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Angelfish
Angelfish tend to be quite territorial especially once
they have settled into the tank, they're fine with Invertebrates when they are
small but as the get older they can tend to damage the corals more. Dwarf
Angels generally do not damage corals the way that the larger Angels do. They
are fairly easy to feed, once they start, accepting most foods and they do
tend to graze on algae off the corals. You can't keep more than one Angel
together unless you have a very large tank, as they control large territories.
Many species of Angelfish are quite senesitive to poor water conditions, their
health may decline quickly and they may stop eating.
Scribbled Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus
Dudoulayi)
This Angel is and Australian species that although extremely expensive and
sought after overseas, this fish is quite cheap and readily available in
Australia. This fish are easy to keep, but you must ensure that it is fed a
wide variety of foods including live foods. One thing to watch if you have a
reef tank is that this angel will graze on corals aswell as algae, the
Scribble may also eat your Crustaceans. These Angels can grow to 25cm in
length and you will need at least a standard 4 foot tank or preferably larger.
Blennies
Many gobies are usefull additions to the tank
as many of them are good algae eaters that will help keep your glass and rocks
clean.
Rock Blenny
This fish is a good algae eater, only grows to about 12cm but can be
territorial towards other fish of any species.You only need a minimum tank
size of around 100 Litres, and you can add to their diet of Algae with frozen
marine mix.
Scooter Blenny (Petroscirtes Temmincki)
This fish will grow to around 12cm in length, needing a tank of only around
100 Litres. These fish a peaceful so much so you can keep multiple fish of the
same species aswell as keeping them in a community reef. These fish swim along
the Rock and the Bottom and are no threat to Invertebrates.
Butterflyfish
These fish are commonly noticable by their long nose, they also
tend to be Coral & Crustacean eaters which are no good for reef tanks.
Because of their unfortunate eating habits and their severe disliking for poor
quality water these fish should not be kept by beginners.
Copperband
Butterfly
The Copperband is one of the only Butterflies that doesn't seem to eat Corals
that much (mine did nibble my Brain Coral), however they have one good use and
that is in controlling Glass Anenome (Aiptasia). These fish can grow quite
large and therefore I would recommend a 4 foot tank.
Clownfish
These fish are very popular due to how hardy they are as well
as their interaction with their host Anenome. The Clown fish have a coating
that protects them from the sting of their host Anenome, this means that they
can use this Anenome for shelter from other fish. The Anenome also gets an
advantage out of this relationship as the Clown will tend to feed it. Some
people argue that the Clown does not intend to feed the Anenome, he is just
trying to get as much food as possible and the Anenome takes some, but either
way the Anenome often gets fed this way. Clowns also tend to be territorial
and so any fish that may be a threat to the Anenome will be driven away.
Common Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellarus)
This fish is generally easy to keep, and quite small not growing more than
8cm, these fish can be territorial although less than most other Clowns, try
to have an even amount of males and females in the tank with one Anenome per
pair to try and reduce the fighting. These fish can be kept in a tank as small
as 50 Litres, and will accept a wide variety of foods.
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion Frenatus)
This fish is generally easy to keep, and quite small not growing more than
15cm, these fish can be territorial, try to avoid have anything other than a
pair, females will fight. These fish can be kept in a tank as small as 50
Litres, and will accept a wide variety of foods.
Clark's Clownfish (Amphiprion Clarkii)
This fish is generally easy to keep, and quite small not growing more than
15cm, these fish can be territorial, try to avoid have anything other than a
pair, females will fight. These fish can be kept in a tank as small as 100
Litres, and will accept a wide variety of foods. Once established I found this
fish to be aggresive towards newly introduced fish of any species.
Hawkfish
These are a very small variety of marine fish that have the
ability to cling on to the rock even in very heavy currents. They are not
recommended to be kept with Crustaceans, they may even eat Cleaner Shrimp.
Falco Hawk (Cirrhitichthys Falco)
This fish is one of the hardiest marine fish you can get, it will accept a
wide variety of marine fish foods however it may eat Crustaceans in your tank.
This fish will only grow to 6-8cm and can be kept in a tank of 50 Litres or
more. A male fish will require his own territory so it would be best to have
only one male (males usually larger than females).
Scarlet Hawk (Neocirrhites Armatus)
This fish does not handle captivity anywhere near as well as the Falco Hawk,
infact these fish a generally known as hard to maintain due to their desire
for very high quality water. If you are going to attempt to keep this fish it
must be in a Reef a fish only tank just won't cut it. Again these may eat your
Crustaceans, and males are territorial like the Falco Hawk. This hawk will
grow to a similar size to the Falco Hawk but is a brilliant red colour.
Mandarin Fish
(Synchiropus
Splendidus)
This is a vey small variety of fish growing to around 12cm, they tend to spend
most of their time near the bottom of the tank. These fish can be hard to feed
as they pick small crustaceans off the rocks. It is recommended to keep one of
these fish successfully you will need at least 45kg of live rock, and your
tank should be fairly well established. If your fish does not seem to be
getting enough food then you can try to help by feeding it baby Brine Shrimp.
Surgeon Fish and Tangs
These fish get their name from the retractable 'scaple'
just before the tail. These fish like to graze on the algae in the fish tank.
These fish are very aggressive towards ANY new fish you put in the tank no
matter what size, once the Tang is established.
Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
This fish prefers to be fed live foods esp. Brine Shrimp however over time you
can get it to eat marine mix or flake foods. This fish is very large growing
up to 30cm, hence it is recommended you have a tank of at least 250 Litres. As
with all Tangs once established this fish can be aggressive towards newly
added fish.
Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma Veliferum)
This fish is easy to keep and can be fed a variety of foods including
spirulina, the Blue Tang will also graze on algae off the rocks. Territorial
against other Tangs and possibly towards other large fish like Angels,
especially if they are added once the Tang is established. This fish can grow
to up to 40cm in length and can be kept in a tank of 250 Litres or more.
Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens)
This fish is hardy and fairly easy to keep, feed it a varied diet including
spirulina, the Yellow Tang will also graze on the algae off the rocks.
Territorial against other Tangs and possibly towards other large fish like
Angels, especially if they are added once the Tang is established. This fish
can grow to up to 20cm in length and can be kept in a tank of 200 Litres or
more.
Wrasses
These fish tend to be quite active in the Aquarium, and generally have the
habit of sleeping under the coral sand. The ones that I have had experience
with have been fairly easy to keep and feed (mine accept almost anything I put
in the tank). There are quite a few wrasses that at as cleaner fish whilst the
are young, eating parasites off the other fish in the tank.
Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides
Dimidiatus)
This is a very common marine fish, sought after for its apparent ability to
clean 'White Spot' disease from the other marine fish in the tank. As to
whether or not it does actually do this is questionable, if I wanted to buy it
for that reason, I would consider a Cleaner Shrimp instead. I have also heard
it said that these fish only eat parasites and will starve in most aquariums,
this is rubbish. Cleaner Wrasses will eat a variety of marine foods, from
frozen brine shrimp and marine mix to marine flakes. These Wrasse do not
retire under the substrate, rather they prefer to hide in the rocks. These
fish will grow to 12cm in length and only need a 50 Litre tank as a minimum.
Dragon Wrasse (Novaculichthys Taeniorus)
These fish are also known as Rock Movers as in the wild apparantly one fish
will lift a rock whilst the other cleans out anything edible underneath it.
Like many Wrasse at night this fish will retire under the substrate. The
Dragon Wrasse will accept most marine foods, but beware as this fish can grow
to 30cm in length.
