Saltwater Fish for Cycling Aquariums
(Photographs will be added soon)
 Although there are many ways to establish the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium, most hobbyists choose to use so-called "starter fish for the purpose. Perhaps this is because this method allows the new aquarist to have life in their aquarium while the tank is still new. The key to
stocking an aquarium is to be patient!
The following is a list of fish (and a few invertebrates), which, in our experience, have proven hardy enough to survive the initial "break in" period, or establishment of the nitrogen cycle in a marine aquarium. The creation of this list was not based on any type of scientific method, but rather on
our own experience with the many aquariums we've installed. Each species on this list, has consistently proven able to tolerate high levels of ammonia and nitrite, for at least six weeks, in hundreds of saltwater aquariums installed by The Aquarium Professionals Group. We have had success with each of the listed species on at least fifty separate occasions, and with some species, many more.
It is important to note, that we have tried many other species within the same Family, or even Genera, as those shown on the list. However, we have found that not all members of a given Family or Genus are equally hardy. For example, while many species of Pseudochromis have proven themselves as "cycleable" species, we have not had success with Pseudochromis dilectus, and
several other Pseudochromis species. There are also many fish in a given family that we have not tried, because they were not available at the time, or some doubt existed as to whether they would survive, based on literature we've read. We are sure there are many other suitable species for starting a new marine aquarium, we just haven't tried them.
Always remember to start an aquarium with no more than 25% of the total carrying-capacity of the tank. See our Guidelines for Stocking an Aquarium for more information.
|
Damsels and Chromis |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
| Three-Striped Damsel |
Dascyllus aruanus |
| Four-Striped Damsel |
Dascyllus melanurus |
| Domino Damsel |
Dascyllus trimaculatus |
| Snowflake |
Dascyllus albisella
|
| Blue Damsel |
Chrysiptera cyanae |
| Orange-Tailed Damsel |
Chrysiptera cyanae |
| Yellow-Tailed Damsel |
Chrysiptera hemicyanea |
| Fiji Devil Damsel |
Chrysiptera taupou
|
| Azure Damsel |
Chrysiptera parasema
|
| Starcki Damsel |
Chrysiptera starcki
|
| Blue and Gold Damsel |
Pomacentrus coelestis
|
| Blue Star Damsel |
Pomacentrus alleni
|
| Canary (Cook's Island) |
Chrysiptera galba
|
| Garibaldi |
Hypsypops rubicunda |
| We have not found a species of Damsel that did not make a good "starter" fish for a new marine aquarium. The species listed are simply a sample of the commonly-available species in our area. Damselfish are territorial, and often aggressive towards other tank mates. In our opinion, aggressive tendencies of a particular species, is a more important factor in deciding whether to use it to
start a new aquarium. |
|
Green Chromis
|
Chromis viridis |
| Lightning Chromis |
Chromis opercularis
|
| Blue Reef Chromis |
Chromis cyaneus
|
| Black and Gold Chromis |
Paraglyphidodon nigroris |
| Purple Chromis |
Chromis scotti
|
| Unlike Damsels, most Chromis are fairly peaceful. Many Chromis species do not tolerate new-tank conditions well. Most Chromis including the species listed, do much better in reef tank. |
|
Clownfish |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Tomato
|
Amphiprion frenatus |
| Maroon |
Premnas biaculeatus |
| Clarkii |
Amphiprion clarkii |
| Sebae |
Amphiprion sebae |
| Percula |
Amphiprion percula |
| Occellaris |
Amphiprion ocellaris |
| Pink Skunk |
Amphiprion perideraion |
| Orange Skunk |
Amphiprion akallopisos
|
| Melanopus |
Amphiprion melanopus |
| Blue-Striped |
Amphiprion chrysopterus
|
| Xanthurus |
Premnas xanthurus |
| Saddleback |
Amphiprion polymnus |
| Red Saddle |
Amphiprion ephippium |
| Allard's |
Amphiprion allardi |
| Like their cousins, the Damsels, most Clownfish are quite hardy and can tolerate new-tank conditions during the establishment of the aquarium ecology. However, if the tank is over-fed, and ammonia levels get too high, Clownfish will start to suffer, and will get diseased. A water change done every two weeks during the break-in (cycle) period will help to prevent this. These species do not seem bothered
too much by nitrites. Like most saltwater fish, most Clownfish will not tolerate other species of Clownfish in the same aquarium. The most peaceful Clowns are the Occellaris (sometimes sold as a Percula Clown), and the True Percula Clown. |
|
Pseudochromis |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Purple
|
Pseudochromis porphyreus |
| Australian |
Pseudochromis novaehollandiae
|
| Diadema |
Pseudochromis diadema |
| Dottyback |
Pseudochromis paccagnellae
|
| Fridmani |
Pseudochromis fridmani |
| Flavivertex |
Pseudochromis flavivertex
|
| Springeri |
Pseudochromis springeri
|
| Mccullochi's |
Pseudochromis mccullochi
|
| Splendid |
Pseudochromis splendens |
| Yellow |
Pseudochromis aureus
|
| Arabian Neon |
Pseudochromis dutoiti
|
| Pseudochromis are exceptionally tough fish, and we have tried the above species with great success for starting new marine aquaria. Pseudochromis can get quite aggressive toward tank mates and should be watched. Like most saltwater fish, most Pseudochromis will not tolerate other species of Pseudochromis in the same aquarium. |
|
Basslets, Hamlets, Snappers, Groupers |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Royal Gramma Basslet
|
Gramma loreto |
| Black-Capped Basslet |
Gramma melacara |
| Harlequin Basslet |
Serranus tigrinus
|
| Lantern Basslet |
Serranus baldwini
|
| Tobacco Basslet |
Serranus tabacarius
|
| Swissguard Basslet |
Liopropoma rubre
|
| Gold Assessor |
Assessor flavissimus
|
| Red Emperor Snapper |
Lutjanus sebae |
| Blue Hamlet |
Hypoplectrus gemma
|
| Shy Hamlet |
Hypoplectrus guttavarius
|
| Butter Hamlet |
Hypoplectrus unicolor
|
|
Miniatus Grouper
|
Cephalopholis miniatus |
| Clown (Leaflip) |
Pogonoperca punctata |
| V-tailed Grouper |
Cephalopholis urodelus
|
| Blue-Dot Grouper |
Cephalopholis argus
|
| Panther Grouper |
Cromileptes altivelis |
| Blue-lined Grouper |
Cephalopholis boenack
|
| Marine Betta |
Calloplesiops altivelis |
| Damperia |
Labracinus cyclophthalmus
|
| With the exception of the Basslets and Assessors, most of these fish grow quite large and are predatory. Groupers, Hamlets and Snappers should not be kept with smaller fish they can swallow. |
|
Lionfish |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Volitan
|
Pterois volitans |
| Antennata |
Pterois antennata |
| Radiata |
Pterois radiata |
| Dwarf Lionfish |
Dendrochirus brachypterus |
| These are the only Lionfish species we recommend for starting a marine aquarium. The Radiata Lionfish is questionable, but we have had success with them as a starter fish. All Lionfish have poisonous, sharp dorsal fin rays. Great care should be taken not to get stung when you are cleaning the aquarium |
|
Hogfish |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
| Diana |
Bodianus diana |
| Coral |
Bodianus mesothorax |
|
Spanish
|
Bodianus rufus
|
| Cuban |
Bodianus puchellus |
| While hogfish are members of the Wrasse family, we have not had success with any other family of wrasses when it comes to starting a new aquarium. We should also point out that the Lyre-tailed Hogfish has not proven suitable for starting a new aquarium. |
|
Moray Eels |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Snowflake
|
Echidna nebulosa |
| Tessellata |
Gymnothorax tesselata |
| Zebra |
Gymnomuraena zebra |
| Brazilian Gold |
Gymnothorax miliaris
|
| Dragon |
Muraena pardalis
|
| Yellow-Tailed |
Gymnothorax fimbriatus |
| Jeweled |
Muraena lentiginosa
|
| Chain Link |
Echidna catenata |
| Comet |
Gymnothorax meleagris |
| All true Moray Eels make great starter fish. We do mean ONLY true Moray Eels. The Ribbon Eels are not hardy, and in fact, should not be sold for home aquaria at all, as they very rarely live in captivity. This is also true for the so-called Snake Eels and the Garden Eels. Naturally, care should be taken not to put these fish in the same tank with any crustacean, most mollusks and any small fish. With the
exception of the Zebra Moray, most Moray Eels have sharp teeth and can bite the hand that feeds them. Moray Eels have very poor eyesight, and will often bite at other fish during feeding time because they smell the food but can't see it. No harm usually comes of this. The Green Moray and the so-called Yellow-mouthed (Dinosaur) Moray are not listed here as both species will quickly grow too large for almost any home aquarium. |
|
Triggerfish |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
| Humu (Picasso) |
Rhinecanthus aculeatus |
| Rectangulatus |
Rhinecanthus rectangulus |
| Bursa |
Rhinecanthus verrucosus |
| Assasi |
Rhinecanthus assasi
|
| Blue-Lined |
Pseudobalistes fuscus
|
| Niger |
Odonus niger |
| Clown |
Balistoides conspicillum |
| Blue-Throat |
Xanthichthys auromarginatus |
| Pink-Tailed |
Melichthys vidua |
| White-Tailed |
Sufflamen chrysopterus |
| Obviously, we left out a few species. With the exception of some Odonus and Xanthichthys Triggers, almost all other Triggers are exceptionally aggressive fish. Of those on our list, The Blue-Throat and Niger Trigger are the only Triggers we can safely recommend for peaceful tanks. This is also true of the Sargassum Trigger, which we did not list, as we do not feel they are ammonia-tolerant. Most Triggers
are extremely tough and hardy, but many do not belong with peaceful community fish. Don't count them out though, as there are many fish that they will get along with, such as large Angels, Tangs, etc.. We do not recommend either the Undulate or the Queen Trigger under any circumstances! |
|
Invertebrates |
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Coral Banded Shrimp |
Stenopus hispidus |
|
Arrow Crab |
Stenorhynchus setrcornis |
|
Most Hermit Crabs |
Mostly Dardanus species
|
| The Giant Hairy Gold-legged and the Giant Hairy Red-legged Hermit Crabs are fairly sensitive to ammonia and are not recommended for starting a new aquarium. We have also found many species of the larger Hermit Crabs to be tolerant of fairly high copper levels during fish treatment for parasites. |
|
Condylactus Anemone |
Condylactus species |
| This is the only anemone we have ever successfully used in a new tank. As this is an Atlantic species, most Clownfish will normally not adopt this anemone. |
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