Recommend me some interesting, hardy fish and/or corals

[Len]

This seems kind of an odd question from a guy who's been in the hobby for nearly two decades Here's the reason I'm asking: I'm in the process of setting up a tank for a relative. Unfortunately, I think I've lost touch with what most hobbyists find cool and interesting. While I can remember being absolutely fascinated by my first brain coral, I forget what else was cool in the early years of this hobby. Call me a jaded reefer I know a lot of things I find cool today, others find blah. I know exactly what I want for my own tanks, but it's hard to pick out stuff that will grasp the attention of new a new hobbyist for the long haul.

So, please recommend me some fish (and inverts) that you think are interesting and would make a fascinating first experience. Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Brittle stars are bulet proof and pretty cool, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp are as well. New reefers seem to get a kick out of the shrimp perching on your hand every time it is in the tank.

 

[sawyerc]

People have always loved clowns, and their especially popular right now ever since Nemo came out. Tank bred clowns are pretty hard to kill and pretty easy to come by.

 

[Bucktronix]

pumping xenia is pretty mesmerizing.. dealing with it 6 months down the road is another story.

tangs are always cool, watching them swim around picking at stuff off of rocks and greating you at the glass.

cleaner shrimp and bristle stars are fun to watch.

hermits doing their job is also cool to watch.

 

[Anonymous]

Valonia is always a big attention getter for tourists.

I like Andy's brittle star suggestion; but I think I'd go with a red serpent...

Some LPS are a good bet: bubble, torch and fox.

 

[Anonymous]

Tank, live rock and sand. You don't need anything else. People are always fascinated by the hitchikers and little critters that emerge. :wink:

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

Pajama and Hi Fin Cardinals, as well as Watchman gobies are easy and eye catching. Green Star Polyps are hardy and look cool under actinic lights. Plate corals are also an easy option.
Andy

 

[fishfanatic2]

I second the shrimp-a group of shrimp is great to watch. People also get a huge kick out of anemones.

Are setting up a reef or fish only? Many of the coral-eating stars are pretty cool.

And jawfish. A pair is just great!

 

[Anonymous]

Great suggestions! I would take a looke at a lawnmower blenny, a tigertail cuke, and perhaps a pistol shrimp as a buddy for the watchman goby that Andy suggested.

 

[danmhippo]

Len, how much effort/time is your relative willing to spend?

If he is retired, I would recommend seahorses.
If he is always busy, then fairy wrasse.
If he is a grumpy old man, then angler fish
If he is a rebellious type, trigger it is.

 

[Anonymous]

For New hobbyiest:

TR Clowns - Ocellaris

Royal Grammas

Firefish Gobies

Green star polyps

Yellow polyps

Mushrooms

Ricordias

Pulsing Xenia

Scarlet reef hermits ( no bluelegs)

Scarlet (skunk) shrimp - active and attractive, not shy like other shrimp.

 

[SnowManSnow]

BTA's are easy to keep, and are cool to look at

 

[Entacmaea]

I would err on the side of caution and not include an anemone in a newbie tank, unless you can get a tank-raised clone, which is already adapted and not taken from the wild. I would add a four or six line wrasse to the line -up, lots of good movement and fun to watch. Or there are a bunch of tank-raised psuedochromis out there as well. A nice toadstool would be cool too.

Len, they're lucky to have you setting up their tank!

 

[Anonymous]

Len, they're lucky to have you setting up their tank!

I agree!

 

[Anonymous]

I was going to say pretty much what Entacmaea did--no anemone, sixline wrasse, royal gramma, flame angel, yellow tang...and a Cirrhilabrus johnsoni to top it all off, of course.

 

[Anonymous]

Flame angel, firefish, and clowns oh, my!

All are very active and great eaters in my tank, great color and personality too.

 

[Anonymous]

Green star polyps!
No seriously, they are on ene of the most brilliant corals you can get, and hardy as heck.
Euphylia - frogspawns, hammers, etc. Hardy and good movement.
Fish - I would steef clear of both the sixline and flame angel until the rest of the fish are added. Sixlines should ALWAYS be added last - unless you plan on an argi angel or a flameback.
I'd also recommend the argi over the flame if the tank is under 55 gallons.

Jim

 

[iphy]

If you're looking for a fish that won't get too big, won't bother corals, won't bother shrimp and crabs, and will swim around and add color to your tank: I've been super happy with my two-spot hogfish. He's very hardy, bright yellow, and very active. He is a bit agressive toward other fish his size and shape, though; so, couldn't get one and a fairy wrasse.

 

[mark78]

I think a clown is a must have for any newbie since Finding Nemo...

Yellow tangs have always seemed to be bread and butter fish for thier color....

Shrimp and crabs

GSP is a must, a colt coral and/or toadstool, an open brain

 

[HClH2OFish]

Pearlscale Angel (or 1/2 black angel) Centropyge Vroliki
Fun, lotta movement, gorgeous and not as pricey as a mulitcolor


Clowns and shrimp