Frogfish?

[Clownfish29]

Hi,
i have a 6 gallon JBJ nano cube, set up for about 6 months. The tank has about 7 lbs fiji live rock and live sand, and i do about a 20% water change weekly, clean the bioballs, sponge, etc so i have good water quality. IN the tank i have snails, hermit crabs, 2 baby clowns, and a hairy mushroom coral. My question is that ive read frogfish can be kept in a tank this small. IS this true? I could get rid of the clownfish, and have just the frogfish. Im not sure of ANY of their care requirements, and i dont know what to feed them, give them, or anything to make them happy. What type would i be able to get, where would i get it, and how much would it cost? any info is a lot of help

 

[LisaD]

I would say definitely not, unless you were growing out a VERY small baby for a very short time. Even for smaller species, I think 20 gallons is the minimum, IMO. If you want to research, here are a few suggestions:

1) Look up uberfugu's posts, he is very knowledgeable.
2) Read the chapter on Frogfish in Reef Fishes volume 1 (Scott Michael) - there is no better aquarium care info out there - though his minimum tank sizes for most fish are in general too small.
3) Look at Zubi's frogfish page - do a search. I can look it up if you can't find it.

Good luck!

 

[Clownfish29]

Well this is probably just a stupid question, but could i keep something like a leaf fish? Members of this type these stony camouflaged fishes just amaze me, and i've read about people keeping them in a small tank. Im not sure how big a leaf fish will get, any info on these, and could they be kept in a 6 gallon?

 

[LisaD]

leaf fish are amazing, and stay about 3.5-4 inches. I have a pair in a 25 gallon tank with some other small fish.

still, I think with such a small nano, you are taking a big chance, and they do need to move around some. in a 6 gallon tank, you really don't have much room or much cushion for temperature/salinity/water quality swings. I don't think a nano that small is suitable long-term for any but the smallest fish, like a clown goby and a pair of neon gobies, or a very small pistol shrimp and shrimp goby. those kinds of tanks, IMO are better for hardy corals, a few tiny inverts and maybe 1-3 very tiny fish.

leaf fish are hardy and affordable. you will most likely have to feed them live food for life. I have not been successful getting my leaf fish to take frozen. I'd keep them in at least a 15 or 20 gallon tank. I really think my 25 is a minimum for a pair. as soon as I get some aggressive fish in my 55 moved to other tanks, the leaf fish are going back.