Fish for invert tank?

[Noah 123]

I recently started a thread about a 20 gallon I was doing for invertebrates such as hermits, shrimp, and a sea star, but now I decided that I want fish as well, so I want to cut down the inverts a bit. Would this stock be OK?

Fish option 1:
1 green chromis (introduce first)
1 ocellaris clownfish (introduce second)
1 yellowtail damselfish (introduce last)

Fish option 2:
1 royal gramma (introduce first)
1 ocellaris clownfish (introduce second)
1 blue damselfish (introduce last)

Inverts:
4 blue leg hermits
4 scarlet reef hermits
2 dwarf zebra hermits
1 peppermint shrimp
1 emerald crab
1 black brittle star
1 blue tuxedo urchin
1 chocolate chip sea star (I can get a really tiny one and trade it in for a smaller one when it gets too big, and I'll make sure it's really well fed)

Would 1 of these stock lists be fine?

 

[Beefy_Reefy]

Skip the damsel. Maybe look at a goby or blenny instead.

 

[lonbrat]

Yeah damsels can be quite aggressive, I second the Blenny or goby.
Possibly a lawnmower blenny or a shrimp goby of some sort ^^ blennies have such great personalities and gobies are a joy to watch as well.

But all fish have personalities, if you do go with a damsel, Id try to choose a nice looking one lol.

But then again, an emerald crab could take out a goby and possibly a blenny when lights are off- or any other fish, given it gets big enough.
(( and Id go with #2 if you are 100% set on those choices ^^ it's a more colorful and contrasting group))

 

[Noah 123]

I don't really like blennies, no offense to any blenny lovers but they just kind of look like weird and dumb fish to me.

Gobies here are also pretty expensive, and I wouldn't want the Emerald crab going after it.

I do like fish option #2 more as it has all the bright colours I was looking for and I prefer those fish.

 

[lonbrat]

Lol okay- That's kind of the reason I like them xD although they are pretty intelligent too, I feed mine from my hand.

And shrimp gobies arent too expensive... About 10$ online ^^
Just be careful with the damsel, I've had one kill two clowns, Id put them all in together almost- that is if the tank can handle that bioload.
^^ good luck To you ~

 

[Noah 123]

I'm just going to go with 1 blue damsel actually. I'm gonna keep it cheap and simple.

 

[SoloChromis]

Neon gobies would look nice, without totally distracting from the original "theme". Caribbean rusty gobies are also very interesting nano fish, not seen all that often. Good luck :beer:

 

[Noah 123]

The tank now is going to be Mexico/Caribbean themed! We've been to Mexico a lot so the stock will be based on things we've seen there in the tide pools. I guess now it's:

1 yellowtail damsel
1 blue damsel
6 blue leg hermits
4 orange claw hermits (calcinus tibicen)
1 peppermint shrimp
1 emerald crab
1 black brittle star
1 rock boring urchin
1 chocolate chip sea star

This stock doesn't really change much from my original plan lol. Should the damsels be ok if I add them at the same time?

 

[SoloChromis]

The tank now is going to be Mexico/Caribbean themed! We've been to Mexico a lot so the stock will be based on things we've seen there in the tide pools. I guess now it's:

1 yellowtail damsel
1 blue damsel
6 blue leg hermits
4 orange claw hermits (calcinus tibicen)
1 peppermint shrimp
1 emerald crab
1 black brittle star
1 rock boring urchin
1 chocolate chip sea star

This stock doesn't really change much from my original plan lol. Should the damsels be ok if I add them at the same time?

In a 20g tank, I think the blue may end up taking the yellowtail out over time, but it may be okay if they're both added symultaniously. Honestly, if you're going Caribbean, ditch the damsels and check out KPaquatics.com. There are so many awesome Caribbean fish available. A Purple reef chromis (Chromis scotti) would look awesome, and keep with the Caribbean theme. Some other good options would be...

* Chalk Bass
* Swissguard Basslet
* Royal Gramma
* Pike Blenny
* Sharknose Goby
* Jawfish
* Blue Reef Chromis
etc.

Also, I'd whittle the amount of hermit crabs you add before they do it for you. IME blue leg hermit crabs have always killed each other off until there's 2 left in a 120g. I've had much better experiences with the scarlet reef hermits, they're a little pricier, but you could comfortably keep 3-4 in your 20g without them killing each other off at the rate of the blue legs, plus... they're Caribbean! Ultimately it's up to you, this tank is gonna be awesome, keep us updated :beer:

 

[brett559]

If you want an orange clown, I'd get a true perc over an ocellaris - much better fish in my opinion.

I like option 2, but I'd consider a chromis instead of a damsel. Just my two cents.

 

[Noah 123]

In a 20g tank, I think the blue may end up taking the yellowtail out over time, but it may be okay if they're both added symultaniously. Honestly, if you're going Caribbean, ditch the damsels and check out KPaquatics.com. There are so many awesome Caribbean fish available. A Purple reef chromis (Chromis scotti) would look awesome, and keep with the Caribbean theme. Some other good options would be...

* Chalk Bass
* Swissguard Basslet
* Royal Gramma
* Pike Blenny
* Sharknose Goby
* Jawfish
* Blue Reef Chromis
etc.

Also, I'd whittle the amount of hermit crabs you add before they do it for you. IME blue leg hermit crabs have always killed each other off until there's 2 left in a 120g. I've had much better experiences with the scarlet reef hermits, they're a little pricier, but you could comfortably keep 3-4 in your 20g without them killing each other off at the rate of the blue legs, plus... they're Caribbean! Ultimately it's up to you, this tank is gonna be awesome, keep us updated :beer:

I'd like it to be based on fish we've seen there though. Most of which would not work in a 20 gallon (banded butterflyfish, sergeant majors, mimic tangs, etc.) The only ones we've seen that could work are the damsels. I really like blue reef chromis but they're kinda big and expensive.

Idk I'm gonna ditch the Caribbean theme. I'll probably just end up doing option #2.