Aggressive fish - best order?

[swalsh]

I am planning a 140 gallon fish-only marine tank (45 x 30 x 30 inches). I was thinking of the following aggressive-but-hardy co-habitees:

* Dwarf/zebra lion (Dendrochirus zebra)
* Snowflake eel (Echidna nebulosa)
* Panther Grouper (Chromileptis altivelis)

Can you see any particular problems / tank design implications?
Any alternative suggestions?
Any thoughts on the order these should be added to minimise the risk of them eating each other? (Any bets who would win?)

Thanks.

[ocamrzr]

Unfortunately, I can't help you with the order but I want to make sure you have seen a full grown panther. They look really neat, spotted and good contrasting colors as a juvenile but as an adult (at least the few I have seen) loose a lot of their color and attractiveness....

Sorry I can't help with the order....

Razor

[swalsh]

That's interesting - I'd only seen the cute spotty ones. I was already starting to think a 20" fish in a 45" tank is not fair on the fish - it sounded ok until I drew it to scale and realised how much of the tank would be solid fish. How about:

* lion (as before)
* eel
* Humu Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)

Or would the trigger just terrorise the lion?

Has anyone kept a Zebra Moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) & if so, how difficult are they vs. the Snowflake?

[ocamrzr]

Now that sounds like a great combination.....

Trigger last and I don't know enough about the eel to say whether it should be first or second in the tank.....but the combination sounds good... I think you will like the personality of the Trigger more than a grouper...

Good Luck!

[aimeovaldi]

Dwarf lions do not always fare well in an aquarium, if harrassed they will stop eating and starve to death. The Picasso will more than likely harrass the dwarf lion. I would go for the volitan lion instead. JMO.

[NH3]

That's interesting - I'd only seen the cute spotty ones. I was already starting to think a 20" fish in a 45" tank is not fair on the fish - it sounded ok until I drew it to scale and realised how much of the tank would be solid fish. How about:

* lion (as before)
* eel
* Humu Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)

Or would the trigger just terrorise the lion?

Has anyone kept a Zebra Moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) & if so, how difficult are they vs. the Snowflake?

The Trigger may harrass and/or kill the lion. I'd be careful with that combo.

[andro]

i agree i am currently in the process of setting up a 220 for lionfish(s)/grouper/eel tank.....but am a little financially challengedlol anyway my first failed attempt about 3 years ago on a 55 was a voltains in with a niger triger the niger trigger last he was smaller than the lion and basically harraseed him into death so then after that my damsels being eaten by the lion i didnt think to trade them in at the lfs so anyway the cheap heater i bought stuck and fried the trigger so at the time it was like 120 in fish toast and about 20lbs of lr toast the water got hot i mean mid ninetys but anyway the niger was mean and bothered a big voltains

[ocamrzr]

I just added a fairly large clown trigger to my tank which has a number of fish in it but the small yellow tang is still dominant... Many fish have the potential to harass other fish to the death, so I think what I would do with a lot of information is just know the risks. Know that one fish may harrass the others and remember that moving all the rocks and plants around the tank usually can reset the pecking order to some degree and observe and hope for the best.

[JayJ5150]

That's interesting - I'd only seen the cute spotty ones. I was already starting to think a 20" fish in a 45" tank is not fair on the fish - it sounded ok until I drew it to scale and realised how much of the tank would be solid fish. How about:

* lion (as before)
* eel
* Humu Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)

Or would the trigger just terrorise the lion?

Has anyone kept a Zebra Moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) & if so, how difficult are they vs. the Snowflake?

Zebra Morays are extremely easy, and in my experience extremely peaceful. They don't get the large girth that most Maurena species do, but they can get rather lengthy. I have one in an all eel tank that is around 3 1/2 feet. It never messes with the fish, even when feeding. In fact I have more trouble getting the food to him without the triggers getting it. Personally, if you can afford it, I would get the Golden Moray (especially the all gold variety and not the golden tail). It is supre bright yellow, stays small (under 2 feet) and peaceful. Good luck, and enjoy!!

[NitrateFarmer]

I second the former post -
Gymnomuraena are pretty easy (Mine is 18"5 L 3/4" W.)
His tank mates are (1) 3-4" Blue Throat Trigger and (1) 2" Picasso.

May I suggest some PVC elbows (1'-1.5") put together in different angles, a great home and easily disgusied under LR.
LR, make sure there are caves and holes.

Feeding: I took a 15" hard, small, plastic tube, like used in UG lift tubes, cut at a slant (kind of a barb) attach the food there (Usually store bought-Deli Counter, un-cooked ((Organic)) shrimp and crab legs ((He eats better than I do)))
Cut up 1" peices and pulverise them it a bit - as he gulps more than chews..

With triggers- I drop their food at one end and quickly get your probe down in front of the Zebra - they can't see very well at all, their smell is not up to par and they might be a little slow upstairs. - But I love him - A great fish.

(Also, Gymnomuraena Vs. Snowflake or True Tire Track Echidnea - The Gymnomuraena seem to stay in the tank.)

Sorry about the length of this, I can talk for days about him.
Also get in touch if he gets sick I have some backround there as well.

-J

[harlequin]

Its funny that you brought up the Goldentail Moray, because I currently have one and I am getting ready to sell. I love this fish and it pains me to get rid of him but because of his mellowness I am afraid he will not fit in to my new fish I am going to get. (undulated trigger)

He is not the all yellow color. There is also 2 other colorations of this eel.

Dark brown with yellow spots or Yellow with Dark brown spots
I have the Yellow with Dark Brown spots. I wish I had a picture but I don't have a camera. He's around 12 inches long, I paid $120, but I am going to sell him for $50 + shipping. He is in excellent health (like all my fish), never in any fights, and he swims all over so you get to see him, unlike a lot of eels. (you don't even need a feeding stick to feed, he comes to the top at feeding time) So if anyone is interested email me.

P.S. this makes an excellent fish for FOWLR tanks. I am working on getting some pictures developed so I can mail them to anyone interested.