interested in less common fish. Any suggestions?

[ahullsb]

I realize now that I don't want to stock my tank with the standard clownfish, flame angel, and tang. Anyone have other suggestions on something less common? Any favorite wrasses or anything like that? I like the idea of a mandarin but I don't think my tank is quite established enough yet!
Also what are anyones opinions on ordering these less common fish online? My local fish store never seems to get anything different.

[bassettmd]

are these fish going to be housed in your 55 gallon or do you have another tank set up?

[techreef]

right, i had the same question. generally to me, the more unique fish are the slower-moving, picky eaters like seahorses, pipefish, and mandarins. boxfish are unique and personable too, but they come w/ the potential tank-nuker tag if they die. many of the triggers are very cool, but get too big for a 55G tank.

[ahullsb]

Yes I am stuck with a 55 until I finish school and move. Anything bigger is more than I want to establish just in time for a move in a year or so. But I am interested in anything colorful or interesting in any way. I thought gobies were ugly and boring until I realized what they were doing for my sandbed. How many different colors of mandarins are there? Any cool wrasses?

[frederickk]

I would say that you would need more space for wrasses as some of them swim most of the time. Your kind of stuck with the smaller guy.

[ahullsb]

Well any suggestions on a fish for a 55? There had to be something out there thats able to be stocked in something that size? I know there are plenty of you out there who don't have ocelleris clowns and blue tangs...

[techreef]

check out the Nano Fish section at www.liveaquaria.com's Marine fish. that will give you a bunch of ideas that will be quite happy in a 55.

[ahullsb]

thank you. how do you feel about ordering online? Any experience with that?

[papagimp]

I have a 55g, heres my stock list:

pair of ocellaris clowns
pair of bangaii cardinals (included them, but they just got moved to their own breeding tank)
bannana wrasse (very very cool, small wrasse)
6-line wrasse
green mandarin
scooter blenny (sorta same family as mandarins, different coloring)

And I have also housed a neon goby, firefish, dominoe damsel, and a few others over the time this tank has been up. So many options its hard to think of anything particular. lol.

[ahullsb]

I'll check some of those fish out. thanks

[WaterKeeper]

Let's see looking for the unique and unusual? The tank may be a bit small but here is something New and Unique.

[JamesJR]

I have a 55 and I will be stocking it with some nice black saddle clowns. The store in my area gets really nice ones and they are quite striking. IMO clowns are hard to beat and there is a species for everyone's taste out there.

[ahullsb]

I'll check out those clowns. Mine are starting to look like goldfish in my eyes. And someday I too hope to have a bear tank!

[WaterKeeper]

[68551]

get something that earns its keep (eats algae) & is fun to watch.....A Lawnmower Blenny....

[Reet15]

Lawnmower is awesome! Grandpa does his dance nightly at the front of the tank - then waves and is off munching again! File and firefish are both pretty kewl fish IMO.

By the way - do you think my 90 would be good for a bear tank? He's awfully cute!

[dustins]

If you can get one, Golden Rhomboid Fairy Wrasses are super nice. As are Mystery Wrasses. Either can be kept in a 55 (though Im not sure about together), and are both reef safe.

[ahullsb]

Thanks Dustins thats what I'm talking about! Those aren't the ones that cost 200 bucks are they?

[ahullsb]

500!!!! wow. Does it poop gold dabloons or something?

[jellyous]

An orangeback basslet is pretty cool. If you want to order online at saltwaterfish.com but you might as well buy at least $80 worth of stuff to get the free shipping. Also check out the fridmani dottyback, or the springers dottyback. But make sure your selections will get along with you current fish.

[jpa0741]

One of my favorite fish in my tank is my highhat. He is always out front and swims like a shark. He jumps out of the water when I feed and eats out of my hand. I don't know why you don't see them more often.

[dustins]

Originally posted by ahullsb
500!!!! wow. Does it poop gold dabloons or something?

haha, it must!! All I know is my LFS was supposed to get a golden Rhomboid Wrasse in and the owner said "If you don't get here before it's gone, you'll probably never see one." So I guess they are extremely rare.

[dwculp]

Have you thought about some of the hawkfish, especially the flame or freckled hawk? They can be very interesting, I just picked up a freckled hawk for my tank and it has quickly become my students favorite and it is still in QT.

[fishyvet]

I've always wanted a panda goby but small fish just seem to disappear in my tank http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/gobies/pandagoby/

[SuperNerd]

Originally posted by fishyvet
I've always wanted a panda goby but small fish just seem to disappear in my tank http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/gobies/pandagoby/

I think pandas are difficult to keep alive.