Feedback on Stocking

Greetings Fellow Reefers8)

I would like to get all of your expert opinions on the following stocking list and order for a 125G FOWLR.

6 blue\green Chromis
2 Clownfish (can I do one marroon and one ocellaris)
1 blue tang
1 racoon butterflyfish
1 mandarin (Green or Red or Spotted or a Red Scooter Dragonet)
1 goby (Green Clown or orange spotted or yellow watchman)
1 dog face puffer
1 longhorn cowfish
1 yellow tang

Anxiously awaiting your responses.

Tanks!

Joe

 

- I wouldn't get a mandarin (spotted/psychedelic) until your tank is established. They feed primarily on copepods and many starve to death in the home aquarium. They are tank-raising them now so I would wait until they release those, they will eat frozen food.

- If you get a pair of Clowns, stay within the same species, don't mix. I think Ocellaris are the "classic" clown and I love my pair. Whatever you choose just get a pair of the same.

- mixing two tangs can work but they may fight, it's a large enough tank though you may be ok.

- get an odd # of chromis (5, 7, etc)

- puffer and cowfish will kill inverts & may not be reefsafe, I forget exactly but I'm fairly sure.

that's all I can think of right now.

best,

 

no to the mandarin until tank has pods and cowfish release toxicns that can crash your tank if they die, just be aware. also im not sure about the compatibility between a butterylfish, tang, and puffer.

 

Same as everybody else said... plus try to add the Tangs at the same time so one doesn't get territorial before the other one gets in. The Butterfly will eat inverts too, but it otherwise peaceful. Add it before Tangs.

 

How long have you had saltwater fish? A lot of these fish seem like a really bad idea for you. The mandarin, cowfish, and butterfly are really bad ideas for a new tank. The cowfish will die unpredictably and it will release toxins that will kill all of your other fish. Butterflies are delicate and won't survive a cycle. Mandarins, like everyone else has said, need a very well established tank.

Your best bet right now is to start off with some clowns. There are many different types of clowns that look great. It's best to get two young ones at once instead of buying them at separate times. You want them to be used to eachother already before you buy them. I believe a dogface puffer would work for you. Saddled puffers are little, but have a lot of personality and are really cute. Humu triggers (or picasso triggers) are pretty and have the most personality I've seen.. they're pretty funny too when they get hungry. From my experiences, they are VERY hardy. Four stripe damsels are pretty fish, even though they are considered "tank cycling fish."

Don't spend a lot of money in the beginning. You will regret it. Buy fish that are as promising as possible.

 

-sos

 

Or you could get an Ocellaris and a percula

 

I would recommend getting 2 ocellaris instead of a maroon one since they can get a little agressive. I love the Chromis combo that will be fun looking at them school. Blue Tangs are susceptible to many diseases like ich so watch out for that; make sure their diet is varied with different brine/mysis shrimps and seaweed. Cowfish are like time bombs, they release a poison when they die that can wipe out an entire tank. I don't recommend a mandarin (red or green or spotted) until your tank is matured with tons of copepods and amphipods because that is their main diet and because they are beautiful a lot of hobbyists buy them without established tanks and they die. Take your time. Don't rush into this hobby. Good luck and be sure to post tons of pics!

 

Also, start looking into a reef setup. Corals make a world of a difference. They can be cheap too, cheaper than an angel fish that's for sure

 

I pretty much agree with everyone about the mandarins and other fish you are planning to get. One thing I would like to add is that in order to calculate the number of fish you can add is about one inch of fish (measured from the nose to the base of the tail) per 5 gallons of system saltwater.
Hope this helps...
... and please post some pics of your tank!!!