Fish & Inverts Stock

[svirid]

Good day,

my 28 gal tank is getting ready and I wanted to get a good advice on how I have to introduce my stock.
I am a beginner and tank is empty now.
I have prepared a list of fish I want to have and I would appreciate guys if you can give me an advice
in what order I have to introduce them.

Inverts:
2 - peppermint shrimps
1 - hermit crab
1 - sea star (dont know which one, I want the one that easy to keep and colorful)
5 - feather duster worms
3 - star shell snails
Anything else would you recommend?

Fish:
1 - Banggai Cardinal fish
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish
1 - Neon Goby
1 - True Percula Clown
1 - Ocellaris Clown Black/White
1 - Sebae Clown

Any particular order I have to introduce them into the tank or all together is the best choice?

Thank you guys for all your help!

 

[fishwatcher]

This is assuming you already know how/what to use for rocks, substrate, and equipment, and that it will be cycled.

I'd put the snails/hermits/shrimp in first. I'd actually do maybe 3 hermits. After a week or so add a few feather dusters, and after about 2 more weeks, start adding fish, about 1 every 2-3 weeks or so.
You really only want to stock with 4 fish, maybe 5 if they are going to stay small.
I'd add the neon goby first, then either the angel fish or cardinal. The angel is more active, but they will swim around through the rocks and stuff so you won't see them constantly.
If you go with 2 clown fish I'd try to add them together. Clowns are generally the more aggressive so it's best to put them in last if possible.
I'm not familiar with the sebae clown, so you'll have to wait on someone else for advice on that.
Once all the stock is in and doing well, you could add the star fish. Make sure you do good research on what ones you want and will go with your tank set up before going to the lfs. I made the mistake of listening to them and buying a star that will eventually get about 10" across, which will be WAY too big for my tank. (They aren't colorful really, but bubble tip brittle stars are great to watch.)
Make sure you acclimate them all rather slowly, as saltwater fish seem to be a bit more sensitive to changes.
I hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[fraservet]

the main thing I would say is get a pair of one type of clowns - not 3 individuals of different species, as they will v. likely fight in a tank that size.
if you get 2 juveniles you will probably end up with a pair, particularly if you choose a big one and a small one.

I would also say get more clean up crew.

 

[Musho3210]

add feather dusters after all the fish, aka last. They will get more food this way, if you feel the feather duster still isnt getting enough you may need to look into manually feeding phyto, especially with all those dusters you have.

 

[Lynden]

Agreed. Most people don't seem to realize that feather dusters DO need food.

 

[svirid]

Thank you guys,

I can really cross out feather dusters from my list I just wanted them because I thought they are good
for aquarium,.

Cant I introduce all 3 different clowns together? probably this way they wont have to fight ?

 

[Musho3210]

it is a common mistake for people to think that "filter feeders" "help" the tank, when in reality many starve from lack of food.

 

[STD]

Thank you guys,

I can really cross out feather dusters from my list I just wanted them because I thought they are good
for aquarium,.

Cant I introduce all 3 different clowns together? probably this way they wont have to fight ?

IMO you are better off with 2 of the same speciesas they will pair off

Clowns don't mix very well

You could probably get a black & white ocellaris and a normal colured one - intrudicw at the same time

As to stars go for a brittle or serpent star as they are very easy to keep and are a good addittion to the clean up crew

You should probably avoid the green brittle stars as they are know to eat fish, having said that I have 2 greens and they have never had any of my fish

 

[svirid]

I understand that its actually possible to have 2 diff Clowns but not 3, right?

 

[Musho3210]

I understand that its actually possible to have 2 diff Clowns but not 3, right?

it depends on three things:
1. What type of clowns
2. What is the size of the tank
3. What is the fishes personal personality

 

[Lynden]

Agreed. There are no hard and fast rules for most marine fish.

 

[STD]

I understand that its actually possible to have 2 diff Clowns but not 3, right?

I would keep to one species of clown

having said that ocellaris, percula clowns and skunk clowns are usually ok whith other clowns

Sebae clowns should not be kept with other species of clowns

I suggested 2 of the same species rather than 3 as clowns usually form pairs

 

[svirid]

I got the point, thank you guys for your help,I will choose one pair of clowns I want to go with.Thanks again.By the way, the pair of clowns must be the same size or one smaller and one bigger?

 

[Musho3210]

get 2 small ones, one will grow bigger, the other wont grow as big, the bigger one is the female, and the smaller one is the male.

 

[SkiFletch]

You can get different color morphs of the same species of clown if that's what you're after. Like a True perc and a B&W perc would work fine together if introduced simultaneously.