What kind of fish are in the "nemo" tank?

Question

We just set up our saltwater aqarium and only have damsels in it now. We are hoping to set it up like the Nemo tank. I know there is a tang, clownfish and a balloon puffer, but what were the other ones?

Answer 1

Please don't try to recreate the Nemo tank - Disney movies are great, but there weren't any aquarists among the writers!

The clownfish are a good choice for a beginning saltwater tank - they're hardy, cute, are interesting to watch, and only need about a 20-30 gallon tank because they will only get about 3" each. Dory, the blue (or hippo) tang, will get a foot long, is very active, and needs a tank of at least 70 gallons (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=330 ). The puffer is an aggressive fish which should only be kept in a tank with LARGE fish - and they will nip fins, take bites out of the fish, eat "Jacques", and need a 90 gallon tank (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=244 ). You're also missing the yellow tang, a good choice with your clowns when they are small if you have a 30 gallon tank (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=392) but will eventually need a a larger tank. Also missing is Gil, The Moorish Idol which shouldn't be attempted in an aquarium even by most "experts" (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=371&N=0).

Other choices which are more suited to life in a small (30 -55 gallon) marine tank are cardinalfish, some gobies, firefish, dwarf angels, chromis, longnose hawkfish, dottybacks and pseudochromis: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=15

Answer 2

Saltwater tanks are very complicated and require lots of delicate chemistry work, patience, and skill. "Finding Nemo" was a cartoon and not meant to be used as an example for a real life tank. In fact, part of the cartoon's message was how much all the fish in that tank wanted to be OUT of the tank. That aside, the species aren't really compatible, and even if they were, you would need an ENORMOUS tank to house them all safely.

Tangs can (and deserve the chance to) grow to be a foot long. They are very sensitive and hard to keep alive even for experienced fish hobbyists. Pufferfish come in a lot of different sizes and varieties but most are highly aggressive. Even the most peaceful are toxic and are not recommended for a mixed tank of fish. Clownfish are probably the easiest of the bunch.

More importantly, please consider that some of those saltwater species -- like the tang -- are endangered, don't breed in captivity, and are captured via cruel and destructive methods in the wild in order to satisfy the demands of Nemo fans who aren't skilled enough to keep them alive for more than a few days or weeks, and are then back to buy more and more and more.

Answer 3

Dorie is a blue hippo the are about 90$ and I believe Gil was a ocean angel fish.

Answer 4

There was a cleaner shrimp too. Jacque (pardon my spelling).