Are These Fish Ok?

[dawhits]

Hi,
I have a 55gallon tank with 22lbs of live rock. I was looking on liveaqauria at the beginners fish section and saw 2 fish that I especially liked. these were the auriga buttlerfly fish and the blue tang. I was wondering if either of these would be ok for my tank. Right now I have 2 blue damsels and a fish that the lfs said was good for cycling it is kinda of greyish with a black spot on the dorsal fin it is about 2 inches long. any ideas about what it is? I will try to post pics soon.
-Erik

 

[billa_bong]

Both fish will grow to big for the 55g.

If I were you, Since you do not have a lot of liverock (I would recommend buying some more) you should go with a lot of smaller fish.

Try going with a lot of smaller nano sized fish.

I also like more movement, really a lot of smaller peaceful fish is a lot more amusing than 1 big fish (like having just 1 blue tang)

Look at the Nano Fish:

http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=2124

Some good fish are false percula, firefish, royal gramma, most gobies and blennies.

But, usually the minimum sized tank for a blue tang would be IMO a 75g tank at least 4 feet long (they like swimming distances fast)

Figuring your tank is prob 3 feet long, the blue tang will prob grow a foot long. imagine a foot long fish swimming around a 3 foot aquarium, just not healthy of right.

Stick to smaller fish, there are some great small fish out there.

 

[dawhits]

Hi,
thanks for the replies. I was looking at the fish place.com and saw a threadfin butterfly fish that says it only gets to be about 6" and said it would do good in a 55gallon tank. Any info on this?
-Erik

 

[Navarre]

You could possibly get away with this.. owever.. butterfly fish are notprious coral munchers. Dont expect any corals or polyps or even tubeworms/umbrella worms of any description as these will be eaten )

Butterflies are very dfelicate fish also, its not a fish i would recomend to a beginner at all. Get your feet wet with the hobby first and learn its pitfalls etc. After 6 months to 1 year, your tank will have matured and you will be better equiped to take on such a fish.