As pretty as a Mandarin but a higher survival rate

[loyalhero90]

Hello,
I really want a little fish for my 5 gallon tank. I'm a noob and my tank is 9 months old. It is my version of a small mangrove forest: five mangroves, cheato, caulerpa, red macroalgae, ochtodes and I also have some corals: two blue mushrooms, blue capnella tree and some blue cloves. The tank is all natural with no filter just lights and pump. I haven't had any chemistry problems and the corals, snails, amphipods and copepods are living well in abundance.

Problem is that now I want some fish. I was thinking about some sexy shrimp but I really want a fish that looks as cool as a Mandarin or Red Scooter but can survive in a five gallon.
I've also thought about a Flaming Prawn Goby but I don't know where to find those (I think aquacon has then but they don't offer free shipping which is kind of overkill on my budget).

So any suggestions for my tiny mangrove forest tank? Any one know where to find a flaming prawn goby? Dare to dream: should I try a red scooter and train it onto non-living foods?

 

[gmate]

Maybe a small goby or two, but I wouldn't go near clownfish or a mandarin (a mandy would deplete your pod population VERY fast).

 

[loyalhero90]

Just wondering...Has anyone else seen this on aquacon:

Red Scooter Blenny
Synchiropus marmoratus

Description: Red Scooter Blenny's , also called the Red Scooter Dragonet, help keep reef aquariums free of problem algae. This popular fish can do well if provided with the proper environment. Their named because of their manner of scooting along the substrate of the aquarium. The Scooter Blenny is also referred to as the Starry Dragonet or Stellate Dragonet. The Red Scooter Blenny is actually classed as a Dragonet, which also includes the ever popular Green and Spotted Mandarin Goby. The Red Scooter blenny is the same as the regular Scooter Blenny but has a reddish brown coloration instead of the normal brown patterns. These fish are more suited to a reef type tank, as they scoot around the liverock, and live sand looking for small Amphipods and Copepods. Males are easily identified by their large dorsal fin which they will display mainly when courting and in territorial disputes.
Tank Requirements: Best not attempted in "sterile" setting such as a fish only tank. Keep in a tank containing plenty of live rock which can supply natural food. A growth of algae (even hair algae) is an ideal setting to culture the tiny arthropods and copepods these fish need to survive. Do not keep with aggressive fish. This species is rarely aggressive towards other bottom-dwelling fish.
Tank Size: Minimum tank size of 5 gallons with live rock.
Feeding: Provide a reef tank or plenty of live rock. The Scooter Blenny diet should consist of brine shrimp, bloodworms and glassworms, and small invertebrates. They are slow-moving, deliberate feeders and should not have to compete for their food.
Level of Care: Easy
Reef Compatibility:Reef safe and can make excellent inhabitants for minature reef and community aquariums.
Approximate Purchase Size:1" to 2-1/2"

This is mostly incorrect right?

 

[SushiGirl]

Tank size and level of care are incorrect. And they're known around here as AquaCON, with emphasis on the CON part. I would not order from them.

In that small of a tank, you're going to be very limited. I wouldn't get any fish whose max size is more than 2 inches. One would be optimal unless they stay under 2", then 2 would be max, IMO.

 

[snorvich]

Aquacon is NOT a good vendor. Do a search and read the horror stories.

 

[JaneG]

My only ideas for a tank this size:
Dracula goby (expensive), Lotilia/whitecap goby (expensive), yasha goby, trimma or eviota gobies, barnacle blenny, yellow clown goby, red head goby, green banded goby
Those are really the only fish I would (personally) consider pretty or cool for a 5g, but there might be some more ideas from someone else.

 

[snorvich]

My only ideas for a tank this size:
Dracula goby (expensive), Lotilia/whitecap goby (expensive), yasha goby, trimma or eviota gobies, barnacle blenny, yellow clown goby, red head goby, green banded goby
Those are really the only fish I would (personally) consider pretty or cool for a 5g, but there might be some more ideas from someone else.

All of which are interesting!

 

[phyber]

Shrimp will add a splash of color and can handle the size. Get a skunk or fire shrimp

 

[SushiGirl]

I had redheaded gobies before, they were curious and entertaining. They'd hang on the glass next to wherever I was sitting. One shared a burrow with my Diamond Watchman goby and a blue banded coral shrimp.

 

[sponger0]

Just wondering...Has anyone else seen this on aquacon:

Red Scooter Blenny
Synchiropus marmoratus

Description: Red Scooter Blenny's , also called the Red Scooter Dragonet, help keep reef aquariums free of problem algae. This popular fish can do well if provided with the proper environment. Their named because of their manner of scooting along the substrate of the aquarium. The Scooter Blenny is also referred to as the Starry Dragonet or Stellate Dragonet. The Red Scooter Blenny is actually classed as a Dragonet, which also includes the ever popular Green and Spotted Mandarin Goby. The Red Scooter blenny is the same as the regular Scooter Blenny but has a reddish brown coloration instead of the normal brown patterns. These fish are more suited to a reef type tank, as they scoot around the liverock, and live sand looking for small Amphipods and Copepods. Males are easily identified by their large dorsal fin which they will display mainly when courting and in territorial disputes.
Tank Requirements: Best not attempted in "sterile" setting such as a fish only tank. Keep in a tank containing plenty of live rock which can supply natural food. A growth of algae (even hair algae) is an ideal setting to culture the tiny arthropods and copepods these fish need to survive. Do not keep with aggressive fish. This species is rarely aggressive towards other bottom-dwelling fish.
Tank Size: Minimum tank size of 5 gallons with live rock.
Feeding: Provide a reef tank or plenty of live rock. The Scooter Blenny diet should consist of brine shrimp, bloodworms and glassworms, and small invertebrates. They are slow-moving, deliberate feeders and should not have to compete for their food.
Level of Care: Easy
Reef Compatibility:Reef safe and can make excellent inhabitants for minature reef and community aquariums.
Approximate Purchase Size:1" to 2-1/2"

This is mostly incorrect right?

A red scooter blenny isnt a blenny at all. Its a occelated dragonette. Same family as the mandarins. They also eats pods. In a 5 gallon I would not recommend it at all.

 

[SDguy]

I'd get a pair of Priolepis nocturna if you can find some...

 

[dsmhero]

I like the idea of a yasha goby or maybe a flame prawn goby if you can find one. I am not sure on their requirements but look stunning!

 

[loyalhero90]

A red scooter blenny isnt a blenny at all. Its a occelated dragonette. Same family as the mandarins. They also eats pods. In a 5 gallon I would not recommend it at all.

I thought so but I wanted confirmation...

 

[loyalhero90]

I like the idea of a yasha goby or maybe a flame prawn goby if you can find one. I am not sure on their requirements but look stunning!

That little guy is beautiful but never in stock. I guess I can start scouting for the circus goby or white tiger goby and a flaming prawn. They seem like they would fit well and not cause a gigantic bioload.

 

[SDguy]

Only problem with those flaming prawn gobies is that they are tiny, I mean TINY! Like grain of rice tiny :lol:

 

[rssjsb]

Only problem with those flaming prawn gobies is that they are tiny, I mean TINY! Like grain of rice tiny :lol:

And cryptic.

 

[NatureNerd]

Tank raised Neon Gobies are very nice little fish and quite bold.

 

[Moort82]

The problem with the flaming prawns is as above, they are cryptic. A friend had two in a 15 litre pico and they never saw them more than once after they went in and that was a pretty sparse tank. For your with all the algae i don't think you'd see it more than once a month or so at the most.
If it was me i'd look at something likea yasha goby and randals pistol shrimp pair, and probably a yellow coral goby as they have so much character.

I'd also add lots of interesting critters like sexy and bumblebee shrimps, perhaps a porcelain crab or two as well.

Do you have a pic of the tank, it sounds a nice setup and would love to see it.

 

[dsmhero]

Glad to know about the flame prawn goby, just thought they looked cool but never got far enough into actually looking into buying one.

 

[loyalhero90]

Hello, sorry about the delay. I'm in college so exams are taking a lot of time out.
Here are some pics...sorry about the horrible quality I have to take them with my picture phone. The ochtodes are mixed with the cheato in the back of the tank.