Can I keep these fish in a 12g Nano?

[Neowind]

I am setting up a new 12g nano aqarium. I am trying to decide on a fish list for the tank and had a few different scenarios. I was hoping to get some input from current nano owners to see if I could pull it off. I really want to go with option one as the green banded gobies are tiny and I believe the yellow gobies stay small also. But I am unsure and was looking for help.

Option 1 (Favorite Option)

Tank Bred Clown Fish
2 Green Banded Gobies (Tiny Gobies)
Small Yellow Goby

Option 2
Tank Bred Clown Fish
Bi-Colored Blenny

Option 3
Tank Bred Clown Fish
1 Green Banded Goby
1 Neon Goby

What do you guys think? Think I could pull off option number 1 or would that be to much?

 

[snorvich]

If you exclude the clownfish you will have more options despite the tank being small.

 

[Neowind]

Yea I could definatly add some other fish if I left that out, but clowns are my favorite breed of saltwater fish. So do you think none of those options would work?

 

[SushiGirl]

I had a damsel in a 10 gallon tank for 4 years. I couldn't put anything else in there. A clown is in the damsel family.

 

[Guygettnby]

you could do any of those choices. you would have a chance that the clown gets mean to the other fish in a tank that small for sure and possibly have a pretty high bio load with choice #1 in time...

the clown gobies are very pretty fish, but they are very timid and they can be bullied into starvation very easily. it is hard enough to keep them long term without them being bullied. just keep that in mind as you do have a small tank and i think your best choice would be to keep the clown out of your plans if you desire the smaller gobies.

 

[reefjunkie42]

drop the clowns then add a pistol shirmp goby pair

 

[burnah]

neon gobies ok, but clowns should be in 20g minimum imho. also better for you, because so many fish in such a small tank is a lot of work.

 

[Neowind]

Thanks for all the input. That gives me some things to think about. Any nano reefers out there with a similar combination as one of thse three?

 

[small alien]

I think you could do a single captive bred ocellaris clown (a species of fish rather than a "breed"). They really don't swim around much as long as the bioload isn't an issue. You may get away with another fish that occupies a different niche. A cleaner goby perhaps. Or maybe green banded.

If no clown, you could do 3-4 small gobies. Say a cleaner, green banded and a couple Trimma spp. That would give you no open water swimmers however.

 

[reefjunkie42]

not like a clown really is an open water swimmer per-say you could always go with a group of glass spot cardinal fish and add a goby n a pistol shrimp. u could get a group of 5(DD sells them by the 5's) and they stay small. idk just a thought

 

[sponger0]

Option 2 is the best. Your pushing the limits with all other options

 

[Neowind]

I have decided to go with a Baby tank bred clown and a yellow watchman goby for a while. If things progress over time and still look good I may try and add the green banded goby which max size is what maybe half an inch. But that is only if the Bio-Load seems to be under control. Thanks for all the input.

 

[Guygettnby]

I have decided to go with a Baby tank bred clown and a yellow watchman goby for a while. If things progress over time and still look good I may try and add the green banded goby which max size is what maybe half an inch. But that is only if the Bio-Load seems to be under control. Thanks for all the input.

By you adding the clown in a tank that small with the YWG, my biggest concern is trying to keep the clown goby alive from starvation. The bio load is something to be concerned with, but the clown will probably harass the banded goby too the point were it may not eat during feeding time or bully it away from the food.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[small alien]

I have decided to go with a Baby tank bred clown and a yellow watchman goby for a while. If things progress over time and still look good I may try and add the green banded goby which max size is what maybe half an inch. But that is only if the Bio-Load seems to be under control. Thanks for all the input.

I think that is a reasonable approach. If you have issues, it won't be that hard to get everybody out and try something else.