Compatability...

[Rambo]

can someone please tell me if a small (2-3") fu manchu lionfish would be ok with a pair of perc clowns? i know that most lionfish would eat them, but the fu manchu is, or so im told, primarily interested in inverts, not fish

also, if the clowns aren't suitable, what would go well with the fu manchu in a 'large' nano tank of 20odd UK gallons (100+litres)

or, failing that, what would go well with a pair of perc clowns in the same tank? i'm looking for relatively easy to keep fish, as i travel frequently so i am not looking for any high maintenace corals, maybe just a few mushrooms, and fish that can either be fed easily with an autofeeder, such as the clowns, or the fu manchu, which can be fed on 'river' shrimp stocked at my LFS that can live in the tank for up to a week or so

any advice would be hugely appreciated, as im looking to set up a simple nano tank as my first marine tank, havin kept fish since i was just 4 and having got a bit bored of breeeding various dwarf cichlids, wanted more of a challenge with relatively hardy, interesting fish


cheers

 

[Lynden]

I have seen people keep clowns with lions. I typically recommend having any dwarf lion tankmates to be at least half the size of the lion, and to be robust. It should work out.

 

[andywg]

If you want a low maintenance effort then a hard to get feeding lionfish such as Dendrochirus biocellatus will not be the best choice.

 

[@ombomb]

I can't see you keeping predatory fish happy with an auto feeder really.

If you're going to be away for long periods of time, you either need to get a very reliable friend / neighbour / auto top up device. It really doesn't take long for evapouration to have a serious effect on SG in a nano.

 

[Adrinal]

You could keep me in the room with a fast food hamburger. I wouldn't eat it if you were feeding me thai food all day long... well eventually I might just ..take a bite...

 

[Colin_T]

I would get rid of the lionfish and put in hawkfish, blennies or gobies of some sort. The clownfish will take over the tank when they start breeding and any fish that swims in midwater is going to be fair game. If the fish are bottom dwellers they will be better off.

If you have to go away for a week at a time the fish should be happy as long as they're well fed when you are there. I leave my fish for several weeks between feedings and they are still alive.

A good coverglass will help to limit evaporation and fluctuating salinities.

 

[steelhealr]

FYI....hawkfish in a nano my go for your inverts. And, although people have different experiences with them , the majority of the feedback I've read on them by people who have kept them in nano systems is negative. SH

 

[Colin_T]

re hawkfish, it depends on the species and what inverts are in the tank. They love shrimp but ignore corals and most other things. Flame hawks and longnose hawks are the better choice.

 

[Musho3210]

You could keep me in the room with a fast food hamburger. I wouldn't eat it if you were feeding me thai food all day long... well eventually I might just ..take a bite...

well you do know that that fast food hamburger is food, the fish might not think that these flaky things that are purple and green is food....

unless your post was meant to be taken as a joke?

 

[Lynden]

Apparently my morays, trigger and puffer have been living in a room full of hamburgers (a couple even have bacon) for the past few months, but still prefer the slimy prawn pieces. As for hawks my opinion still is that the smaller species don't eat anything but the tiniest shrimp and crabs.

Why not try a zebra or a fuzzy lion? These are a bit easier to feed.

 

[RadaR]

Why not try a zebra or a fuzzy lion? These are a bit easier to feed.

Indeed. The fuzzy lion at my work readily accepts krill etc.

 

[Rambo]

cheers for the help everyone,

i got the tank yesterday, will hopefully set it up this week or next, just waiting to see if i'm going to uni or not this year, cos if i am i deffo won't get the fu manchu, cos its not fair on my parents, but we'll see


thanx for the help

 

[RobHimself]

re hawkfish, it depends on the species and what inverts are in the tank. They love shrimp but ignore corals and most other things. Flame hawks and longnose hawks are the better choice.

Would a Red Spotted Hawkfish eat a Coral Banded Shrimp? I know they eat most shrimps but the CBS has claws so he could defend himself right? Are crabs ok with a RS Hawk?

 

[Colin_T]

Not sure what species a red spotted hawkfish is. If a hawkfish is twice the size of a shrimp it will have a go at it. Banded coral shrimp do get pretty big tho so if it is a small hawkfish it should be ok. The claws on a banded coral shrimp are pretty useless when it comes to a hungry/ greedy fish.
Most crabs hide under rocks and the hawkfish can't get to them. They also have tougher shells than shrimp and stronger claws so are more able to defend themselves.