Single fish for 55 gallon

[Minnow]

I'm looking for a single large(relatively) fish for a 55 gallon(standard dimensions) fish only or FOWLR.

Some info:

Have some experience with FW planted and Pico reefs.

Will be tested weekly.

Most likely Bare bottom.

Will run a skimmer.

Not interested in corals or other inverts.



So far all I have come up with is some kind of Lionfish. Any other suggestions?

 

[bribo12]

A fuzzy dwarf lion would work. Volitains will get to big. An angler tank would work but they are very specialized.


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[Andy Sager]

Think about maybe an Antenatta or radiata lionfish. These grow to a medium size compared to Volitans and are a little more "flashy" than the dwarf lions. Plus, they won;t require a large swimming area.
If not, most other fish will not do well alone so it's a bit hard to suggest. If you have a tight lid, an Octopus comes to mind. They would enjoy the rock set up.

Hope this helps

 

[PB_Smith]

I've always thought a lionfish/moray eel tank would be cool.

you could get a lanceolatus grouper, they only get to about 8-9' long and just under a half ton at full size, you may have to get a bigger tank somewhere along the line though.


JK
seriously though, a lfs I frequent has FIVE of these, why???????
another animal that has no business in home aquaria, even though they look beautiful.

 

[bettaowner]

A snowflake eel could work.


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[Minnow]

Think about maybe an Antenatta or radiata lionfish. These grow to a medium size compared to Volitans and are a little more "flashy" than the dwarf lions. Plus, they won;t require a large swimming area.
If not, most other fish will not do well alone so it's a bit hard to suggest. If you have a tight lid, an Octopus comes to mind. They would enjoy the rock set up.

Hope this helps

A large centerpiece fish with a few small fish would be OK too.

 

[crister13]

Small fish with a lion isn't going to end well. Like the others suggested above I would recommend a radiata or antenatta lion. Really cool fish and won't get too big.


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[Jasonrusso]

I have a Mombasa lion which is really cool but has a huge mouth. I think someone else said, maybe a lion and an eel. I have a dwarf golden eel which is a nice size for that tank. I have an angler fish also which is cool, but rather boring. It only seems to move when I'm not watching.


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[bribo12]

I have a Mombasa lion which is really cool but has a huge mouth. I think someone else said, maybe a lion and an eel. I have a dwarf golden eel which is a nice size for that tank. I have an angler fish also which is cool, but rather boring. It only seems to move when I'm not watching.


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You have a golden dwarf moray?!?! I'd love to see pics. They're in my top 5 favorite sw fish!


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[Jasonrusso]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but here you go.


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[bribo12]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but here you go. View attachment 243357


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Beautiful!! Sorry op back on track now! I agree with the lion and eel idea. A snowflake could work as well. Those dwarf golds get pretty $$$$ haha


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[crister13]

Snowflake and a dwarf/radiata/antenatta would be awesome! Just make sure you have a decent amount of rocks and caves for the eel to hide in! Also descent filtration because they're both pretty messy eaters .


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[PB_Smith]

In actuality one or two volitans with an eel or two would be fine. Lionfish do not require the swimming room some other fish require and I doubt they would reach full size in there anyway. You may have to rehouse them after a couple of years.
It is more a challenge of maintaining the water quality when they get bigger...
BUT lions and eels being major carnivores works in your favor as you can easily get away with only feeding 1-2 times a week.

 

[Godfrey]

You could even go the puffer route!


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[crister13]

NO WAY you could keep 1 volitan let alone 2 in a 55. No way. They can get like 15" long which is longer than the tank is wide. Do NOT do that.


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[PB_Smith]

NO WAY you could keep 1 volitan let alone 2 in a 55. No way. They can get like 15" long which is longer than the tank is wide. Do NOT do that.


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Let me ask you this, have you ever seen one that size in a home aquarium, especially a 55?
Have you ever kept volitan lions?
I kept a couple in my 100 gallon and they maxed out at about 7-8".
Plus it depends on if the tank is a "show" style or reg. OP said standard, so that could be 19" if not a show tank.

I clearly said they most likely will not grow that big in captivity (lot of folks forget those max sizes are usually based on in the wild, not an aquarium.)
I clearly said he may have to rehouse them in a couple of years as well, didn't I?

Please tell me all the evils that would befall a 2-3 inch young volitan if he put it in a his tank?
I say he would easily be able to keep it for at least two-three years, at the least.

In actuality the biggest concern in a tank that size is not getting tagged by him when working, that hurts like a mofo.

 

[bribo12]

Why buy a fish when you can't house it for its entire life? I will never understand that. In 2-3 years that fish could be 10". Whose going to want 2 10" volitain lions? What happens if he can't find them a new home? Just stick to a smaller species, it will make the ops life much easier as they won't have to rehome it and they can keep it for its entire life.


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[PB_Smith]

Why buy a fish when you can't house it for its entire life? I will never understand that. In 2-3 years that fish could be 10". Whose going to want 2 10" volitain lions? What happens if he can't find them a new home? Just stick to a smaller species, it will make the ops life much easier as they won't have to rehome it and they can keep it for its entire life.


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well that's why we have all gotten bigger tanks over the years, isn't it.

 

[bribo12]

well that's why we have all gotten bigger tanks over the years, isn't it.

Yes lol but still is rather stick to appropriate fish and not get screwed when I need to upgrade tanks but I'm broke from other more important life things . Plus I'd rather own a radiata or fuzzy dwarf than a volitain . Getting stung by a volitain sucks a lot as well...


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[PB_Smith]

Getting stung by a volitain sucks a lot as well...

yes it does...

I guess my attitude is in response to the "OH MY GOD!!!!" type of attitude some folks demonstrate concerning things such as this, so like I asked, what evils will befall this young lionfish?


Just trying to prompt folks to apply a little gray matter to a topic rather than thinking it is all simply black and white.

If he wants to keep volitans and eels in a 55, IT CAN EASILY BE DONE with a few caveats as I have pointed out as well as you have, but to just insist it can't be done is foolish and incorrect.
THAT is the attitude that I don't understand.
Kinda why in the thread about the most important thing to have in this hobby I answered "common sense".
This is a common sense issue and god is not going to strike him down or the fish police won't break his door down and confiscate his tank if he puts a volitan lion in a 55.
That is all.