[scubadude]

I have decided to setup a 140g FOWLR for my wife and after a few fish that I knew wouldnt work we have come to a list that may work and I would like you guys/gals to critique our fish list:

*Puffer - Diodon Holocanthus
*Spotted Boxfish - Ostracion Meleagris
*Picasso Triggerfish - Rhinecanthus Aculeatus
Redlip Blenny - Ophioblennius Atlanticus

Giant Frogfish - Antennarius Commerson
OR
Wartskin Frogfish - Antennarius Maculatus

Kole Tang - Ctenochaetus Strigosus
Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus Coeruleus

Banggai Cardinal - Pterapogon Kauderni
OR
Schooling Bannerfish - Heniochius Diphreutes

I realize that this list may have alot of compatibility issues and the * fish are ones we want the most in this tank (as long as there should be no problems w/them) I put the fish on order first being the most desirable last being the least desirable. Give me your experiences on compatibilities please, as well as opinions, too heavy of a bioload?

[tendar]

Thge picaso is a sand spitter. I dont know if you have ever had one but they grap mouth fulls of sand and spit it all over the tank covering rocks and all. They are a cool fish but a pain in the ---.

Your giant frog fish would be a major problem with fish his size smaller of being eaten. I dont know if you have gotten the 2003 Marine Fish Reef but it has a very good artical on frog fish and thier husbandry by Scott Micheal.

The box fish are cool but can wipe your entire tank if stressed releasing poison (Do you feel lucky today punk, Well do you)

The atlantic blue is one of the fish I am thinking of putting in my FOWLR tank. Its just finding one good color. I have never seen one any where close picuted ones.

[scubadude]

Thanx Tendar.....Yeah I got the 2003 annual, good reference point bud!

[almostdiva]

I have never kept a boxfish myself, but my best pal, who got me into the hobby, has had one (Spotty, he has grown from a tiny thing to being about 6 inches long and about 4 inches across) for over 5 years with NO PROBLEMS. He's a brown one though, not the meleagris.

Spotty lives with a very tiny Niger trigger (2 inches), a pair of true percs, a juv Naso tang, a flame hawk , a yellow wrasse. He is WAY the biggest fish in the tank. He lives w pretty peaceful tankmates. The Niger may grow up to be a little aggressive, but aren't they like your triggers -- generally peaceful, planktonic/out of the water column eaters, maybe reef safe?

I dunno if you can keep a box w a puffer -- may have to pick one or the other.

Re the cardinals -- my friend had a cool pyjama cardinal who vanished suddenly overnight. Spotty was the Prime Suspect. He is also a pig and eats voraciously. He and a trigger and a puffer would be a pretty messy trio. But you know what you're doing and would have a big skimmer.

If you're feeling REALLY rich, scuba, Marine Center has an Austrailian Red boxfish (looks more like a football than square) that eats out of your hand (according to their specials list). Last time I checked, they only wanted about $450 for it!

Go for the box, but give him decent-sized, peaceful tankmates.