55 gallon stocking options, help me choose.

well like the title says in having trouble deciding on what i want, and what would be best for the fish living in my tank. i have a few options but just cant decide! so im asking you all to help me. and obviously help me figure out what would b best for the fish involved. well lets take a look!

option 1
radiata lionfish
snowflake eel
huma huma triggerfish


option 2
fuzzy dwarf lionfish
dwarf zebra lionfish
fu manchu lionfish

option 3
huma huma trigger
bursa trigger
niger trigger

im happy with all of them i just cant decide!! so, which do you all like more? right now im really wanting either the all dwarf lionfish or the all trigger tank, i think the dwarf tank would be more size appropriate but i want to hear what you all think about it. thanks! and if you find a combo that would work i'll K+ ya.

 

I haven't researched all those fish for feeding needs, space requirements, etc. The Lionfish combo, Option 2 sounds like it would be very cool... but I really think it comes down to personal choice.

On the triggers, I would worry about a 55 being enough swimming room for them. I think of triggers in a larger setting.

Just my thoughts,
Mark

 

ok. the bursa gets 9 inches. that might be the only one suitable. i really like lionfish if you cant tell lol.

 

The problem with all of those choices is that they all get pretty large, 7"+. You will be able to keep them in that size tank for a while, but they will outgrow that tank in a relatively short period of time. You could probably have a dwarf lion in there, but the others I'm not so sure about. In the end, it's up to you, but there are lots of other predatory type fish that would work well for that sized tank.

 

went to the lfs today, he said that triggers in a 55 gal would not be a good idea. so were not gonna do that. i did however have them hold a dwarf zebra lionfish for me, hes about 2-3 inches and isnt eating yet so well wait, he can go in the ten gallon QT till i get the 55 setup, then hell go in there or the 29, cant decide yet. so one lionfish is what i got, any other ideas?

 

liveaquaria.com has a fish compatibility chart. Look at it for what is compatible with a lionfish...

They also have a filter on their fish pages for tank size....

That should narrow your choices now that you've fixed one parameter in selecting a lionfish.

M

 

ok so i can do boxfish, eels, puffers, groupers, other lions, anglers and frogfish. so which out of those will fit into a 55 gal? eels, lions, anglers and frogfish.

 

I think your Option 2 Lion Tank is narrowing to your solution. This really comes down to choice... We can advise you on resources to look at it, and things such as fish size versus tank size and fish to fish compatibility, but once you are selecting amongst fish that will fit in your aquarium and are compatible.... well... it is up to you.

Other considerations might be required feeding... Some fish are very picky eaters... or for example might require a totally different diet than other fish in your tank. Some people don't mind target feeding individual fish and varied diets, etc. Others want to have an automatic flake food dispenser. Depends on what you want.

Never had one, but I do know that eels require "eel proofing" your tank. Apparently they will go about anywhere they can even if you think they can't, but you'll need to talk to someone more experienced with eels.

Hope this is helping. For me, I really like wrasses... all the colors. I like corals... So my 55 gal is a reef with reef safe wrasse. You are making a different choice... fish only with some cool fish... sounds great. Make sure you post some pics.

M
M

 

alright thanks, im looking at a bluejaw trigger right now, doesnt get big in captivity, easy to feed, disease resistant, sounds like my fish! but there like 60 bucks...