Can I add another fish?

[deputydawg88]

I've got a 33 gallon tank and currently house a cleaner shrimp, a starry blenny, 2 clowns and a dwarf flame angel. Can I get away with another fish at all or am I at my limit?

To be honest I am pretty happy with my current stock but would just like to know if I have options open for any future additions. If I can add another fish, would anyone have any recommendations?

 

[HarveyO]

+ 1

 

[monkeysee1]

You have a Flame Angel in a 33? Wow. :uhoh3:
I'd say ONE more, max. Maybe a Dottyback or a Damsel.

 

[Jesterrace]

I've got a 33 gallon tank and currently house a cleaner shrimp, a starry blenny, 2 clowns and a dwarf flame angel. Can I get away with another fish at all or am I at my limit?

To be honest I am pretty happy with my current stock but would just like to know if I have options open for any future additions. If I can add another fish, would anyone have any recommendations?

That Flame Angel and the Clowns will ensure that any new fish that comes in your tank will be the target of aggression. I would never recommend any dottyback outside the Orchid Dottyback since they generally have little man syndrome and attack anything in sight.

 

[thegrun]

You are almost certainly going to have issues with the Flame Angel in that small of a tank as it matures. I tried one in a 50 gallon tank many years ago before I knew better. After about a year the Angel decided it owned the entire tank and killed three of its tankmates before I could catch it. I recently had to remove one from my 120 gallon system, same issue although I was able to catch it before it actually killed any fish this time. I really would advise against a dwarf Angel in any tank under 90 gallons.
All that said I just don’t see the clowns and an angel allowing new additions assuming they have been in the tank for 30 days or more.

 

[Uncle99]

IMO I would stick with the happiness, sometimes adding that "last" thing is where the crash happens...resist...resist...oh how hard that is...

 

[deputydawg88]

Thanks for the advice guys. I won’t be adding any more in that case, like I say I am fairly happy with my stock as is anyway. Hopefully my flame angel remains laid back as time goes on.

 

[Uncle99]

You sound like you are pleased with what you have, so I support you being careful.
Space is everything, the more the fish, the more the load and potential for squabble.
Many things can adjust if they are not excessively over the normal tank size and number of fish. Some use 1 for every 5g in salt, I use 1 in 10g. Especially since you have the FA, the more you step out of range, the increase the chances that combination does not work. That sometimes leads to stress, to Ick, and lots of work.

I think you made the right choice, be real discriminent who goes in from here on in....

 

[j.falk]

IMO I would stick with the happiness, sometimes adding that "last" thing is where the crash happens...resist...resist...oh how hard that is...

I was just thinking about this earlier...how do you know when a tank is "full"? I like to leave room for all of my things to have plenty of room to grow so I always try to understock (after researching maximum size for everything)...but I know a lot of people who try to pack as many things as they can in their tanks for diversities sake...but when is enough, enough?

 

[thegrun]

I think successful stocking is a combination of good tank maintenance, proper fish selection, providing the necessary physical environment (caves and hiding places, swimming lanes, deep enough sand...) to meet the requirements of individual fish you select, paying close watch on how your fish are getting along, particularly as they mature and a big dose of pure luck. How any individual fish is going to interact with its tank mates is always a matter of good or bad luck, no two fish of a species is going to interact the same. There is also a decision to be made by any aquarists as to how close to the edge you are willing to go with your stocking decisions. Gambling with overstocking a tank usually ends up going badly in the long run since an overstocked tank has no reserve when a minor problem arises, where a modestly stocked tank can often overcome minor and even major issues. That said I know a few aquarists that have maintained healthy thriving tanks for years with very heavily stocked fish loads, but these are gifted individuals and certainly the exception.

 

[Uncle99]

Wow, above, so on point!
Wise thinking

 

[deputydawg88]

The flame Angel has only been in a couple of weeks and the clowns about a month at most. The blenny has been in since August/September last year so it’s very much his tank currently and he lets the clowns know it when they stray into his cave lair. The Angel has also felt his wrath when it infringed on his personal space while he was sat at one of his favourite perches. He’s largely laid back otherwise so hopefully he is able to keep the peace long term.