Looking for neat or unconventional fish stocking ideas!!!

[ScubaSteve]

Hey Fish People!

I need some help. I need some suggestions on fish stocking in my 50 gallon cube. I am running open top, so that's my main concern. I'm also making this primarily a coral tank, so I don't need a huge fish list but...

I'm looking for some cool ideas! I'm more of a coral guy, so I tend to draw blanks when it comes to my fish wishlist. I'm really serious when I say: no clownfish, no damsels, no cardinals. This will be an SPS and zoa tank, so the fish need to be safe for those two especially. I am all for challenging fish and am ready to try unconventional ideas (in fact I would like to challenge conventional thought). This whole tank is, in some ways, an experiment in what can be done.

Feel free to make all suggestions, this is an open forum. (INSERT FISH HERE)-Police, please stay your piece. I am aware of all the ethical issues, I know what can be done with what fish, I've been lambasted before, I get it. Please, allow people to make suggestions without fear of reprisal or flaming.

I've so far been considering anthias; either Bartlett's or Sunset Anthias. They're a bit more than what I'd like to throw down on fish for the time being but I have been tossing around designing the flow patterns to simulate a reef crest and choose a dominant fish (different species) that hangs out below. I've been studying anthias behaviour for a while and chatting with a few fish specialists on how to keep anthias in a small school without them all killing each other or all turning male (and subsequently killing each other); starting to have a pretty solid theory I want to try out... but alas, I be poor.

So, any suggestions on some other fish that are cool? Pairs?

I'm all ears!

[Corbin]

frogfish

[MKLKT]

My favourite less common fish is the Starry Blenny, it perches on things but other than that they're completely reef safe. The spots and "eyebrows" can change colour too, from dark blue to bright white.

Mine:
http://i.imgur.com/aa92nl.jpg (http://imgur.com/aa92n)

[jorjef]

Scissortail Dart fish, three or four. Ya they are a bit of a nervous fish a could end up jumping but any fish could jump....I'm more corals than fish myself and ended up empting my tank twice of all fish.....

[noirsphynx]

Black Leopard Wrasse.

EDIT:Never mind, forgot you're going open top.

[fishoholic]

Assessors

[toytech]

long nose hawk fish , pearchy fish too but tons of personality and very cool looking.

[ScubaSteve]

frogfish

So cool aren't they? I love them... I really do. But "Does not play well with others" comes to mind:razz: I unfortunately have a randall's goby that would be dinner for a frogfish.

My favourite less common fish is the Starry Blenny, it perches on things but other than that they're completely reef safe. The spots and "eyebrows" can change colour too, from dark blue to bright white.

Now there's an idea. I had a Midas blenny that was, without a doubt, the coolest fish I ever had. So much personality in such a small fish. I've been tempted to get another midas blenny but maybe neat to try something a bit different. How's their attitude? I know some blennies can be a bit territorial.

Scissortail Dart fish, three or four. Ya they are a bit of a nervous fish a could end up jumping but any fish could jump....I'm more corals than fish myself and ended up empting my tank twice of all fish.....

I feel gun-shy with these guys. I know any fish can jump at any time but my experience is these guys are adept carpet surfers.

And yes, I have been without fish for a couple of months now. I really do love my corals (okay, maybe a bit too much...) but I really miss having some movement and attitude in there. I've designed the new tank to have a ton of swimming room in addition to good coral placement, so I feel the need to have at least some fish in there. Plus, it gets kinda irritating when someone looks in the tank and says "there's nothing in here". Kills me every time...

[ScubaSteve]

Black Leopard Wrasse.

I am a big fan of wrasses. In fact, if I wasn't so scared they'd all just jump out of the tank I'd do an all wrasse tank. I really like the leopard wrasses, especially the potter's wrasse. I'm pretty keen on trying out a mystery wrasse; how do leopard's get along with other wrasses? Are they delicate or more pugnacious?

Assessors

I've never had the opportunity to see on of these in someones tank before, though I hear people rave about them. I'm really curious. What's their behaviour like? And what is it that I'm missing that makes people love them so much?

long nose hawk fish , pearchy fish too but tons of personality and very cool looking.

I have a randall's goby that's maybe 1.5" to 2" long and 2 really big cleaner shrimp. Would any of these guys be dinner? I like the hawkfish. They've been one of my favorite fish when diving but have been nervous they'd eat someone in my tank.

[Corbin]

my wrasse never has tried to jump ever. its an open top tank.

Yeah, ive been really thinking of getting a frog fish and clearing out my fish (except the damsels, no one cares about damsels)

[ScubaSteve]

(except the damsels, no one cares about damsels)

Ditto :razz:

[strickrick]

Probably my favourite odd ball that I've yet to come across in-store is the yellow striped clingfish. I'm gonna try and get one the next time I place a live order. Or maybe a curious wormfish. There both odd ball enough to try, right?

[jorjef]

Okay here ya go...

Red Rooster Pygmy Waspfish
or
Dragon Sea Moth

[noirsphynx]

I am a big fan of wrasses. In fact, if I wasn't so scared they'd all just jump out of the tank I'd do an all wrasse tank. I really like the leopard wrasses, especially the potter's wrasse. I'm pretty keen on trying out a mystery wrasse; how do leopard's get along with other wrasses? Are they delicate or more pugnacious?

Oops, forgot you said open top:reface: I think the leopard's would need to be with other peaceful wrasses. I have a black now so we'll see how she does with others once my new tank is up and running.

[noirsphynx]

Okay here ya go...

Red Rooster Pygmy Waspfish
or
Dragon Sea Moth

I'd do a red pygmy wasp, so cute. The sea moth is cool I've seen them in person and they shed their skin like a snake:surprise: but they're very difficult to care for. You'd need to have very little(or none) rock work as they are bottom dwellers and constantly searching for live critters to feed on.

[MKLKT]

Now there's an idea. I had a Midas blenny that was, without a doubt, the coolest fish I ever had. So much personality in such a small fish. I've been tempted to get another midas blenny but maybe neat to try something a bit different. How's their attitude? I know some blennies can be a bit territorial.

I've never seen mine be territorial in a tank with 14 other fish of varied behaviours. They aren't shy fish either, when food is coming (seaweed or mysis is what mine loves) it'll swim right in your face and doesn't get pushed around by bigger fish. It's more of an attention seeker, really. Haha.

[Proteus]

If your still thinking of anthias. I have three species and my stocky pinks are probably the hardiest. They eat anything from mysis to flake. Not only they mingle with all the fish.

+1 on the assesors there hardy never seem to sleep and peaceful I have a yellow assessor and def one of my faves