First fish - Yellowtail Coris

[mk1151]

Well, my tank has cycled cleanly. Water is a little cloudy with pods so I wanted to get something to help keep things under control but that would also be compatible with what we ultimately want in the tank (Lionfish, eels, stars, and a mandarin).

I have 10 large turbo snails and 15 hermits in there. I read up on the potential danger to the snails and hermits with the Coris Wrasse but the LFS (who I trust very much) said this one would be fine because of how long they had it and the critters it had been socialized with.

I brought it home yesterday morning. I was told he may hide for the first few days due to the trauma of switching tanks.

I acclimated him for an hour with 3 water changes from the DT, then let him go. He was very excited, and started eating the pods and random bits off the LR (250 lbs of it).

He looked at the snails and hermits and has been leaving them alone. He did nip at some LR right next to a hermit and it fell onto the sand but my Coris left the hermit alone. He got out of his shell and upright and climbed right back up onto the rock.

The Coris is about 3.5" - great color, and very active. He does disappear for hours on end but then I'll see his little orange and white head pop up from a tunnel in the LR. He also seems to enjoy the currents from the three power heads I have.

We don't plan on having any more than 3-5 fish in there (220 gallon tank). I think it's more fun to watch a few fish have a great time in the LR and sand than watch schools swim by.

I was thinking that after the Coris, I would add the Lionfish, then the Mandarin, then the eel. This is based on my reading on this site and others with regards to the difficulty of care and feeding. Since I already have pods, in another few months the tank should be fine for a mandarin, and I want a very well settled tank before trying to maintain an eel.

I was planning on adding a few shrimp for cleaning but from reading, all the fish I want in the tank will most likely eat them. I also understand that some of the hermits may end up as a snack.

As for stars, I haven't decided yet, but I'd like a pillow and a sandsifter.

Thoughts?

Thanks for this great site!

[Original Fin]

I don't think a Mandarin would work with a Lionfish and/or an eel also in the tank. He would probably become a meal.

Do you intend to keep corals, or just fish?

As for that particular wrasse being reef safe according to your LFS, I have my doubts, and wouldn't have advised you to take that chance. For future reference, it's always a good idea to post your intentions here first before pulling the trigger ona new add so you can get advice from someone who's not trying to make a buck off of you.

How long since the tank cycled?

It's also a good idea to stock your least agressive fish first...except in the case of the ultra peaceful Mandarin since they need a well matured tank...most say at least a year, I'd say no sooner than 8 months, and that's assuming you still have a big pod population. Wrasses will eat pods too, so their numbers may diminish a bit with the Coris from what you're used to seeing. Regardless, unless you plan on forgetting about the lionfish and eel, I wouldn't go with a Mandarin in that tank anyway.

Starfish can be a mixed bag...there are definately ones you don't want in a reef. The sand sifters are great for stirring up the substrate, but they will eat all of your bristleworms (beneficial) too.

[mk1151]

I don't think a Mandarin would work with a Lionfish and/or an eel also in the tank. He would probably become a meal.

Do you intend to keep corals, or just fish?

As for that particular wrasse being reef safe according to your LFS, I have my doubts, and wouldn't have advised you to take that chance. For future reference, it's always a good idea to post your intentions here first before pulling the trigger ona new add so you can get advice from someone who's not trying to make a buck off of you.

How long since the tank cycled?

It's also a good idea to stock your least agressive fish first...except in the case of the ultra peaceful Mandarin since they need a well matured tank...most say at least a year, I'd say no sooner than 8 months, and that's assuming you still have a big pod population. Wrasses will eat pods too, so their numbers may diminish a bit with the Coris from what you're used to seeing. Regardless, unless you plan on forgetting about the lionfish and eel, I wouldn't go with a Mandarin in that tank anyway.

Starfish can be a mixed bag...there are definately ones you don't want in a reef. The sand sifters are great for stirring up the substrate, but they will eat all of your bristleworms (beneficial) too.

No corals or anemone - at least not for years, so we're stocking for FOWLR.

The Mandarin was an afterthought - they're neat looking and would be fun to have but the eel and lionfish are a higher priority.

I can do this research myself but since you're here and reading the thread - how many lions can I put i a tank? Do they have to be a mated pair type of thing or can I have a few without issue?

[leebca]

Lionfish get along together quite well. Just be sure they are about the same size so one doesn't take the other for a meal. Don't overstock the aquarium: Fish Stocking Limit - for FO and FOWLR

With regards to Mandarins, you've been mis-informed. No tank can supply the proper pods to maintain a Mandarin. You must train them to eat prepared foods. I hope you will read and follow the recommendations given here: Pod Eaters - or - Mama Don't Feed Me No Balogna

You are also not following the general hobby practice of proper acclimation. The directions are given here: It Was Acclimation, I know. . .

Not sure where in general you are getting your information from, but I would no longer just accept that help without question. There are many posts and threads here on subjects you should have a good understanding of. This is a list of links found in Reefland: Table/Contents - Link List

In addition I would urge you to setup and start using a quarantine procedure/process: A Fish Quarantine Process

Good luck!

[mk1151]

Lionfish get along together quite well. Just be sure they are about the same size so one doesn't take the other for a meal. Don't overstock the aquarium: Fish Stocking Limit - for FO and FOWLR

With regards to Mandarins, you've been mis-informed. No tank can supply the proper pods to maintain a Mandarin. You must train them to eat prepared foods. I hope you will read and follow the recommendations given here: Pod Eaters - or - Mama Don't Feed Me No Balogna

You are also not following the general hobby practice of proper acclimation. The directions are given here: It Was Acclimation, I know. . .

Not sure where in general you are getting your information from, but I would no longer just accept that help without question. There are many posts and threads here on subjects you should have a good understanding of. This is a list of links found in Reefland: Table/Contents - Link List

In addition I would urge you to setup and start using a quarantine procedure/process: A Fish Quarantine Process

Good luck!

I did actually read all your articles. I acclimated the fish for 3 hours (1 hour per change). Although I did not use a QT there are a few reasons for that.

First, I bought the tank, had it setup and filled, and is being maintained by the LFS I got the fish from. It comes with a guarantee that if you buy fish from them and there is a problem, they cover the cost of medication and treatment. This only applies to their fish, not coral or anemones.

Second, it was the only fish in the tank, so if there was a problem, it would not affect other fish.

Third, from a water acclimation perspective, the water quality and levels in the bag were identical to my DT. The biggest difference was the temp.

The LFS is also not too local - about 45 minutes away - so I didn't want to keep the fish in the bag with its old water too much longer after I got home.

I followed your guide to picking a fish (the one that says it should take about 90 minutes to pick a fish). I asked all the questions and watched the fish closely for a while. It all paid of. The Coris has been in the tank now for 4 days and is quite fat and happy.

He comes out every morning to eat and swim then disappears for the day.

Moving forward, for fish I order online or catch in the wild (I have a permit for that) I am going to use the dip/QT method.

Many thanks.