| Once all the research, planning and waiting is | | | | * Black and white clown (Amphiprion ocellaris) |
| complete and the aquarium is full of water and | | | | * Percula clown (Amphiprion percula) |
| has finally finished cycling you will finally be ready | | | | Clownfish can be purchased tank bred and if this |
| to introduce your first fish. | | | | is an available option it is recommended that you |
| It is important to ensure that you make the right | | | | follow this option. |
| choice though as there are some fish which are | | | | Orchid Dottyback |
| suitable to be added at this stage and there are | | | | The orchid dottyback (Fridmani pseudochromis) is |
| fish which are not. | | | | a relatively peaceful fish which grows to around |
| Do you know what you are looking for in the | | | | 3-4 inches in length. The good thing about the |
| selection of your first fish? | | | | orchid dottyback is that they can be purchased |
| Firstly and foremost the fish you choose must be | | | | tank bred. |
| relatively hardy. The reason for this is that the | | | | One thing to be noted is that you should not mix |
| saltwater aquarium is new and the water will not | | | | this fish with other fish of the same shape (ie the |
| be completely stable. Another reason is that as | | | | royal gramma below) or with other dottybacks. |
| aquarists we all make mistakes at one time or | | | | Once the fish has become accustomed to life in |
| another and with having a hardy fish they are | | | | your aquarium it will become quite bold and swim |
| more forgiving to these mistakes. | | | | happily around the aquarium. |
| You will probably have an idea as to the type of | | | | Royal Gramma |
| fish you would like to keep in your aquarium | | | | Royal grammas (Gramma Loreto) are a peaceful |
| therefore it is imperative that this fish you choose | | | | fish with the exception of their own kind and are |
| now will be compatible with future tank mates. If | | | | very colourful fish with the colours changing from |
| you added an aggressive fish for example at the | | | | purple to yellow along the fishs body. |
| start then whenever you decided to add a new | | | | There are other fish which can easily be confused |
| fish there would be fighting in the aquarium. Not | | | | with the Royal Gramma as they look very similar |
| what you want at this stage really is it. | | | | so ensure that it actually is a Royal Gramma prior |
| Which fish are good fish to start with? | | | | to purchasing it. |
| Below is a list of what I believe to be good | | | | Blenny |
| starter fish for a saltwater aquarium. They are all | | | | There are a couple of blennies which in my opinion |
| relatively hardy, peaceful and none of them have | | | | make good additions to the aquarium as starter |
| special feeding requirements. | | | | fish and there are the Midas Blenny (Ecsenius |
| * Clownfish | | | | midas) and the Bicolour Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor). |
| * Orchid Dottyback | | | | These are both fantastic to watch. They both like |
| * Royal Gramma | | | | to either rest on a ledge or find a hole and simply |
| * Blenny | | | | watch the world go by. |
| * Chromis | | | | Chromis |
| * Firefish | | | | Chromis (Chromis viridis) are great to add to an |
| Lets have a look at each of these in a little more | | | | aquarium. They are relatively hardy and if you |
| detail : | | | | have a larger aquarium then you can add a small |
| Clownfish | | | | group. They normally come in two colours (blue |
| The clownfish to me is a fantastic little fish. The | | | | and green). |
| way it swims, the way it lives in corals etc and | | | | One of the good things about chromis is that |
| especially the colours - a great addition to any | | | | they do not grow to be that large. They normally |
| aquarium. They are also one of the most popular | | | | do not grow larger than 2 inches in length. |
| starter fish. They are quite hardy and are very | | | | Firefish |
| well suited to captive life in an aquarium. | | | | The normal firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) and |
| You can keep these singularly or you can keep | | | | then purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora) are |
| them in pairs. When kept in pairs the most | | | | great starter fish to add to the aquarium. Both of |
| dominant fish sometimes will turn into a female | | | | these are very colourful fish which grow to a |
| and the two may even end up breeding. | | | | maximum size of about 4 inches. |
| There is a mis-belief that clown fish must be kept | | | | The firefish has a large dorsal fin which it uses to |
| with an anemone. This simply is not the case. | | | | lock itself into a hole in the rocks which is normally |
| Clownfish will be more than happy in an aquarium | | | | down at the bottom. This hole is where the fish |
| without one. Anenomes are quite hard to keep | | | | retires to when the lights go out but it also uses it |
| and at this stage of the aquariums life the | | | | when it becomes startled. These fish are prone to |
| aquarium is not yet ready for one, possibly | | | | jumping when startled therefore you need to |
| neither are you. | | | | take care to prevent this. |
| There are various species of clownfish, however | | | | Unless you can locate an established pair I would |
| the best ones to start with are : | | | | recommend that these are kept singularly. |
| * Common clown (Amphiprion ocellaris) | | | | |