The bigger species tend to be better-known and more buzzed-about, but they also require bigger tanks than most people can manage.
I have a big-ish tank, but honestly, I have a strong affection for the little guys for whom I can supply a section of reef that affords them about as much space as they'd claim in the wild. And they go about their fishy business interacting with each other. You can have *more* species, quite colorful species, and fairly resilient species many of which can be captive-bred, meaning no impact on the reefs of the world, plus less stress, plus less exposure to parasites like ich, and for some sand-hugging species, more inbuilt resistance to parasites. So for many reasons, they have their advantages.
My own favorites are the blennies and gobies, small, colorful and quirky. You DO have to become aware of species that don't get along---but those of us who keep them know, and we'll answer questions. Many burrow and clean sand, one (the diamond goby) to excess, but most are moderate and good neighbors, if grumpy. Some have algae requirements: they'll starve without it, so keep that in mind (the combtooth blennies). These two classes get along well with most tankmates.
[Dragonets (mandys, scooters, etc) are called blennies and gobies, but they aren't, and keep them off your list---unless you have a huge mature tank and no wrasses, no emerald crabs. ]
Damsels come in three varieties. 1. clowns. Everybody loves a clown. And they're great---I have a pair myself. BUT the 2 biggest types, the clarkii and the maroon in all variations---are NOT well-behaved and require a bigger tank. The clarkiis have teeth and will bite. And draw blood. From you. When they go into mating mode, no intruder is safe. 2. chromis (there can only be one)---sure, the fish store has a dozen. I can pretty well predict that only one will survive in your tank, because they do each other in once the first claims territory. But they are GREAT at providing the busy movement ('dither') that assures your more timid (smarter) fish it's safe to come out of hiding. 3. regular damsels---some grow to 8" in size, and some don't. The little azures, the yellowtails, and even the Fiji blue devils, can be fairly good dither fishes, themselves. But damsels in generate HATE chromis, and a big damsel will kill them on sight. Keep that in mind. Also bear in mind that big damsels will kill anything they didn't grow up with. Big damsels are not a good small-tank fish.
Assessors, gramma, chalk bass---stay smallish and are reasonably behaved, and they are colorful.
The little jawfish are homebodies that can be entertaining --- but they're more fragile and do require sand that supports several inches of tunneling.
1 dwarf angel can be a good citizen but may nip coral. Do your homework on that.
Fairy wrasses are a neat fish and stay small. Many wrasses grow LARGE and will not be appropriate.
Rabbitfish are venomous and can do you hurt. They also grow fast and once they get big, they go freaky and start harming other fish. I've seen the result of a rabbit-sting, and I'm not sure if the victim was able to save the finger. If you have a weed problem, they are not your best answer. Consult the 'algae' post up top of this forum.
Cleaner shrimp and cleaner gobies are not essential to a tank and can actually harm fish if there's no way to get away from them. If you want a suitably crazy shrimp that will not bother your fish, I recommend peppermints. They bother things, but grow bored quickly.
I have a big-ish tank, but honestly, I have a strong affection for the little guys for whom I can supply a section of reef that affords them about as much space as they'd claim in the wild. And they go about their fishy business interacting with each other. You can have *more* species, quite colorful species, and fairly resilient species many of which can be captive-bred, meaning no impact on the reefs of the world, plus less stress, plus less exposure to parasites like ich, and for some sand-hugging species, more inbuilt resistance to parasites. So for many reasons, they have their advantages.
My own favorites are the blennies and gobies, small, colorful and quirky. You DO have to become aware of species that don't get along---but those of us who keep them know, and we'll answer questions. Many burrow and clean sand, one (the diamond goby) to excess, but most are moderate and good neighbors, if grumpy. Some have algae requirements: they'll starve without it, so keep that in mind (the combtooth blennies). These two classes get along well with most tankmates.
[Dragonets (mandys, scooters, etc) are called blennies and gobies, but they aren't, and keep them off your list---unless you have a huge mature tank and no wrasses, no emerald crabs. ]
Damsels come in three varieties. 1. clowns. Everybody loves a clown. And they're great---I have a pair myself. BUT the 2 biggest types, the clarkii and the maroon in all variations---are NOT well-behaved and require a bigger tank. The clarkiis have teeth and will bite. And draw blood. From you. When they go into mating mode, no intruder is safe. 2. chromis (there can only be one)---sure, the fish store has a dozen. I can pretty well predict that only one will survive in your tank, because they do each other in once the first claims territory. But they are GREAT at providing the busy movement ('dither') that assures your more timid (smarter) fish it's safe to come out of hiding. 3. regular damsels---some grow to 8" in size, and some don't. The little azures, the yellowtails, and even the Fiji blue devils, can be fairly good dither fishes, themselves. But damsels in generate HATE chromis, and a big damsel will kill them on sight. Keep that in mind. Also bear in mind that big damsels will kill anything they didn't grow up with. Big damsels are not a good small-tank fish.
Assessors, gramma, chalk bass---stay smallish and are reasonably behaved, and they are colorful.
The little jawfish are homebodies that can be entertaining --- but they're more fragile and do require sand that supports several inches of tunneling.
1 dwarf angel can be a good citizen but may nip coral. Do your homework on that.
Fairy wrasses are a neat fish and stay small. Many wrasses grow LARGE and will not be appropriate.
Rabbitfish are venomous and can do you hurt. They also grow fast and once they get big, they go freaky and start harming other fish. I've seen the result of a rabbit-sting, and I'm not sure if the victim was able to save the finger. If you have a weed problem, they are not your best answer. Consult the 'algae' post up top of this forum.
Cleaner shrimp and cleaner gobies are not essential to a tank and can actually harm fish if there's no way to get away from them. If you want a suitably crazy shrimp that will not bother your fish, I recommend peppermints. They bother things, but grow bored quickly.
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