Recommendations for reef safe schooling fish

[Crows Ridge]

Larry,

I just got my weekly email from Saltwaterfish.com. Chalk Bass are on sale w/ free shipping. $9.99 ea. You have to buy $75.00 of stuff for the free shiping, but thats easy to do. I have had very good luck with them and their products/livestock. Oh, they have an orange plate for $29.00 too.

Think I will grab a school of bass and an orange plate too.

 

[osterman]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, I may well go for it. -Larry

 

[Alice]

OK, how about a different approach? How about "coral compatible"? Not quite the same ring to it as "reef safe", but less ambiguous.

I tend to use the term "feef friendly" as I never want to mislead someone into thinking any animal is 100% "safe." It's all food on the reef and you never know when your perfectly well-behaved (insert name here) fish may decide to start snacking on your prized animals.

But it is nice when the fish are marked with little icons for their tendencies and requirements on some sites and in some books.

Osterman and Chris, you two need to post some pics when you get your new fish!

 

[BlennyBabe]

If you are looking for a good display of fish, go with 4 or 5 flasher wrasses. they will spend time flashing to attract the females and it is simply stunning. I going to try to add them to the 300 gallon tank at my school.

 

[wanareef]

Have been planning and scheming on our next tank and looking at fish as well for stocking. How about this gobie

Likes to be in groups and is peaceful - reef safe:lol:

 

[wanareef]

This is the other fish that I have been looking at but not sure about schools? The idea was to have several schools of maybe 4to6 fish in each school in a 280gal.

 

[osterman]

Wanareef, I like that second one. Have a species name for it?

 

[wanareef]

It's the Rainsford's Goby. I like it as it has nice color/lines.

 

[Ray Pollett]

Neither of the two gobies is realy a schooling fish. The first may hang out in loose groups, usually close to the bottom by their hiding place, If it is the one I'm thinking of.

The Rainford's goby or Old Glory is definitely not a schooling fish. You can have multiples as juveniles by the tent to fight as adults.

Ray

 

[gljjr]

Blue Sierra had a school of the Rainsfords a few months ago that was about 20 strong. I never noticed any bickering between them at all. I was wishing I could afford to get a similar school of them myself. It was pretty cool watching them move as a unit across the small tank they were in.

 

[Ray Pollett]

Blue Sierra had a school of the Rainsfords a few months ago that was about 20 strong. I never noticed any bickering between them at all. I was wishing I could afford to get a similar school of them myself. It was pretty cool watching them move as a unit across the small tank they were in.

I've never seen anyone keep 20 before. I hope it continues to work out.

Ray

 

[osterman]

I added a group of six ORA orchid dottybacks, and am very pleased with them. They don't "school" of course, but do pal around together. At feeding time all six of them are actually out in the open at once. They eat everything offered to them, and are peaceful, but able to defend themselves.

It was fun watching them take a full week to explore from the one end of the 8 foot tank in which I deposited them all the way to the other end.

Still plan on adding some anthias or chalk bass at some point.

 

[kilmca]

Hi I am new to the board but I have a question about Lyretail Anthias. I bought 1 female and 1 male about 9 months ago. Suprisingly they get along well. Something interesting happened, the male anthias changed to a female and the female change to a male. Has anyone ever experienced a male changing to a female? I've read that a single female will change to male but not when with another male. The female changed to a male in about a month and the male has changed colors of a female over about 3 months.

 

[Craig Manoukian]

A male Fairy/Flasher Wrasse with a harem of 4 or 5 females would be spectacular addition to your 240!

 

[NaH2O]

kilmca - Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!

 

[Angelscrx]

Robz you have a beautiful tank more shots would be nice.

 

[Angelscrx]

Hi I am new to the board but I have a question about Lyretail Anthias. I bought 1 female and 1 male about 9 months ago. Suprisingly they get along well. Something interesting happened, the male anthias changed to a female and the female change to a male. Has anyone ever experienced a male changing to a female? I've read that a single female will change to male but not when with another male. The female changed to a male in about a month and the male has changed colors of a female over about 3 months.

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!! Never heard of the sex changes before but hey it's a crazy world.

 

[Detri]

What an awsome thread. Glad it was brought up! from other threads.

 

[Craig Manoukian]

Rainsford Gobies can be kept in groups as well!

 

[BobinCovington]

how about a few convict tangs??