Stocking Suggestions - looking or that "last fish"

[niloc16]

what about a couple firefish?

[Jason McK]

What about another Wrasse? there are soo many amazing Wrasses you can't go wrong

J

[digital-audiophile]

I've actually considered both firefish and wrasses in the past. There are indeed a number of really beautiful wrasses that seem to be readily available.

My only concern with both fish is their ability bu nature to jump.

My tank is open top with my tek light about 6 inches above the top of the eurobrace. Chances are that they would jump, hit the light, get deep fried Kentucky Fried Chicken style and then drop back in the tank

(My sixline jumped from my tank when I had MH over it and ended up on the floor, I was close by and got him back into the tank and performed fish CPR.. he survived but has been mentally retarded since:P)

On rimmed tanks I had in the past I used eggcrate about the tank but have yet to find an effective or somewhat attractive cover to a eurobraced tank

[Pier Pressure]

Royal gramma? I have a female in a 28 gallon and she seems to be very peaceful. Or maybe a dottyback?

[seanoman]

how about a mandarin goby?? They are beautiful and peaceful fish.

[Delphinus]

I hear you on the eggcrate thing. Maybe some kind of wood fascia that can sit around the tank, still be open top, but basically look like a canopy .. then jumpers would likely fall back in.

I agree with your reasoning however, fairy wrasses are terribly prone to jumping. I would not feel comfortable with some in an open top tank.

You know, Banggai's are often cited for being not very colourful, but .. you know what, they really have a sort of endearing quality once you have one or two. I can't quite put my finger on it ... they're pretty, and you get to know their personalities. The two that I've had over the years, have been really nice fish. The only thing is, I lost both of them to the same thing .. it's weird, not sure what or why, but they would be fine in the morning, and then in the evening I'd find them on their side in the sand, bloated. Some kind of intestinal malady? Just weird to me that both fish would die such similar deaths, years apart. One thing that they had in common was that they were exclusive mysis feeders, so I wondered if I had fed them a bad mysis or something.

Anyhow other than that though, they were neat fish. I do recommend them if you can find them, maybe hold out for captive bred though, since their wild numbers are in trouble.

[digital-audiophile]

Glenda just about had me sold on the cardinals on the weekend, Oceans has a few in right now but none of the literature they had (nor was their internet working) that would allow us to find out how to sex them so we could get a m/f pair. What I have found since though is that you cannot tell It has been suggested that you buy 3 or more and find if two pair off and then remove the third before it is killed.

I've tried a manadrin before but it starved as I do not have a big enough pod poulation (nor a refugium to grow them)

I've also considered foxfish but my pansy side comes out as I am afraid of getting stung, or worse my daughter as she likes to stick her hands in the fishtank when I lift her up. (I created a monster becuase now when we go to the LFS's she is at just the right height when I carry her for her to stick her hands in every tank. )