhow. Other docile fish like cardinals, algae-eating blennies, anthias will do fine with your firefish and future mandarin.

 

[Anonymous]

I would consider flasher wrasses to be the ONLY wrasses that would do fine with a firefish. Maybe fairy wrasses as well. Something like a six line wrasse will tear your firefish to pieces, and will outcompete the mandarin for food.

Assessors, grammas, other dartfish or wormfish, most gobies, cardinals, chalk bass, most basslets, peaceful anthias (P. squamipinnis might get aggressive), most blennies, some pygmy angels...

 

[shane 1111]

what about fairy wrasses?

 

[Anonymous]

what about fairy wrasses?

Questionable. I don't think one would bother a firefish at all. I'd be much more concerned about it eating the mandarin's source of food. They don't pick at the substrate as much as most wrasses but you're already pushing the minimum size tank for a mandarin as is.

 

[Len]

Fairy wrasses won't bother firefish unless the males are doing their courting ritual (in which case they tend to chase just about anything). It's the size of the tank that is more of a concern. Smaller species of Cirrilabrus should be fine, but I'd avoid the larger ones.

 

[shane 1111]

i have a pair of fat manderins in my tank a 50 it has lots of rock. and a very high fish load. 8O

i am not trying to get people to try this. it is not usual for a small tank. i have had this tank up for 2 years and i reasherched manderins alot befor i got one

 

[fyrefysh]

shane 1111,

What other fish do you have in your tank?

 

[shane 1111]

1 flasher wrass
1 C. solorensis
1 Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
1 banggai cardinalfish
2 bar gobys
1 candy cane goby
1 fier goby
i am way over stocked but every thing has ben doing good