Checking Fish Purchases

[Mischke]

Tank; 20 gallon long, with 20-gallon long sump.
Lighting; 165watts compact fluorescent lighting

Fish;
1x Pair of Ocellaris clownfish
1x Scotter dragonet
1x Blenny (Ecsenius lineatus)
1x Caracanthus madagascariensis
1x Dwarf Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)

Coral;
1x Grape Coral (Euphyllia cristata)
1x Purple Montipora capricornis
1x Orange Montipora digitata
1x Green Acropora millepora

Do I need to get rid of any fish (was only planning on a single Mexican Turbo Snail for Clean-up)?

It seems that all these corals will do well under CF, but I haven't heard on the Green Acropora millepora. Does anybody have any experience with this?

 

[SDguy]

The lined blenny will likely eat your SPS (happened to me, and when I posted about it here, everyone was like yup, they do that :-/ ) Tailspot may be a smaller, safer choice.

Coral crouchers are super secretive.

I'd pass altogether on the puffer in that size tank.

 

[Mischke]

would a bi-color be okay? Also, how are blennies w/ clams?

 

[RayL]

Bicolour blennies are amazing, and a great size fish for your tank. Not sure about clams but otherwise a great choice

 

[namxas]

I agree with Peter...Caracanthus sp. can be pretty cryptic, esp. in a tank with other fish, altho at least you don't have any "fast-movers" on your list. This fish will need a proper hiding place (SPS coral head or skeleton), or at the very least, some places in the rock to use as a lair.

I strongly recommend getting it first, or better yet, getting it weaned and conditioned in a QT.

Just in case you don't know...this fish is a small scorpionfish, so it does have venomous fin spines.

 

[reefgoddess808]

My toby puffer ate two mex turbo snails. I have nerites and dwarf ceriths that he hasnt managed to eat yet. I also have a largish hermit and have just added an emerald crab. The crab is pretty big, hes almost as big as the puffer! The puffer has tried to get at the crab but claws are a good deterrant I also have an ocellaris clown, coral beauty, firefish, sailfin blenny and a red mandarin. He nipped a chunk out of the mandys tail the first week but has since left him alone.

 

[Mischke]

Alright, I'm being a little flippy floppy here;

Would this be a better list

1x SA Clingfish (I already have this guy alone in a 10 gallon)
1x Hi Fin Red Banded Goby w/ shrimp
1x Caracanthus madagascariensis (I kind of like the fact that they just sit there)
2x Bangaii cardinal
1x Bi-color blenny (Horseface blenny okay too)
1x Scoter dragonet
1x Small flasher wrasse
1x Clown Pair

Is this too many fish?

 

[Fretfreak13]

This is just a 20 gallon. That is way too many fish. I'd limit it to five fish TOPS.

Flashers need quite a bit of room even though they're small.

 

[kismetsh]

This is just a 20 gallon. That is way too many fish. I'd limit it to five fish TOPS.

Agree! 10 fish in a 20 gallon -- not a good idea. Not saying it is impossible but would require exceptional effort and a bit of luck as well.

 

[Mischke]

Alright, I'll eliminate a few. Thanks, for the input

 

[accordsirh22]

a scooter, unless weaned to prepared food, will die a slow starving death in that size tank

 

[gsiegel]

Alright, I'm being a little flippy floppy here;

Would this be a better list

1x SA Clingfish (I already have this guy alone in a 10 gallon)
1x Hi Fin Red Banded Goby w/ shrimp
1x Caracanthus madagascariensis (I kind of like the fact that they just sit there)
2x Bangaii cardinal
1x Bi-color blenny (Horseface blenny okay too)
1x Scoter dragonet
1x Small flasher wrasse
1x Clown Pair

Is this too many fish?

You're gonna' need a bigger "boat"

 

[sponger0]

That is too many fish. I would do a max of 4. Drop the scooter. You are going to have a hard time keeping up on their diet even with prepared food.

No on the flasher wrasse. Only wrasse that is acceptable for a 20 gallon is a possum wrasse.

 

[small alien]

a scooter, unless weaned to prepared food, will die a slow starving death in that size tank

They wean very easily. I kept one in a 10 for a long time. You must feed properly.

 

[sponger0]

They wean very easily.

But that doesnt mean its enough food also

 

[Mischke]

If I were to add a blenny, is a horseface or tail spot better? Or is it all down to personal preference?

 

[reefgoddess808]

I personally like the tail spot better, but a blenny is a cool addition no matter what species IMHO. I try to keep to the old wives rule of thumb of one inch of full grown fish per gallon of water to know how many fish to keep them comfortable. Hope that helps!

 

[small alien]

But that doesnt mean its enough food also

No, you must feed appropriately. I have found twice daily to satiation with the flow off is adequate for scooters in small tanks. Mysis, prawn roe, cyclops and often pellets. Unlikely to take flake ime.

 

[evolved]

If I had a 20g, a pair of clowns would be it.

Putting in 5 or even 4 fish is stacking the deck against yourself I'm afraid.

 

[rssjsb]

No, you must feed appropriately. I have found twice daily to satiation with the flow off is adequate for scooters in small tanks. Mysis, prawn roe, cyclops and often pellets. Unlikely to take flake ime.

On the other hand, I've had scooters refuse prepared foods altogether, or eat frozen but still not be able to maintain body weight. I still wouldn't count on being able to keep one in a 20.